An endoscope is a fibre-optic device used for looking inside normally inaccessible areas. One of its main uses is in medicine. A doctor can easily see what is going on inside a body without actually having to perform surgery. The endoscope is a narrow flexible tube which consists of bunches of fibre optic cables. It is inserted into the body via a channel, such as the throat. The device also contains light guides which transfer light along some of these fibre optics, which are used to assist with visibility. An image guide transmits a representation of the interior back along the tube, where it can be viewed by way of an eyepiece.
The endoscope can also be fitted with small surgical instruments allowing basic medical operations to take place. The tool's movement is controlled by wires which curve when directed by the angle knob. All of the water, air, light sources and suction pipes are joined to a component called the connector. This in turn links them to the endoscope tube.
The endoscope has been a major medical breakthrough, appreciated by many thousands of people who have been spared the traumatic experience of investigative medical surgery.
