From obscurity to prominence in the scope world

Gastroenterologists take the endoscope for granted, although it is an incredibly complex instrument incorporating a light source with video optics and flexible tubing to allow complex movements and passage of equipment. The first endoscope dates back to 1853 by Desormeaux and was used to explore the urethra and bladder.1 Then, in 1868 Kussmaul developed the first gastroscopy.2 Countless iterations and innovations occurred in between, most notably with the advent of fiberoptic endoscopes by Larry Curtiss and Basil Hirschowitz in 1958 and of course the charged coupled device enabling projection of images onto a television screen, and we have our familiar endoscopes that form the backbone of what we offer as gastroenterologists.