ABSTRACT
The era of modern endoscopy began in the 1950s with the development of fiberoptics by Hopkins and Kapany. The first prototype fiberoptic gastroscope was demonstrated in 1957 by Hirschowitz. Charge-coupled device (CDD) cameras became available in the 1980s and the first televised laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1987. Laparoscopy went from being a gloomy solo procedure to a Technicolor spectator sport. Developments in imaging technology have transformed the practice of endoscopy and paved the way to the gamut of current minimally invasive surgery.
