ABSTRACT
Endoscopy, which is the internal examination of body organs, joints and cavities using an endoscope, first began in the early 1900s when medical doctors developed telescopic systems that could illuminate the internal cavities of human patients. Modern rigid endoscopes utilise a series of glass rods separated by small air spaces contained within a rigid telescope. This rod lens system, often referred to as the Hopkins’ system after its designer, is considered to give better light transmission, image resolution, and magnification and a wider field of view than the older convex glass lens systems. Connecting the telescope to the light source is a cable. This is composed of bundled fibre optic cables that transmit light from the source to the telescope. The fibre optic cables are flexible, but do not readily withstand twisting forces. Rigid endoscopes are fragile and must be handled with care during transport, use and cleaning.
