ABSTRACT
Endoscopy using bamboo or hollow reeds illuminated with candles was described in both ancient Egypt and Greece (1). The development of electric light sources toward the end of the 19th century rekindled interest in the practical application of endoscopy. The invention of optical fibers allowing efficient transmission of light along fine glass fibers allowed the development of flexible endoscopes and led to the adoption of endoscopy as a routine diagnostic and therapeutic tool.
