The origins of endoscopy can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. Endoscopy, as we know it, was first introduced in 1805 by Philip Bozzini who was the first to attempt endoscopy with a rudimentary, light-guiding instrument created to view the urinary tract, pharynx, and rectum. In 1853, Antoine Jean Desormeaux of France developed an instrument to view urinary structures and was the first to name the instrument an “endoscope.” Over time, different experiments were carried out and prototypes developed to allow new areas of the human body to be viewed via endoscopy.

The modern era of endoscopy began with the development of fiber optics in the 1960’s. This allowed a major reduction in the size of the endoscope and clarified the doctor’s view, thus dramatically increasing the implementation of endoscopes in medical practice.

Future developments in endoscopy include capsule endoscopes that can be swallowed and take images to gain otherwise impossible visual access to the digestive system, i.e. small intestine, and can assist in earlier diagnoses of digestive conditions.