[Development of fiber endoscopes and some aspects of gastrointestinal endoscopy]

Clinical evaluation of the up-to-date fibre endoscope models makes it possible to set apart 3 successive stages in the course of creating gastro-intestinal endoscopy, viz. construction of instruments with side optics, making esophagofibroscopes with end optics and transformation of esophagofibroscopes into panendoscopes. Depending upon the nature of the disease and the diagnostic objectives to be fulfilled various types of fibre endoscopes, both new and old, are recommended for clinical use.