endoscope

noun

en·do·scope | \ˈen-də-ˌskōp

Definition of endoscope

: an illuminated usually fiber-optic flexible or rigid tubular instrument for visualizing the interior of a hollow organ or part (such as the bladder or esophagus) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes that typically has one or more channels to enable passage of instruments (such as forceps or scissors)

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Did You Know?

The Greek prefix endo- means "within, inside", so around 1860 an early crude instrument for looking deep inside the body was named the endoscope. But modern endoscopy required the invention of the electric lightbulb and then fiber-optic cable, so the first modern endoscopes date only to 1967. An endoscope may be inserted through a natural passageway (for example, through the nose or down the esophagus) or through a tiny cut in the skin. A tiny camera with a light at the end of the cable sends back images onto a screen, and the surgeon uses special instruments that work through a tube alongside the cable. There are now specialized types of endoscopes for every part of the body, where they can take tissue samples, cut out small growths, or remove foreign objects.

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In their current form, many endoscopes aren’t built to withstand repeated sterilization. — Chad Terhune, Washington Post, "Study: Nearly Three-Quarters Of Commonly Used Medical Scopes Tainted By Bacteria," 23 Apr. 2018 In their current form, many endoscopes aren't built to withstand repeated sterilization. — Chad Terhune, latimes.com, "Hospitals and device makers still struggle to rid medical scopes of infectious bacteria," 23 Apr. 2018 The company also makes non-heart devices such as endoscopes, a type of surgical camera. — Aisha Al-muslim, WSJ, "Stryker Says It’s Not in Deal Talks With Boston Scientific," 13 June 2018 Though best known among consumers for its cameras, the company gets nearly 80% of its revenue from endoscopes and other medical-imaging technology. — Kosaku Narioka, WSJ, "U.S. Activist Investor Takes Stake in Olympus," 31 May 2018 Next, the team placed two IMBEDs in each pig's stomach and used the endoscope to confirm that they were fully submerged. — Karen Kaplan, latimes.com, "This futuristic pill senses signs of disease inside the body, then sends a wireless alert to a phone," 25 May 2018 The latest study examined 45 endoscopes, with all but two manufactured by Olympus. — Chad Terhune, latimes.com, "Hospitals and device makers still struggle to rid medical scopes of infectious bacteria," 23 Apr. 2018 This tool combines an endoscope with a laser and sensors that analyze reflected fluorescent patterns and gives researchers a microscopic view of living tissues. — Rachael Rettner, Scientific American, "Meet Your Interstitium, A Newfound “Organ”," 27 Mar. 2018 Similarly, using this device, a robotic arm could be manipulated to do things your own arm could not—snaking an endoscope through the aorta to do surgery on a faulty heart valve beating inside a patient’s chest, perhaps. — R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, "Wristband Lets the Brain Control a Computer with a Thought and a Twitch," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'endoscope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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16 Oct 2018

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The first known use of endoscope was in 1861

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endoscope

noun

en·do·scope | \ˈen-də-ˌskōp

Medical Definition of endoscope

: an illuminated usually fiber-optic flexible or rigid tubular instrument for visualizing the interior of a hollow organ or part (as the bladder or esophagus) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes that typically has one or more channels to enable passage of instruments (as forceps or scissors)