Revolutionary inventions in the 20th century. The history of endoscopy.

Today, the wide variety of modern endoscopes allows routine diagnostic examinations. Precise observation is possible because of excellent optical and light transmission. Surgery can be performed while viewing a television screen, and video documentation and intraoperative photography are possible with outstanding quality. The invention of a rod-lens optical system by Harold H. Hopkins, PhD, in 1959 and the addition of fiberoptic light transmission by Karl Storz in 1960 marked a breakthrough in modern endoscopy. This article summarizes an interview with the instrument maker, Karl Storz. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997;123:1161-1163