Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy

The burden to healthcare and the impact of disease to humans from luminal disorders of the gastrointestinal tract have driven the requirement for more efficient endoscopic visualization and instrumentation over the past decade. The push for greater diagnostic yield has driven advances in optical physics and bioengineering which are revolutionizing diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. This article will highlight emerging technologies since our last review, focusing on advances in imaging, endoscope design and how this is shaping the therapeutic approach to diseases of the human gastrointestinal tract. Their application to improve diagnostic ability, patient care and their limitations are discussed.