Endoscope

In modern medicine, there is an instrument capable of freely entering and exiting the human body: the endoscope. It functions like an "artificial tunnel," extending into the body to allow for the direct examination of diseases.

An endoscope consists of a long, slender, flexible metal tube and a probe. This flexible tube can be inserted into the stomach or trachea via the mouth, or into the intestines via the anus. Inside the tube lies a bundle of optical fibers; one end connects to a light source that transmits light to the other end, illuminating the interior—otherwise, the insides of these organs would be pitch-black and invisible. Using a control mechanism, doctors can maneuver the tip of the scope—much like a snake's head—to bend and reach the specific area under observation. The visual data is transmitted via an image-relay bundle to a monitor, where it is processed by a computer, allowing doctors to identify abnormalities within the organs. If a camera is attached to the probe, photographs can also be taken. The tube also contains a special channel that accommodates miniature surgical instruments; this allows doctors to perform surgery directly inside the organ without making an abdominal incision, or to use slender forceps to collect small tissue samples for pathological biopsy.

Because endoscopes allow for the direct observation of internal organ abnormalities, they significantly improve early disease detection rates. This is particularly crucial for cancer, as early-stage treatment yields far better outcomes than late-stage intervention. Furthermore, endoscopes enable accurate diagnoses of various digestive disorders, such as gastritis, duodenitis, and ulcers. In recent years, the integration of endoscopic and ultrasound technologies has proven highly effective in assessing the depth of tumor invasion in the digestive tract, distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors, and diagnosing other pathological conditions.

In addition, endoscopes can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Endoscopic local hemostasis avoids the complexities associated with surgical bleeding control, reduces patient discomfort, and offers rapid results. Endoscopic laser therapy can also be applied to treat digestive tract conditions, such as bleeding tumors. Endoscopic laser therapy is also applicable to the treatment of other conditions, such as intestinal polyps. Intestinal polyps are masses of hyperplastic tissue protruding into the intestinal lumen; they are typically oval-shaped and attached to the intestinal mucosa by a stalk. While a small number of polyps can develop into cancer, they can be removed using an endoscope. Furthermore, for patients with advanced visceral tumors, these treatments can relieve obstructions, alleviate symptoms, and prolong life. In recent years, doctors have developed various new techniques, including endoscopic high-frequency electrocoagulation, microwave therapy, and balloon (air or water) dilation. These techniques not only yield better therapeutic results but also expand the scope of treatable conditions.

In daily life, if someone accidentally swallows a foreign object, an endoscope can be used to visualize and retrieve it. This avoids the pain of surgery and offers a quick, convenient solution.

A wide variety of endoscopes currently exist worldwide, including gastroscopes, esophagoscopes, duodenoscopes, enteroscopes, and colonoscopes; recently, cardiac scopes and pyeloscopes have also been developed.

What is micro-technology?

Micro-technology refers to technology capable of reducing the size of objects. It has solved many challenges that were previously insurmountable for humanity, and some predict it will play a major role in the 21st century.

A group of "fleas"—devices created using micro-technology—has recently appeared in medical laboratories. They come in a myriad of strange shapes and are so tiny that they are often invisible to the naked eye. They can travel anywhere, entering human blood vessels to clear blockages and deliver medication to specific locations at precise times. At the same time, much like the Monkey King (Sun Wukong), they can burrow into the human body to wreak havoc, causing damage at critical points and paralyzing control systems. Truly, micro-technology involves "small devices with big capabilities" that can reach virtually anywhere.

According to reports, French scientists have successfully developed a new intestinal probe. Measuring 4 centimeters in length and approximately 1 centimeter in diameter, it is packed with electronic components, including an automatic recorder, a microcomputer, and miniature gears. Its appearance resembles a spaceship, earning it the nickname "human-body spaceship." Once inside the human intestine, this type of probe can move along the intestinal tract using gears; via a miniature electronic transmitter, it accurately displays the internal conditions on an external screen. It can also sample intestinal fluid at specific locations and use an onboard micro-laboratory to analyze acidity, temperature, contraction pressure, and the digestion status of various foods. When necessary, it can even apply medication to a specific site upon command.

A miniature video camera can be mounted on the probe's tip to transmit real-time images of its journey. If equipped with a micro-scalpel or laser, it can be remotely controlled to perform surgery within the abdominal cavity.

Currently, thousands of scientists and engineers worldwide are immersed in this pocket-sized realm of micro-machinery, a field that represents the future trend of scientific and technological development. Medicine is the first area that comes to mind regarding the application of micro-machines; the "micro-spaceship" for the human body is one such example.

Medical experts state that micro-machinery has revolutionized medicine. Concepts include micro-machines performing unique transport tasks within the bloodstream, such as continuously monitoring glucose levels in diabetic patients and administering insulin.

At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, researchers successfully created a fluid turbine narrower than three strands of hair. Like a water wheel, this turbine spins as blood flows past it, utilizing the blood's kinetic energy to propel the device along arteries and clear away atherosclerotic deposits from arterial walls.

Micro-scissors and micro-saws enable precision surgeries, such as cutting away scar tissue on the retina. In 1991, experts at the University of California, Berkeley, created a silicon light bulb thinner than a human hair; it could be mounted on a hypodermic needle and paired with optical sensors to perform biopsies on suspicious tumor tissue. Micro-machines can also be used to destroy cancer cells and viruses.

When a micro-machine exhausts its energy, it is quietly expelled from the body, eliminating any concern that it might become permanent, irremovable waste within the system.

Scientists also envision a bright future for the widespread application of micro-technology in medicine. Some medical scientists have proposed a concept: the brightness of individual light points on a large flat-screen display could be controlled by micromachines. If such micromachines were deployed to key areas of the human body, the health status of various tissues and organs could be projected onto the large screen, allowing doctors to visualize their condition directly. This would represent a breakthrough in diagnostic technology.

Whether it is the traditional Chinese diagnostic method of "looking, listening, inquiring, and pulse-taking" or modern medical practices involving injections and medication, "fuzzy processing" techniques have played a significant role. In contrast, micro-technology operates directly within the body—akin to a medical scientist dissecting tissue and examining it under a microscope. It is a more scientifically advanced approach than earlier methods, such as X-ray imaging. With further technological maturity, micromachines could even perform the entire process from diagnosis to treatment directly inside the body.

The widespread application of micro-technology in medicine will spark a medical revolution—one whose significance may well surpass the contribution of the X-ray to the field of medicine.