Technique in which thin, flexible, glass or plastic fibers in special instruments called fiberscopes are used to view inner parts of the body; the fibers transmit light and relay a magnified image of the body part.
Transmission of an image through bundles of thin, flexible glass or plastic threads that convey light by total internal reflection. In medicine, fiberoptics has led to the development of Endoscopy (a procedure in which interior parts of the body are examined using a slim, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope). Doctors use endoscopes to view, photograph, videotape, and treat the inside of the body without surgery. One bundle of fibers sends light to the far end of the tube, while another bundle carries back images to the physician performing the procedure. The flexibility of the fibers permits an endoscope to be passed through the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and lower digestive tract.
The use of fibers for the transmission of light images. Synthetic fibers with special optical properties can be used in instruments to relay pictures of the inside of the body for direct observation or photography.
The transmission of light through flexible glass or plastic fibers by reflections from the side walls of the fibers. This permits transmission of visual images around sharp curves and corners. Devices that use fiberoptic materials are useful in endoscopic examinations.
In the field of medicine, fiberoptics employs glass or plastic fibers to transmit light through a specifically designed tube inserted into organs or body cavities. This enables the transmission of magnified images of the internal structures of the body.