Future Advances in Endoscopic Surgery

Abstract

There can be little doubt that many aspects of the current technology and instrumentation can and will be improved in the near future, thereby increasing the ease of performance and scope of ES. Whereas in some instances these developments will consist of refinements of existing equipment, newer emerging technologies, in some instances computer assisted, and alternative materials to stainless steel for instrumentation will be employed. This concluding chapter addresses some of these developments. The account, though predictive, is realistic and deals mainly with aspects on which the two departments in Dundee and Tübingen have invested research endeavour and resources collectively and in association with a number of research institutes and specific industrial corporations. In this respect, the active collaboration between surgical science and industry is crucial to the continued advance of the new approach.