New technologies in endoscopic surgery.
Advances in endoscopic surgical techniques owe much to advances in surgical devices and imaging modalities. This paper presents some of our company's research and development themes that reflect this reality. It deals with diagnostic imaging techniques designed to provide diagnostic information that cannot be obtained by direct vision. Our technology should allow the use of more rapid and less invasive endoscopic surgical techniques, through endoscopic evaluation of lymph-node metastases and the level of invasion of cancer on a serosal surface. The paper also describes the utilisation of ultrasound technology, which is a most promising energy-driven surgical advance. The use of ultrasound in trocars is discussed. This is expected to reduce costs and contribute to the protection of the environment, among other benefits. In addition, the paper also considers forceps with such a high degree-of-freedom that they allow suturing to be performed even by surgeons who have not received special training.