(Backgrounds and Purpose)

The present endoscopic surgeries have been performed under the poor condition in which the doctors should depend just on  the endoscopes and monitors with narrow views. Moreover, these 2 dimensional views lack of the sense of volume and depth, consequently, make the operation much harder.

Hence, it is essential that something similar to the human visual system recognizing any objects stereoscopically is applied to endoscopy. It is necessary to review the recent clinical studies that we should review, to which the endoscope with 3-dimensional vision is actually applied.

(Objectives and Method)

- Two preliminary clinical trials performed by Professor Yang, Hankwang, Seoul national University in July, 2008
- One clinical trial on gastric cancer of a 50-year-old female patient performed by Professor Seigo Kitano, Oita University Hospital, Japan in July, 2008
- One clinical trial on the colorectomy and resection of the rectum of a male patient in his sixties performed by Professor, Hirotoshi Hasgawa. Keio University, Tokyo, Japan in August, 2008 The above clinical studies were allowed by appropriate ethics committee approvals of each hospital and the documented approvals signed by patents .

(Conclusion)

The 4 clinical studies had reached the following conclusion.

Firstly, after the preliminary studies at Seoul National University Hospital. There was also a comparative study between the performances of 2D system (Stolz HD system) and 3D (Wasol 3D system). This pioneering study has shown that the operation under the 3D visual system provides faster operation and lower rate of mistakes, and also reduce the fatigue of hand muscles under EMG. It also made surgeons free from dizziness and headache.

Secondly, Professor Seigo Kitano at Oita University Hospital in Japan, also Chairman of KSELS, explained in the interview with NHK, that, though he took his pride in being a leading figure in endoscopy, the endoscopic surgery is still stressful to him. However, The surgery with 3-dimensional vision made him free from stress about mistakes by recognizing the volume and the depth. and satisfied with a operation time reduced by tow thirds.

Finally, Professor Hasegawa in Keio University Hospital, Japan, told that an endoscope is the most important equipment and should be regarded as the state-of-the art because it is another eye of a doctor. His clinical study dealt with the case of the colorectomy and resection of the rectum of a male patient in his sixties. He was also satisfied with the result of the experimental surgery, though he operates with the 3D visual endoscope for the first time.

(Results)

1. The 3-dimensional visual system providing natural view makes a beginner quick to learn the endoscopic surgery.

2. In surgery, the system reduces the operation time and stress by providing the exact information of depth and volume,

3. The system makes precise operation easier impossible with the existing 2dimensional endoscopes.

4. The biggest problems in the 3-D endoscopic surgery are dizziness and headache to users; however, as the Wasol's 3-D endoscope can converge right and left images from a camera perfectly, surgeons can use for long hours free from  headache and dizziness.

[Future of Stereoscopic Imaging Technology]

A man has stereophonic sense  of hearing just as stereoscopic visual sense, with which  his two ears recognizing the direction of sound and distance. As the stereophonic technology attained to perfection, we enjoy listening to music and stereo-sound . Likewise, as the stereoscopic visual technology progresses, the 2-dimensional vision will be replaced by stereoscopic vision. Even though skilled surgeon have no difficulty in operating with 2-D endoscopes, the introduction of the perfect 3-D endoscope is unevitable and stands to reason.