The Platinium Glow Wire in Endoscopy

The way to first intracorporal lighting in endoscopic history.

With the use of a platinium glow wire the endoscopy developed in a new direction. For the first time it was possible to place a light source inside a body.

The Frenchman Gustave Trouve used this glow wire first, invented by Davy,  in conjunction with an endoscope. The Pantoscope, Polyscope and different Urethroscopes have been developed for different interventions. Trouve used for its Endoscope the optical system of Gallilei.

 Polyscope

 

 

State of the art: optical lenses, mirrors, surgical instruments and tubes were available also batteries and platinium glow wires.

 

Inventive step: Gustave Trouve recognized that he could place the glow wire at the tip of the tube. This would lead to much better ligthtening of the human cavity and the first intrcorporal lightening instead of outside. The design of the endoscope changed to a better anatomical shape and was easier to handle than the light conductor of Bozzini. Trouve used the optics of G. Gallilei. A battery delivered the electric power.

 

Disadvantages:The platinum glow wire only worked in air, not in water. He developed a high temperature and there was the risk of suffering burns both for the doctor and for the Patient.

 

Even the German physician Dr. J. Bruck has the platinium glow wire 1867 used for its Stomatoskop, may be Trouvé has taken this development as a model.