Pioneers in Endoscopy

 Dr. Basil Isaac Hirschowitz

A tribute to one of the most important developers in Endoscopy, Dr. Basil Isaac Hirschowitz. We remember Dr. Hirschowitz on his birthday, 29th May. He was born 1925 and passed away 1913.

Dr. Hirschowith was a native of South Africa, born in the city Bethal. He received his medical education at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. In 1947 Dr. Hirschowitz earned M.B and B.Ch. degrees of this institution. He received Postdoctoral training from the University of the Witwatersrand, earning an M.D degree. 1953 he moved to the United States. He continued at the University of Michigan with his gastrointestinal fellowship.

Dr. Basil Hirschowitz is best known for having invented an improved Optical Fiber Endoscope for gastroenterology. Creation of the flexible Fiber Endoscope revolutionized the practice of gastroenterology and was also a key invention in optical fiber communication in multiple industries. Never the less he used for illumination of his first flexible Fiber Endoscope a conventional light bulb.

Using fibers for illumination ( cold light) was later added by the inventors of American Cystoscope Makers and Karl Storz.