GIST Professor Euiheon Chung and Korea University Professor Wonshik Choi have developed a very thin endoscope

□ Professor GIST Euiheon Chung of the Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering at the  Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST • President Seung Hyeon Moon) and Professor Wonshik Choi  Professor of Korea University have developed a very thin endoscope. Intelon Optics (CEO Dominik Beck) was then given a technology transfer to develop the new endoscope.

* Intelon Optics: a spin-off company from Harvard Medical School that develops diagnostic and surgical optical medical equipment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

□ An endoscope is a device that allows the surgeon to observe various internal parts of the body, such as the digestive tract or the thoracic cavity, without having to perform an invasive procedure. Existing endoscopes are inserted into the body; however, because they are relatively thick, the patient usually has to be put to sleep because of the discomfort caused by the procedure.

∘ The newly developed endoscope is less than 1 mm in diameter, and it can be easily inserted into the human body, which minimizes a patient's discomfort when compared to conventional endoscopes. The high resolution of the endoscope also allows for the sequential observation of wide and narrow areas of internal structures.

□ GIST Professor Euiheon Chung said, "Endoscopy is not only used for the early diagnosis of diseases, but it can also minimize the recovery time from surgeries when used as a laparoscope. If an endoscope with a very small diameter is widely adopted for medical procedures, then the a patient's pain and discomfort can be drastically reduced."

□ Korea University Professor Wonshik Choi said, "Our new endoscope can be quickly adapted for numerous practical applications through technologies transfers. This is important because it can be used in a wide variety of fields, such as for medical imaging or for industrial optical equipment."

□ The technology was developed with funding from the GIST-Caltech Joint Research Project and from the Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. GIST, Korea University, and Intelon Optics will continue to collaborate to commercially produce very thin endoscopes for the medical market within three years.