History of Angioscopy in Japan, Early and Middle-Term Developments

抄録

This article briefly reviews the history of the early and middle-term development of cardiovascular angioscopic techniques and devices prior to the end of the 20th century in Japan, in particular with regard to the more advanced stages of laser angioplasty of the peripheral arteries. Relevant findings abroad are also cited. In the early days of angioscopy, techniques to see inside the heart or vessels required stiff angioscopes, surgically opened hearts, or arterial or venous cutdowns.

As the technology advanced, percutaneous techniques to see the inside of the arteries or heart were developed. For the purpose of treating arteriosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of the peripheral arteries, new angioscopes enabling laser angioplasty under angioscopy were developed in collaboration with Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Clinical Supply Co., Ltd., and other companies and research facilities in Japan.

The techniques of cardiovascular angioscopy, especially coronary angioscopy, were much improved and several important findings regarding arteriosclerotic changes in the coronary artery were reported by cardiologists in Japan.