抄録
The current revolution in technology, imaging and information processing will be of major influence on bronchoscopy within the next two decades. We will be able to visualize structures in vivo that up to now only the pathologist could see, we will reach anatomic structures that are inaccessible by the bronchoscope yet, we will treat diseases that still are the domain of surgeons, medical oncologists and radiotherapists. We will be able to communicate online world wide, improving standards of patient care, teaching and finally even perform interventional procedures via networks. Due to the exponential growth of sciences like computer technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology these changes will come upon very rapidly. Also the new quality of these intelligent instruments will demand a new ideological and ethical discourse on the future of science in general.
