An endoscope is a nearly non-invasive medical device used in surgery and diagnosis to look inside the human body (as shown in Figure 1). This method, which dates back to the 19th century, has many more applications today, from the examination of external organs such as the ear, nose, and throat to complex procedures of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and spine.

Traditional endoscopes use a rigid tube to guide light, which is imaged through optical elements for observation by the human eye. This endoscopic technique has a limited depth of insertion into the human body.

With the advent of fiber optics, endoscopes began to use flexible catheters that could be inserted deeper into the body with little impact on surgery. Optical fibers are also more efficient at collecting light, enabling illumination and visualization of anatomical progression. The red, green and blue electronic cameras also replaced the human eye as a detector, and the light source became broadband xenon and halogen lamps.

In recent years, LED technology is emerging as a light source for endoscopes because of its long lifespan, high stability, and easier integration into endoscopy systems. Combined with the rapid development of microelectronics and optics, LED lighting has brought a variety of new developments and applications to the field.