Abstract: The steps of selecting a hand held endoscope holder includes providing distally convergent tubular devices for receipt of the probes of respective endoscopes, securing such endoscopes in fixed relation within such holder converging distally toward one another at a predetermined angle, coupling such endoscopes through respective cameras and power sources to a multiplexer, coupling such multiplexer to a television monitor, fixing the cameras to a fixture to hold them relative to one another for viewing through three dimensional viewing glasses. The holder carrying such endoscopes is then inserted through an incision to transit the respective images of such endoscopes viewed from the respective relative angles of the endoscopes through such cameras, power source and multiplexer to the television monitor for viewing through such glasses.

Abstract: A method is presented for stereoscopically observing a tissue in a patient's body cavity which includes the selection of a hand held holder formed with a pair of elongated open ended tubular housings for receipt of conventional elongated monoscopic endoscopes. The housings are rigidly connected together and converge distally inwardly toward one another at a predetermined angle for receipt of the respective endoscopes so they can project from the distal end thereof for observation of the patient's tissue. The surgeon may position the endoscopes in the respective housings and affix them in position to be held angled toward one another. An incision may be made for access to the patient's chest or abdomen and the tissue to be examined manipulated away from the opening. A multiplexer device is selected and coupled with the endoscopes and a monitor selected for use with a muliplexing device to display images thereon. Three dimensional viewing glasses may be selected for use with the monitor to view the tissue site.