Method for obtaining stereoscopic imagery from a pair of endoscopes

A method of stereoscopically observing a tissue in a patient's body cavity involving utilization of a pair of conventional elongated monoscopic endoscopes including elongated optical tubes of a predetermined size and configuration and having respective axial optical axes, including the following steps:

• selecting a hand held holder including a pair of elongated open ended tubular housings carried by a rigid frame and sized and configured for telescopical receipt of the respective said optical tubes of said endoscopes from one end thereof to view out the respective opposite ends thereof, said housings converging towards one another at a predetermined angle from said one ends toward the said respective opposite ends and unobstructed at said opposite ends for close viewing of tissues within said cavity;
• sliding said endoscopes into the respective said housings from the respective said one ends;
• affixing the respective said endoscopes in fixed relation in the respective said housings;
• making an incision for access to said body cavity for insertion of said holder and endoscopes;
• independent of said holder, moving said tissue away from said incision;
• selecting a multiplexing device;
• coupling said multiplexing device to the respective said endoscopes;
• selecting a monitor;
• and
• coupling said monitor to said multiplexing device for displaying of images from said multiplexing device;
• selecting three dimensional viewing glasses for viewing the images on said monitor;
• and
• grasping said holder and inserting the distal extremities of said endoscopes in said holder through said incision to view said tissue through said three dimensional glasses whereby said conventional elongated monoscopic endoscopes may be utilized for stereoscopic viewing of said cavity.