Overview: Over 100 years ago, basic technologies such as disinfection, hemostasis, and anesthesia finally allowed surgeons to use the lancet in body cavities. But human beings still had a long way to go before surgery was to become safe and effective. From the discovery of the X-ray in the 19th century to robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery today, this field has undergone dramatic changes over the past 200 years, and its scope is being constantly expanded.