Self-Calibrating Endoscope Set to Improve our View

• New research brought to the world the self-calibrating endoscope that is capable of capturing 3D pictures of tiny objects. The objects in question can be smaller than a single cell.
• This is a none-invasive tool that can capture the features of living tissues.
• The new study awaits presentation at the Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FIO + LS) conference, on September 15-19 in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

Quick Summary

Researchers are working on a self-calibrating endoscope that can capture 3D images of objects smaller than a single cell. The device in question works with optical fiber technology.  This new technology makes it possible for the endoscope to take pictures in the body without a light source. Furthermore, the device can measure 200 microns. Such a measure is comparable to three strands of human hair twisted together.

The device is best suited for optogenetics. Which is a research strategy that uses light to simulate cellular activity. Because of this, the tool is equally useful for monitoring tissues and cells during a medical procedure, and for technical inspection also.

Goal

Existing endoscopes need a light source and cameras to produce images inside the body. Because of this they are bulky and sometimes difficult to use. So, the new endoscope uses optical fibers to capture the images and this eliminates the need for bulky components.

The new technology has some issues associated with it. Because of the optical fibers the endoscope has to use a complicated calibration process. Especially when the fiber is capturing the images. The researchers working on this project want to solve this issue.

Investigation

The researchers want to resolve the calibrating issue by adding a glass plate (about 150 microns thick) on top of the fiber bundle. They also experimented with various degrees of light reflection and with the use of fiber bundles.

Result

When you iluminate the central fiber core of the endoscope a beam of light shines and is reflects into the fiber bundle. This process is known as the optical transfer function and it provides vital information that the system uses to calibrate itself on the go.

Limitations

• The device loses its focus as the galvanometer mirror’s angle increases. This limitation can be fixed with further research.

Sources

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/tos-tle081519.php

https://www.osa.org/en-us/about_osa/newsroom/news_releases/2019/fio_tiny_lensless_endoscope/