Micro-Endoscope

A miniature endoscope that’s as thin as a human hair can image objects as small as 2.5 microns (millionths of a meter) in size. The innovative technology could open up new fields in the medical imaging arena, including neurological imaging and early cancer detection.

The hair-thin camera sends light through a single fiber to illuminate tiny areas inside the body. Reflected light is scanned and recorded; then power level measurements are unscrambled using a spatial light modulator.

The current prototype is a rigid fiber that could be used to image brain or muscle tissue. But the researchers are looking at ways to create a flexible endoscope as well, which will enable them to reach deeper into other organs of the body.