Endoscopes Utilizing Tunable Microlenses

Endoscopes are important medical instruments that produce images of the interior surfaces of cavities in human bodies, for example the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including the esophagus, stomach, colon, and part of the small bowel joint spaces abdominal cavity thorax and other structures. In recent years, through technical improvements like wireless capsule endoscopy [32] and robotic surgery [33], minimally invasive surgery has become a common treatment. 

Tunable focus microlenses integrated at the ends of fiber endoscopes could scan the areas of interest with minimal or no back-and-forth movements of 

Method of defining hydrogel microstructures Via optical fibers also used for hydrogel actuation Via masks 

Camera connected to image acquisition fiber bundle Regular camera Industrial camera 

Source X. Zeng, C.T. Smith, J.C. Gould et al. 2011. Journal of Microdectromechanical Systems, 20(3), 583-593. With permission. 

---

X. Zeng and H. Jiang, "An endoscope utilizing tunable-focus microlenses actuated through infrared light," in The 15th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Denver, CO, USA, 2009, pp. 1214-1217. 

X. Zeng, C. T. Smith, J. C. Gould, C. P. Heise, and H. Jiang, "Fiber endoscopes utilizing liquid tunable-focus microlenses actuated through infrared Ught," Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, vol. 20, pp. 583-593,2011. 

---