3D ultrathin endoscope

Thousands of patients with suspected lung cancer or other pulmonary diseases undergo a bronchoscopy every year in Australia. However, bronchoscopy often fails at diagnosing smaller or non-superficial lesions and cannot image deeper into the lungs where the airways become too narrow for the bronchoscope.

We have developed a 3D microendoscopy technology to address this problem. Our system combines thin optical fibres (under 0.5 mm in diameter), simple optical components and an image processing algorithm that allows for fast 3D imaging.

By imaging in different colour channels, our technology has the potential to generate diagnostic information based on disease-dependent light-tissue interaction.