Abstract
Imaging of hard-to-access tissues in life sciences requires miniaturized endoscopic architectures, for instance to access luminal organs like small arteries. Multiple imaging modalities (bright-/dark-field, polarization-sensitive, fluorescence) provide comprehensive insights into the tissues, but require sophisticated optical systems to co-integrate illumination and imaging. With traditional manufacturing techniques, such complex endoscope-optics are prohibitively difficult to realize at an ultra-compact scale (∅<1 mm), motivating the development of new fabrication approaches.
Our research combines microfabrication via multiphoton 3D-printing, microfluidics, and micromechanical assembly, to produce highly integrated fiber-endoscope optics for high-resolution imaging. At the sub-millimeter scale, we realize important functionalities such as refocusing by magnetically driven lens-actuators, encapsulation for immersion microscopy, color-filtering and luminescence by mixing functional additives in the 3D-printed material. Using this toolbox for micro-optics 3D-printing and functionalization, we realize ultracompact endoscopic devices for integrated dark-/bright field illumination at a fiber tip, endoscopic 3D-bioprinting of cell-scaffolds for issue engineering, OCT-endomicroscopy in the intrathecal space, and high resolution (NA > 0.5) immersion endo-microscopy. These devices demonstrate the technological potential to advance compact biophotonics by integrated 3D-printed micro-optics, and motivate continued translational efforts towards real-world applicable devices for life science research and medical diagnostics.
Biography:
Marco is a doctorate researcher at the Institute of Applied Optics (ITO), University of Stuttgart, Germany. He initially focused on advancing performance prediction of optical microsystems by developing new wave optical simulation methods. Then, he worked on advancing fabrication process fundamentals, combining 3D-printing with microfluidics to enable micro-optics for endoscopic microscopy. Currently, he concentrates on collaborative translational research, leveraging 3D-printing technology to realize ultracompact endoscopic devices for multimodal endoscopy.