Minimally invasive endoscopy faces the challenge of delivering high-resolution images from hard-to-reach areas of the body — while being as gentle as possible on patients.
In our recent publication in Laser & Photonics Reviews, we present an innovative multicore fibre that enables direct, pixelation-free imaging even when the fibre is strongly bent (DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202401757).
The key component is a printed Fresnel phase zone plate on the fibre facet, which creates a focal point and compensates for phase distortions. At the same time, the quasi-aperiodic arrangement of the fibre cores combined with a physics-informed neural network reduces ghost images and improves image contrast.
Our approach simplifies lensless endoscopy - which traditionally requires complex electro-optical systems and calibration - by reducing it to a single fibre that provides robust and high-quality imaging.
