Two-photon direct laser writing of microlenses for bronchoscopy

Optical imaging of internal organs is a crucial tool for advanced medical imaging applications, particularly for minimally invasive procedures like bronchoscopy. Currently, the shape and size of the lens systems are restricted by manufacturing limitations. Incorporating imaging optics at the end of a coherent fibre bundle (diameter 350 µm) offers the potential for far-field imaging of the distal lung reducing the overall catheter size to ~1.8 mm. This enhancement would facilitate real-time 3D reconstruction for spatial airway mapping during navigation. A femtosecond direct laser writing system is incorporated to fabricate micro-lenses with high optical quality. To ensure robustness and reusability, these microlenses will be directly printed onto a fused silica end cap, manufactured using ultrafast laser-assisted etching (ULAE). This talk presents an overview of the methods used to fabricate a functional imaging system to be incorporated with a novel bronchoscope, addressing the challenges and innovations involved in its development.