Photonic Integrated Circuit for Endoscopic Imaging

Intro:

Endoscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to look inside the body without a major surgery. Today, this is done using cameras and lenses mounted at the tip of a flexible tube called an endoscope. The diameter of these ‘camera-on-tip’ endoscopes typically ranges from a few millimeters to one centimeter. While this size is small enough to navigate through many parts of the body, it limits access to very narrow channels, such as tiny bronchioles. Larger endoscopes also cause more discomfort for patients. Moreover, the imaging resolution of camera-on-tip endoscopes is constrained by lens aberrations and the camera pixel size. For these reasons, medical endoscopy would greatly benefit from a thinner, less-invasive device with improved imaging resolution.

Recent research shows that multimode fiber (MMF) endoscopes can drastically reduce the tube size, down to 110 µm, and boost the imaging resolution till the diffraction limit. However, illumination wavefront control is necessary to compensate for the fiber's dispersion and enable imaging through it. A recent demonstration from our group shows that a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) can perform the wavefront control to focus the light through a multimode fiber, with the goal of MMF-based endoscopic imaging [1].

Next research steps concern further development of the imaging system which uses a PIC for the illumination wavefront control in MMF-based endoscopy. Such novel imaging systems would leverage silicon photonics to push the boundaries of endoscopy. The endoscopes could be as thin as a hair fiber, and thus, able to deliver high-resolution images from tinniest channels in the body and have real-world impact.

Tasks:

• Literature study: Developing in-depth understanding of MMF endoscopy and relevant PICs
• Optical setup development: Adjusting our optical setup for imaging through an MMF
• Setup programming: Expanding our (python) code for controlling the setup and perform imaging
• Thermal management: Exploring long-term system thermal stability 
• Performing imaging experiments (final goal)

Candidate profile:

• You have a strong interest in experimental work, including optical setup design and building;
• You are proactive and highly motivated to learn and develop new skills;
• Courses on photonics and programming experience are a strong plus;
• Given the international character of imec, a fluent knowledge of English is necessary

Work environment:

This internship provides practical experience at imec Leuven (Belgium), a world-renowned microelectronics and photonics research institute, where innovative scientific research is applied to address real-world challenges. Interns will have the opportunity to collaborate with imec professionals and access advanced laboratory facilities within an international setting.

References:

[1] https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01814