Smallest 3D printed miniature endoscope in the world detects cholesterol plaques and thrombs inside human and mouse arteries [Picture: Florian Sterl, Sterltech Optics]
Smallest 3D printed miniature endoscope in the world detects cholesterol plaques and thrombs inside human and mouse arteries [ Picture: Florian Sterl, Sterltech Optics] Researchers of the Universities of Stuttgart and Adelaide in cooperation with medical research centers in Australia developed a special microoptical tool with a thickness of only 125 microns. This enables endoscopic examimations within blood vessels whose diameter is smaller than 0.5 mm and helps detecting plaques or thrombs to reduce the danger of a stroke or a heart attack. Endoscopy allows to examine the body with tubular instruments. Examples include colonoscopy of the intestines or gastroscopy of the stomach. However, such endoscopes are often still as thick as a finger. They are not suited to enter small blood vessels. Glass fiber technology is a promising technique to inspect to such fine veins, because the fibers are just 125 µm in diameter.
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