Side-looking endoscopic micro-optics: comparison between state-of-the-art two-photon polymerization printing...

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Devices

Background:

• Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is a key fabrication method alongside formative and subtractive processes.
• Two-photon polymerization (2PP) enables high-precision microfabrication for applications in communication, electronics, and medicine.
• Micro-optical components, like endoscopes, can be precisely manufactured using 2PP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the fabrication capabilities of two-photon polymerization (2PP) and two-photon grayscale lithography (2GL).
• To evaluate the printing quality, speed, and optical performance of side-looking optical coherence tomography (OCT) endoscopes produced by these methods.
• To analyze the microscopic appearance and topography deviations of 3D-printed OCT endoscopes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two commercial 3D printers: Photonic Professional GT (PPGT) and Quantum X.
• Employed both two-photon polymerization (2PP) and two-photon grayscale lithography (2GL) printing modes.
• Assessed microscopic appearance, quantified topography deviations, and measured optical performance via beam profiles.

Main Results:

• Presented detailed microscopic observations of the 3D-printed endoscopes.
• Quantified topographical inaccuracies, highlighting differences between 2PP and 2GL.
• Analyzed optical performance, comparing beam profiles generated by each printing technique and machine.

Conclusions:

• Both 2PP and 2GL are viable for fabricating OCT endoscopes, with distinct trade-offs in quality and speed.
• The choice between 2PP and 2GL depends on specific application requirements for precision and fabrication time.
• State-of-the-art 3D printers offer advanced capabilities for producing complex micro-optical medical devices.