The "Micro Optical Systems" working group, headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Toulouse, deals with topics relating to 3D-printed microoptics and their application: complex miniaturized systems, process development, photonic packaging, biophotonic applications, ultra-thin endoscopy and endoscopic 3D printing.
Members:
Publications:184 KBPDF
Projects:
Endoscopic 3D printing
Reconstructing tissue directly in the body is a major interdisciplinary research task. Although modern 3D printing technologies allow tissue scaffolds to be additively manufactured outside the body, their seamless implantation using minimally invasive methods is difficult. An endoscopic bio-3D printer could close this gap. A 3D-printed micro-optic, as small as a grain of salt, on the tip of a glass fiber is intended to shape light in such a way that even complex tissue structures can be 3D-printed. The central research questions of the junior research group are: Which method of light-based 3D printing is suitable for endoscopic use in a biomedical context? How can fiber-based 3D printing be implemented in a minimally invasive, efficient and safe manner? In the future, such an endoscopic 3D printer could enable high-precision tissue reconstruction directly inside the body.
- 3DEndoFab
- Supported by: Carl Zeiss Foundation, CZS Nexus
- Duration: October 2025 - September 2030
- Funding: 1.8 million euros
- InVivoPrint
- Funded by: Baden-Württemberg Foundation, Life Science Engineering
- Duration: October 2025 - September 2028
- Funds: 470T Euro in the consortium
- Collaboration partners: Prof. Michael Heymann and Prof. Tobias Siebert (University of Stuttgart)
(Photos: University of Stuttgart / Uli Regenscheit)
