Micro-Camera Can Be Injected With A Syringe -- May Pose Surveillance Concerns (phys.org)

Taco Cowboy quotes a report from ABC Online: German engineers have created a camera no bigger than a grain of salt that could change the future of health imaging -- and clandestine surveillance. Using 3D printing, researchers from the University of Stuttgart built a three-lens camera, and fit it onto the end of an optical fiber the width of two hairs. Such technology could be used as minimally-intrusive endoscopes for exploring inside the human body, the engineers reported in the journal Nature Photonics. The compound lens of the camera is just 100 micrometers (0.1 millimeters) wide, and 120 micrometers with its casing. It could also be deployed in virtually invisible security monitors, or mini-robots with "autonomous vision." The compound lens can also be printed onto image sensor other than optical fibers, such as those used in digital cameras. The researchers said it only took a few hours to design, manufacture and test the camera, which yielded "high optical performances and tremendous compactness." They believe the 3D printing method -- used to create the camera -- may represent "a paradigm shift."

Comments

Lens on a fiber

[friesofdoom]

This is just a lens on the end of a piece of fiber optic fiber. In order to be a camera, it needs to be able to record the image it focuses on, since this can not record anything with out being attached to something else, I do not consider it a camera on its own, it is simply a lens on a fiber.

presumably low power consumption?

[Khopesh]

I couldn't see notes about how the thing is powered, but a third major benefit from this sort of thing may be that its battery usage is negligible. That means you can do so much more than an ambient light sensor. Consider a wearable that scans QR codes automatically, so it's already available when you want it (you never miss the opportunity to get it, nor do you have to fumble around with lining it up or getting it in focus). Now consider the same for facial recognition. This clearly has privacy implications even without being ~invisible.

If it's also cheap enough, you could even knit it into clothing (just encase it so it's water-safe and able to handle temperatures from -40 to 200F). Sensors everywhere, knowing everything you've been in contact with, helping track the spread of diseases ... or just your lost keys.

Also, a big thank you to the submitter, who actually linked the original academic paper in the main Slashdot story. We need more of that.

Only problem: This is not a "camera"

[gweihir]

This is a lens-system at the end of an optical fiber. The actual camera is a the other end of that fiber. The paper-title gets it right: "Two-photon direct laser writing of ultracompact multi-lens objectives". There is nothing "injectable" here and no "surveillance concerns" either. This is a better endoscope, and that is it. As such it is very interesting, no doubt. But the add-on concerns and fear-mongering are complete bullshit.