Fraunhofer Develops LiFi-Based Wireless Endoscope to Eliminate Cables and Improve Efficiency in Operating Rooms

© Fraunhofer HHI
The medical staff of St. Joseph Krankenhaus use an OR simulator to test the wireless endoscope prototype in an operating room.

(IN BRIEF) Fraunhofer HHI has developed a wireless endoscope prototype that uses LiFi technology to transmit medical imaging data via light, eliminating the need for cables in operating rooms. The system integrates a battery-powered LED light source and optical communication module into the endoscope, enabling real-time transmission of high-resolution images to monitors through receivers embedded in surgical lights. This approach improves hygiene, reduces clutter, and enhances workflow efficiency compared to traditional cable-based systems. Developed in collaboration with IT Concepts GmbH and St. Joseph Krankenhaus Berlin-Tempelhof, the prototype was successfully tested in a simulated operating room environment, demonstrating strong performance in latency, reliability, and image quality. The innovation highlights the potential of optical wireless communication to transform medical imaging and surgical practices.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 4-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications Heinrich Hertz Institute have developed a prototype wireless endoscope that transmits medical imaging data using light instead of cables, offering a new approach to improving efficiency and hygiene in operating rooms. The innovation is part of the OWIMED project, which focuses on enabling optical wireless communication for medical imaging devices.

Conventional endoscopy systems rely on multiple cables for lighting, power supply, and data transmission, often creating clutter in the operating room and complicating sterilization procedures. The new solution replaces these wired connections with LiFi technology, which uses modulated LED light to transmit data at high speeds over short distances.

According to Anagnostis Paraskevopoulos, LiFi offers significant advantages in medical environments due to its reliability, low latency, and secure data transmission. Unlike radio-based wireless systems, light-based communication is confined to a defined space, reducing interference and enhancing data protection.

© Fraunhofer HHI
Optical wireless communication (LiFi) ensures robust data transfer from the endoscope to the monitor even under adverse conditions.

The prototype integrates both a light source and a LiFi communication module directly into the endoscope, allowing it to operate wirelessly using battery power. Data captured by the device during laparoscopic procedures is transmitted optically to receivers embedded in surgical lights positioned above the operating table. These receivers then forward the data to a monitor, where high-resolution 4K images from inside the body are displayed in real time.

The system works by rapidly modulating LED light signals at speeds imperceptible to the human eye. These signals are detected by photodiodes, which convert them into electrical data streams. The connection is bidirectional, enabling surgeons to adjust camera settings directly from the monitor during procedures.

To ensure reliable performance, the LiFi modules were engineered to provide broad signal coverage, enabling consistent data transmission even when the device is moved during surgery. The integrated electronics also support efficient data compression, minimizing latency and reducing energy consumption.

The development was carried out in collaboration with IT Concepts GmbH and St Joseph Krankenhaus Berlin Tempelhof, whose medical staff contributed to the design and testing process. The system was evaluated in a simulated operating room environment using a medical phantom, where it demonstrated strong performance in terms of data speed, reliability, image quality, and usability.

Feedback from clinicians involved in the testing indicated a clear preference for the wireless system over traditional cable-based setups, particularly due to improved ergonomics and reduced clutter in the operating space.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the OWIMED project aims to advance the integration of LiFi technology into medical applications, with the goal of creating safer, more efficient, and more flexible surgical environments.

Media Contact:

Timon Meyer
Head of Corporate Communications
Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute, HHI
Einsteinufer 37
10587 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 31002-119
email: timon.meyer@hhi.fraunhofer.de

SOURCE: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft