A Prospective for New Mid‐Infrared Medical Endoscopy Using Chalcogenide Glasses

That chalcogenide glasses potentially provide a solution for mid‐infrared medical endoscopy is discussed in detail for the first time. It is shown that chalcogenide glass fiber optics could underpin new mid‐infrared medical endoscopic systems for real‐time molecular sensing, imaging, and analysis of tissue and for fiber laser surgery at new mid‐infrared wavelengths. Moreover, chalcogenide glass fiber optic and waveguide devices and systems could provide the key to new mid‐infrared communications for molecular sensing to inform decision‐taking in other sectors as diverse as manufacturing, energy, the environment, and security. The development and deployment of chalcogenide glasses for mid‐infrared photonics over the next decade or so could mirror the complexity and versatility of silica fiber optics developed in the 20th century for near‐infrared photonics. These ideas are developed in this article and the current status of chalcogenide glass photonics is briefly surveyed.