Flexible, thin-film miniaturized endoscope and method of use thereof

A method comprising:

• inserting a distal end of a microimaging device into the body of a subject;
• wherein the microimaging device comprises:
• a flexible body having multiple waveguides defined therein, each waveguide having a coupling structure defined at each end thereof to redirect travel of light in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the flexible body;
• delivering light from one or more light sources via the coupling structures on proximal ends of a first subset of the waveguides such as to illuminate an internal structure of the
• body of the subject by light delivered via the coupling structures on distal ends of the first subset of waveguides;
• and
• capturing an image of the internal structure via the coupling structures on proximal ends of a second subset of the waveguides, the image collected via the coupling structures on distal ends of the second set of waveguides.