Abstract
In the last years, optical fiber based sensors and systems for ehealthcare attracted the attention of the scientific community. Over this chapter, optical fiber technology is presented, referring the different types of optical fibers, its main characteristics, and advantages over other sensing methodologies. In addition, optical fiber based sensors and sensing techniques are discussed and several works reported in the literature are reviewed showing that they are a valuable technique to improve healthcare service to the community and as a potential solution to answer different problems. The final section of the chapter consists of the description of three applications of optical sensors in healthcare, namely monitoring of human joint movement, measuring strain of biological tissues, and characterization of medical materials.
TopOptical Fiber Technology
Optical fibers are mostly known as a transmission medium in data networks. They consist of a glass or plastic material through which light pulses are sent to represent data that is intended to convey. Their development was largely due to the development of optical communication systems. These systems have been undergoing significant growth since 1960, at the time of the laser discovery. Then, there were preliminary experiments to transmit information through light beams propagated in the atmosphere, but quickly was verified that the variability of the atmospheric environment was a limiting factor, requiring other means that would guide the light signals. Optical fibers are the central element in optical communication systems, although currently their applications are not limited to a transport channel and can also be used as sensors.
There are mainly two types of optical fiber: Glass Optical Fiber (GOF) and Plastic Optical Fiber (POF). They are flexible waveguides, manufactured from dielectric materials, almost transparent to the operation wavelength. The cross section of these is generally circular and in their most basic form, divided into three concentric layers, namely the core, cladding and coating. The propagation of the optical signal is carried out mainly in the fiber core. However, if the fiber was only formed by the core, although the total internal reflection occurs, the light would be lost due to absorption phenomena or due to frustrated total internal reflection when in contact with the core interface. For these reasons, the core is surrounded by the cladding, which is also a transparent layer, characterized by a refractive index lower than the core index. The coating provides mechanical protection to the optical fiber.
The POF has some important advantages over the GOF. Specifically, the typical larger diameter, 0.25 mm to 1 mm, allows the use of connectors with low accuracy, reducing the total cost associated with a POF system. In this sense, the POF can be a disruptive technology (Polishuk, 2005). This assertion is supported by the growing number of papers on POF sensors. The properties of the POF polymers, usually Poly(Methyl MethAcrylate) (PMMA), clearly differ from the properties of silica and therefore provide additional benefits associated in large part to the fact that the Young's modulus is about twenty five times lower than that of silica.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Gait: Process of performing a progression in space and involves rhythmic and reciprocal movements of the legs, where one foot is always in contact with the ground.
Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG): Periodic modulation of the refractive index of the core along the optical fiber that reflects a narrow band of radiation centered in the so called Bragg wavelength.
Optical Fibers: A thin cylindrical structure, the core, surrounded by another concentric layer, the cladding, which is used to guide light.
Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG): Periodic modulation of the refractive index of the core along the optical fiber that reflects a narrow band of radiation centered in the so called Bragg wavelength.
Healthcare: The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.
Polymeric Optical Fibers (POF): An optical fiber constituted by polymeric materials.
Healthcare: The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.
Sensors: Device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus.
Biomaterial: Material used to construct artificial organs, rehabilitation devices, or prostheses and replace natural body tissues.
Polymeric Optical Fibers (POF): An optical fiber constituted by polymeric materials.
Gait: Process of performing a progression in space and involves rhythmic and reciprocal movements of the legs, where one foot is always in contact with the ground.
Biomaterial: Material used to construct artificial organs, rehabilitation devices, or prostheses and replace natural body tissues.
Optical Fibers: A thin cylindrical structure, the core, surrounded by another concentric layer, the cladding, which is used to guide light.
Sensors: Device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus.