Fiber Optic Probes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A body compatible fiber optic sensor probe for invasive medical use, the probe including:
- a fiber;
a sensing location at which the fiber is configured to provide at least one detectable changeable optical property responsive to a strain within the fiber;
at least one sensing element which undergoes a volumetric change in response to an in body parameter to be sensed;
wherein the sensing element is coupled to the fiber in such a way that the volumetric change induces the strain within the fiber so as to vary the detectable changeable optical property.
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Abstract
A body compatible fiber optic sensor probe for invasive medical use is provided. The probe includes at least one sensing location at which the fiber is configured to provide at least one detectable changeable optical property responsive to strain within the fiber, and at least one sensing element which undergoes a volumetric change in response to an in body parameter to be sensed. The sensing element is coupled to the fiber in such a way that the volumetric change induces strain within the fiber so as to vary the detectable optical property or properties.
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Citations
209 Claims
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1. A body compatible fiber optic sensor probe for invasive medical use, the probe including:
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a fiber;
a sensing location at which the fiber is configured to provide at least one detectable changeable optical property responsive to a strain within the fiber;
at least one sensing element which undergoes a volumetric change in response to an in body parameter to be sensed;
wherein the sensing element is coupled to the fiber in such a way that the volumetric change induces the strain within the fiber so as to vary the detectable changeable optical property. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 183, 184, 206, 207)
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67. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use which is configured to provide in at least one sensing location an active fiber laser providing a varying optical output in use dependent upon at least one parameter to be measured within a human or animal body.
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68. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use which is configured to provide in at least one sensing location an active fiber laser providing a varying optical output in use dependent upon at least one parameter to be measured within a human or animal body, said probe further comprising at said sensing location at least one sensing element comprising a mass of reactive material.
- 98. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use which comprises at least one sensing location including an active FBG laser or a passive FBG device providing a birefringent optical output or response dependent upon at least one parameter to be measured within a human or animal body.
- 99. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use which comprises at least one sensing location including an active FBG laser or a passive FBG device providing a birefringent optical output or response dependent upon at least one parameter to be measured within a human or animal body, said probe further comprising a sensing element at said sensing location, said sensing element comprising a mass of reactive material.
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128. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use, wherein at least one sensing location of the fiber is provided with a reactive coating configured to create strain within the fiber responsive to at least one body parameter to be measured, such strain providing a change in at least one detectable optical property of the fiber.
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147. A fiber optic sensor comprising a sensing element coupled to the fiber at two or more axially spaced locations thereon, and wherein the sensing element is configured to provide a generally axially directed compressive or extensive force on the fiber between such locations in response to a particular parameter to be measured, such a force providing a changing optical response of the fiber.
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157. A fiber optic sensor in which at least one region of the optical fiber provides a varying optical response depending on axial compressive or extensive strain within the fiber, there being a piston and/or cylinder arrangement including a sensing element coupled to said region of the fiber and arranged to provide such strain in response to a parameter to be measured.
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171. A fiber optic sensor whose optical response changes at one or more measuring locations in response to generally radially applied stress, the fiber being surrounded at such location or locations by a rigid or semi-rigid housing or sleeve, a reactive sensing element being provided between the sleeve and the fiber, the element being arranged to swell in response to a measurand in order to provide strain within the fiber and to change its optical response.
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181. An optical fiber sensor comprising an optical fiber provided with one or more side-holes adjacent at least one sensing region of the fiber, a reactive sensing element provided in one or more side-holes such that the element changes volume to create strain in the fiber in response to one or more measurands to be detected, such strain changing at least one detectable optical property of the fiber.
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191. An optical fiber sensor comprising an optical fiber provided with at least one sensing region and a sensing element wherein the sensing element is configured to apply a sideways force on a sensing region of the fiber to establish a bending strain therein causing a change in a detectable optical property or properties of the fiber.
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204. A body compatible fiber optic sensor probe for invasive medical use, the probe including:
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a fiber;
a sensing location at which the fiber is configured to provide at least one detectable changeable optical property responsive to a strain within the fiber;
at least one sensing element which undergoes a volumetric change in response to an in body parameter to be sensed;
wherein the sensing element is coupled to the fiber in such a way that the volumetric change induces the strain within the fiber so as to vary the detectable changeable optical property and wherein said fiber comprises a pair of pi phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings.
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205. A body compatible fiber optic probe for invasive medical use comprising a sensor element formed from a polymer gel material whose volume changes in response to at least one body parameter to be measured, such change in volume creating strain within the fiber to change at least one detectable optical property thereof.
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208. A method of medical or biological treatment, analysis or diagnosis, involving the use in vivo, ex-vivo or in vitro of an optical fiber sensor, such sensor having at least one sensing location having a sensing element coupled to the fiber, and the method further comprising detecting a changing optical property of the fiber dependent on a parameter which causes a volumetric change in the sensing element, such volumetric change creating strain within the fiber whereby the change in optical response is created.
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209. A method of medical or biological treatment, analysis or diagnosis, in which an optical fiber sensor is exposed to biochemical or biological material, such sensor including at least one active fiber laser providing an output which changes depending on at least one parameter to be measured relating to the material.
Specification