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Fiber optic shape sensor

  • US 8,358,883 B2
  • Filed: 02/06/2012
  • Issued: 01/22/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • a kinematic chain comprising a proximal end and a distal end flexibly coupled to the proximal end;

    a shape sensing optical fiber associated with the kinematic chain, wherein a shape sensing segment in the optical fiber is defined in the fiber between the proximal end and the distal end, and wherein a three-dimensional reference frame is defined at a start location of the shape sensing segment;

    an interrogator that outputs strain information associated with shape sensing segment; and

    an electronic data processor that receives the strain information and outputs a Cartesian position of an end point of shape sensing segment with respect to the reference frame.

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