Optical fiber shape sensing systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for measuring bending, the method comprising:
- receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber;
determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and
determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile,wherein the determining bending of the optical fiber is based on separation of the spectral profile of the reflected signal into spectral peaks and/or broadening of the spectral profile of the reflected signal relative to the predetermined spectral profile.
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Abstract
A method for measuring bending is provided. The method includes receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for measuring bending, the method comprising:
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receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the determining bending of the optical fiber is based on separation of the spectral profile of the reflected signal into spectral peaks and/or broadening of the spectral profile of the reflected signal relative to the predetermined spectral profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for measuring bending, the method comprising:
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receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the optical fiber is combined with an elongated flexible instrument, wherein the optical fiber is offset from a neutral axis of the elongated flexible instrument, and wherein the determining bending of the optical fiber further comprises determining whether a portion of the optical fiber has undergone compression or whether the portion has undergone tension. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for measuring bending, the method comprising:
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receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile; and
determining a temperature of the optical fiber based on the spectral profile of the reflected signal. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An instrument system comprising:
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an optical fiber having a strain sensor provided thereon; a detector operatively coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive a reflected signal from the strain sensor; a controller operatively coupled to the detector and configured to; determine a spectral profile of the reflected signal received by the detector, and determine bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the controller is configured to determine the bending of the optical fiber based on separation of the spectral profile of the reflected signal into spectral peaks and/or broadening of the spectral profile of the reflected signal relative to the predetermined spectral profile. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An instrument system comprising:
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an optical fiber having a strain sensor provided thereon; a detector operatively coupled to the optical fiber configured to receive a reflected signal from the strain sensor; a controller operatively coupled to the detector and configured to; determine a spectral profile of the reflected signal received by the detector, and determine bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the optical fiber is combined with an elongated flexible instrument, wherein the optical fiber is offset from a neutral axis of the elongated flexible instrument, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether a portion of the optical fiber located at the strain sensor has undergone bending by determining whether the portion has undergone compression or whether the portion has undergone tension. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An instrument system comprising:
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an optical fiber having a strain sensor provided thereon; a detector operatively coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive a reflected signal from the strain sensor; a controller operatively coupled to the detector and configured to; determine a spectral profile of the reflected signal received by the detector, and determine bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a temperature of the optical fiber based on the spectral profile of the reflected signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for measuring bending, the method comprising:
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receiving a reflected signal from a strain sensor provided on an optical fiber; determining a spectral profile of the reflected signal; and determining bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the determining bending of the optical fiber is based on the direction of shift of spectral profile of the reflected signal relative to the predetermined spectral profile. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An instrument system comprising:
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an optical fiber having a strain sensor provided thereon; a detector operatively coupled to the optical fiber and configured to receive a reflected signal from the strain sensor; a controller operatively coupled to the detector and configured to; determine a spectral profile of the reflected signal received by the detector, and determine bending of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the spectral profile of the reflected signal with a predetermined spectral profile, wherein the controller is configured to determine the bending of the optical fiber based on the direction of shift of spectral profile of the reflected signal relative to the predetermined spectral profile. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification