Fiber Bragg Grating Interferometer for Microvascular Tool Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive surgery, particularly endovascular procedures, there is a challenge in accurately measuring bending, temperature, and pressure at the tip of microvascular tools due to distorted haptic feedback, which can lead to vessel injury and complications like dissection or perforation, especially in patients with preexisting arterial diseases.
Innovation Solution
An optical measurement device using Fiber Bragg Gratings embedded in a silicon dioxide single-mode fiber, multiplexed at specific locations to distinguish and quantify strain, temperature, and bending, utilizing a Fabry-Perot Interferometer setup with tuned reflectivity to enhance signal interference and enable simultaneous measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If instruments are migrated further into the vessel to reach the desired region, then the ability to access distant lesions is improved, but the resistance and haptic feedback distortion increase due to increasing surface area contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical haptic feedback sensing with optical sensing using Fiber Bragg Gratings. The FBG sensors detect strain, temperature, and bending through optical wavelength shifts, eliminating the need for mechanical force sensing at the instrument tip. This substitution provides accurate remote sensing without the distortion inherent in mechanical haptic feedback transmission through long instrument shafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Fiber Bragg Grating sensors as intermediary elements embedded within the instrument structure. These FBG sensors act as remote proxies that directly sense conditions at the instrument tip and transmit information back through the fiber optic cable, providing accurate feedback without requiring direct mechanical coupling between the operator and the distant instrument tip.
2Force
If more force is applied to overcome increasing resistance, then the ability to navigate to the desired region is improved, but the risk of vessel injury increases due to elastic compression and springlike behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback through FBG sensors that continuously monitor strain, temperature, and bending at the instrument tip. This feedback is transmitted to the operator, enabling them to detect early signs of excessive force application or vessel compression and adjust accordingly, preventing elastic compression and springlike behavior that could lead to sudden instrument leaps and vessel injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary detection of adverse conditions through the FBG sensing system. By monitoring strain and bending before critical thresholds are reached, the system allows operators to take preventive action by reducing applied force before elastic compression occurs, thereby preventing the harmful springlike behavior and associated vessel injury risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are multiplexed in the fiber to measure strain, temperature and bending, then the measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Fiber Bragg Gratings that serve multiple sensing functions simultaneously. A single FBG structure can detect strain, temperature, and bending through different spectral characteristics, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensors for each parameter. This multi-functionality reduces the number of discrete components needed while maintaining comprehensive measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the spectral dimension of light to encode multiple measurement parameters. Different sensing information (strain, temperature, bending) is represented by different wavelength shifts or spectral features of the FBG, allowing multiple parameters to be transmitted through a single fiber optic channel without spatial or temporal multiplexing complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the fiber diameter is reduced to enable use in small vessels, then the adaptability to small vessels is improved, but the signal strength and measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical sensing with Fiber Bragg Gratings that are inherently suitable for thin fiber implementations. The FBG sensors detect changes through optical wavelength shifts rather than mechanical displacement, maintaining high measurement precision even in fibers with diameters small enough for use in delicate intracranial vessels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides accurate and simultaneous measurement of bending, temperature, and pressure, even in small vessels, reducing the risk of unintentional instrument movement and vessel injury by detecting strong compression early, suitable for MRI environments and enhancing safety in minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
at least two Fiber Bragg Gratings as a Fabry Pero-Interferometer are arranged in the fiber allowing for reflection of light emitted by the light source into the fiber, back through the fiber towards the optical spectrum analyzer
Implementation Method 2
at least two Fiber Bragg Gratings as a Fabry Pero-Interferometer are arranged in the fiber allowing for reflection of light
Implementation Method 3
allowing for simultaneous measurement of bending, temperature and pressure
Implementation Method 4
Fiber Bragg Gratings embedded in a silicon dioxide single-mode fiber, multiplexed at specific locations to distinguish and quantify strain, temperature, and bending
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5(A)~6CII
AI summary
The invention pertains to an optical measurement device for enabling simultaneous measurement of temperature, pressure and bending, comprising a broadband light source (Q), a fiber (F), and an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), whereby in the fiber (F) at least two Fiber Bragg Gratings as a Fabry-Perot Interferometer are arranged allowing for reflection of light emitted by the light source (Q) into the fiber (F), back through the fiber (F) towards the optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), whereby reflection is depending of the temperature, pressure and bending applied to the fiber (F) in the region of the Fiber Bragg Grating Fabry-Perot Interferometer, whereby by use of the at least two Fiber Bragg Gratings Fabry-Perot Interferometer additional correlation features are produced allowing for separation of temperature, pressure and bending. The invention also pertains to a method using said optical measurement device and the uses in medicine.