Curvature detection in a medical needle using a Fabry-Perot cavity as an intensity sensor

Abstract

The use of optical sensors inside the needle can improve targeting precision and can bring real-time information about the location of the needle tip if necessary, since a needle bends through insertion into the tissue. Therefore, the precise location of the needle tip is so important in percutaneous treatments. In the current experiment, a fiber sensor based on a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity is described to measure the needle curvature. The sensor is fabricated by producing an air bubble between two sections of multimode fiber. The needle with the sensor therein was attached at one end and deformed by the application of movements. The sensor presents a sensitivity of -0.152 dB/m-1 to the curvature measurements, with a resolution of 0.089 m-1. The sensory structure revealed to be stable, obtaining a cross-sensitivity to be 0.03 m-1/°C. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd