Chalcogenide optical fiber based sensor for non-invasive monitoring of respiration

We have fabricated an infrared optical fiber based sensor which can monitor the respiration of a patient. The design of a chalcogenide optical fiber based sensor is suitable for insertion into a high electro-magnetic field environment because the sensor consists of low cost and compact mid-infrared components such as a chalcogenide optical fiber, a filament emitter and a thermopile sensor. A fiber-optic respiration sensor is capable of detecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) in exhalation of a patient using the infrared absorption characteristics of carbon gases. It is expected that a mid-infrared fiber-optic respiration sensor, which can be developed based on the results of this study, would be highly suitable for respiration measurements of a patient during the procedure of an MRI.