Towards virtual biopsy through an all fiber optic ultrasonic miniaturized transducer: a proposal

Recent progresses in opto-acoustics let us foresee the possibility to realize a strongly miniaturized transducer, characterized by high cutoff frequency, wide bandwidth, high electromagnetic compatibility and no electrical wiring. This transducer is constituted by two optical fibers: a first fiber, with a heavily absorbing film on its extremity generates broad-band ultrasounds. Another fiber, with a Fabry-Perot cavity mounted on its tip, detects ultrasonic echoes through optic interferometry. Such a transducer may result greatly useful for diagnostic applications, allowing for higher echographic resolution and microstructural tissue characterization. In addition, the strong miniaturization would allow its insertion into human body for direct investigation of focal lesions with minimal invasivity. Thus, a path toward "virtual biopsy" may be traced.