Fiber optics sensors for ultrasonic virtual biopsy

Author

Acquafresca, Alberto ; Biagi, Elena ; Masotti, Leonardo ; Menichelli, David

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. & Telecommun., Florence, Italy

Volume

1

fYear

2002

fDate

2002

Firstpage

261

Abstract

Recent progresses in optoacoustics let us foresee the possibility to realize a strongly miniaturized transducer constituted by two optical fibers: a first fiber, with a heavily absorbing film on its extremity, to generate broadband ultrasounds; another fiber, with a Fabry-Perot cavity mounted, or deposed, on its tip, to optically detect ultrasonic echoes. The proposed transducer is characterized by high cutoff frequency, wide bandwidth, high electromagnetic compatibility and no electrical wiring. Due to these virtues, the transducer may result greatly useful for diagnostic applications, allowing for higher echographic resolution and microstructural tissue characterization. In addition, the transducer miniaturization would make possible its insertion in the human body for a direct investigation of focal lesions with minimal invasivity. Thus, a path toward virtual biopsy may be traced.

Keywords

biomedical transducers; biomedical ultrasonics; fibre optic sensors; photoacoustic effect; virtual reality; broadband ultrasounds generation; diagnostic applications; focal lesions investigation; heavily absorbing film; high cutoff frequency; higher echographic resolution; human body insertion; medical instrumentation; microstructural tissue characterization; minimal invasivity; transducer miniaturization; ultrasonic virtual biopsy; Biomedical optical imaging; Biopsy; Extremities; Fabry-Perot; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Optical films; Optical sensors; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic transducers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Sensors, 2002. Proceedings of IEEE

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7454-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSENS.2002.1037095

Filename

1037095