A PROTOTYPE FIBER-OPTIC-BASED FIZEAU MEDICAL PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURESENSOR SYSTEM USING COHERENCE READING

A prototype single-mode fibre-based Fizeau interferometric medical pre ssure and temperature sensor system using coherence reading signal rec overy is demonstrated. These sensors have been designed in such a way that they have similar optical path differences and hence problems ass ociated with multiplexing are greatly reduced. For the pressure sensor , a range to resolution ratio of about 6.7 x 10(3):1 and an overall me asurement accuracy of better than +/- 1% over a pressure range of 0-36 0 mmHg have been achieved. For the temperature sensor, a measurement r esolution of 0.006-degrees-C and a 1% span linearity over a temperatur e range of 27.3-62.5-degrees-C have been achieved. The performance of both sensors meets or exceeds established medical requirements, and th e dimensions of the probes are compatible with commercial electric pro bes. Hence this new sensor system is expected to be a practical approa ch for many medical applications.