Md. Barrett et al., Extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer for measuring the stiffness of ciliary bundles on hair cells, IEEE BIOMED, 46(3), 1999, pp. 331-339
We have developed an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) to measure
displacements of microscopic, living organelles in the inner ear. The EFPI
is an optical phase-shifted instrument that can be used to measure nanomet
er displacements. The instrument transmits a coherent light signal to the e
nd of a single glass optical fiber where the measurement is made. As the co
herent light reaches the end of the fiber, part of this incident signal is
reflected off the internal face of the fiber end (reference reflection) and
part is transmitted through the end of the fiber. This transmitted light t
ravels a short distance and is reflected off the surface whose displacement
is to be measured (the target). This sensing reflection then reenters the
fiber where it interferes with the reference reflection, The resulting inte
rference signal then travels up the same optical fiber to a detector, where
it is converted into a voltage that can be read from an oscilloscope. When
the target moves, the phase relation between reference and sensing reflect
ions changes, and the detector receives a modulated signal proportional to
the target movement. Reflections of as little as 1% at both the sensor tip
and target surfaces produce good results with this system.
We use the EFPI in conjunction with fine glass whiskers to measure the stif
fness (force per unit deflection) of stereociliary bundles on hair cells of
the inner ear. The forces generated are in the tenths of picoNewton range
and the displacements are tens of nanometers. Here we describe the EFPI and
its development as a method for measuring displacements of microscopic org
anelles in a fluid medium. We also report experiments to validate the accur
acy of the EFPI output and preliminary measurements of ciliary bundle stiff
ness in the posterior semicircular canal.