Innovative fiber optic sensors for biomedical measurements

Project objectives

The research aims to develop an innovative flow sensor for neonatal ventilation applications, and to develop and characterize fiber-optic sensors for monitoring mechanical and thermal quantities (e.g., temperature, pressure, and force) of diagnostic and therapeutic interest. Furthermore, the research also focuses on the introduction of laser-induced thermotherapy for pancreatic tumor ablation. In these procedures, fiber optics play a crucial role. During the procedure, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a laser is channeled into an optical fiber, the distal end of which is placed in contact with the tumor being treated. The radiation emitted from the distal end of the fiber interacts with the cancerous tissue, heating it to very high temperatures (>100°C), allowing for ablation. The volume of the ablated tissue and its geometry depend on the laser settings (power, energy, treatment duration) and the characteristics of the distal end of the fiber which influence the emission of the radiation that hits the tissue.

Furthermore, the temperature reached by the tissue during the procedure plays a crucial role in the success of the procedure, as it influences the amount of tissue ablated. For this reason, fiber optic temperature sensors (fiber Bragg grating, FBG, sensors) were used to monitor the temperature reached by the tissue during laser-induced thermometry. These sensors were also used to obtain a reference temperature in the characterization of thermometry based on CT and MRI images. The research activity is therefore divided into the following steps:

• Identification of an operating principle that allows the creation of a flowmeter with metrological characteristics that can be used in neonatal lung ventilation

• Design and construction of the flow sensor

• Metrological characterization of the sensor and comparison with the characteristics of the sensors equipped with commercially available lung ventilators.

The main research line is supported by:

• Design and manufacturing of fiber optic sensors for measuring mechanical and thermal quantities of interest in diagnostic and therapeutic fields.

• Design and manufacturing of optical fibers for use during laser-induced thermotherapy with peculiar characteristics of the distal end

• Characterization of fiber-optic sensors for monitoring the temperature reached by tissues subjected to laser-induced thermotherapy. Development of a system for introducing the sensors into biological tissue at a controlled distance from the applicator. The sensors (FBG) and the aforementioned system were also used to characterize a noninvasive approach to monitoring the temperature of tissue subjected to laser-induced thermometry based on the analysis of CT and MRI images.

Start and end date

31/10/2010 - 30/04/2013

Project Manager

Prof. Sergio Silvestri - Confirmed Associate Professor

Coordinating institution of the project

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

Other Institutions involved

ITALGM srl

Funding source(s).

FILAS, art. 182 paragraph 4 letter c of the Regional Law 04/06 – PST, ITINERIS2