Fiber optic temperature sensors for medical applications

Recent developments in fiber-optic sensor technology have demonstrated the utility of fiber optic sensors for both medical and industrial applications. Fiber sensors allow rapid and accurate temperature measurements in challenging environments. Fiber sensors provide a method where extraneous environmental effects are minimized and accurate temperature measurements can be obtained. For medical applications, new breakthroughs in RF ablation technology and electro-surgical procedures are being introduced as alternative, less invasive treatment for removal of small tumors, and for removal of plaque within arteries as a preventive treatment that avoids open heart surgery: The availability of small diameter temperature probes (125 microns to 450 microns in diameter) offers a whole new scope to temperature measurement. Accurate and reliable temperature monitoring during any laser treatment procedure, cryogenic procedure or RF procedure at a surgical site is critical. Precise, NIST traceable results are needed to prevent overheating or underheating during treatment. In addition, how interventional catheters are used in hyperthermia studies and the advantages to having flexible cables and multiple sensors are discussed. Preliminary data is given from an animal study where temperature was monitored in a pig during an RF study.