Working principle of medical fiber optics

In modern medicine, minimally invasive surgery is becoming increasingly important. The main reason is that patients recover much faster than with standard procedures. Furthermore, smaller incisions mean a lower risk of complications. Many surgical systems rely on fiber optics. Due to the unique properties of fused silica, lasers can be effectively transmitted into the body; additionally, fiber optics can flexibly reach areas of the body that are otherwise difficult to access.

Optical fiber is a type of fiber made of quartz/fluoride/germanium dioxide/glass/plastic, used as a means of light transmission. Optical fibers possess advantages such as large numerical aperture, high mechanical strength, good bending performance, and easy coupling with light sources, making them widely used in medical sensing, medical analysis, process control, laser transmission (especially as an ideal medium for transmitting He-Ne, Ar+ ion, and YAG lasers), laser medicine, and other fields.

Applications of medical optical fiber

Medical optical fibers have excellent biocompatibility and are widely used in the medical field. They can be used in devices and systems operating at a wavelength of 2.14 μm. The fiber core diameter ranges from 200 μm to 600 μm, providing high connection efficiency in data connections or other connectors.

• Laser lithotripsy

Holmium lasers can directly break up stones using cystoscopy, ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. During the process, stones rarely move, the backflushing rate is very low, and no tissue damage is caused. Furthermore, the fiber optic cable is flexible, allowing it to be inserted not only through rigid ureteroscopes but also through flexible ureteroscopes for stone fragmentation.Therefore, it can effectively break up ureteral stones and kidney stones in any location. Holmium/thulium laser treatment of bladder stones is even easier; simply introduce the holmium/thulium laser fiber through the working channel of a cystoscope, then fire the laser. Within seconds, the stone is broken up and expelled through the urethra, making it both safe and time-saving.Compared with commonly used extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and pneumatic ballistic lithotripsy, it solves the problems of low pulverization efficiency and tissue damage, and has strong safety and wide applicability.

• Arterial embolism

Arterial blockage can lead to heart attacks or strokes. To remove the blockage, laser catheters can be used. The catheter guides ultraviolet laser pulses through an optical fiber to the blockage and dissolves it in the blood vessel. Because the wavelength is short and does not penetrate deep into the wall, the risk of damaging the artery is reduced. The suspended, glue-free, high-power fiber optic bundle uses high-quality imported optical fibers from Europe and America, high-end polishing equipment and complete polishing processes imported from Japan, and high-precision connectors. The resulting fiber optic patch cords can be widely used in various fields such as industrial production and processing, scientific research, biochemical testing, and medical device accessories.

• Imaging Fiber Optic Endoscopes

Medical fiber optic endoscopes occupy a crucial position in the current medical device market. Doctors can not only observe and diagnose internal organs and tissues using fiber optic endoscopes, but also use them in conjunction with lasers to perform surgery on lesions. Furthermore, the eyepiece of the fiber optic endoscope can be connected to a CCD camera unit to output, display, and store images.

• Dental laser treatment

The wavelength of YAG laser rays is close to the absorption peak of infrared rays by the OH group of water and hydroxyapatite. The laser energy can be fully absorbed by water molecules in the irradiated area, so it can be used on all water-containing oral tissues.When tissue is irradiated by a laser, the influence of the laser is limited to a surface layer only a few micrometers thick. The laser energy is transferred to the coaxial water-air mixture, activating the water mist to generate water molecules with ultra-high energy. The water molecules carry energy and act on the tissue at the irradiation site, causing the internal pressure of the thin layer to increase to a level that exceeds the strength that the tooth tissue can withstand. The vapor pressure is released from the tissue molecules, generating micro-explosions, thereby effectively cutting the tissue.

Fibercloud’s  Medical fiber optic product characteristics