Fabry-Perot Interferometric Fiber-Optic Sensor for Rapid and Accurate Thrombus Detection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Blood clot formation (thrombosis) is a critical factor in various medical conditions.
• Accurate and timely detection of thrombosis is essential for effective patient management.
• Existing diagnostic methods may have limitations in sensitivity, speed, or in situ applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel fiber-optic sensor for prompt and sensitive detection of blood clot formation.
• To investigate two distinct fiber-optic sensor tip designs based on Fabry-Perot interferometry.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in response to varying concentrations of thrombin, a key factor in clot formation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of two types of fiber-optic sensor tips: a tapered fiber spliced into single-mode fiber (SMF) and an ultra-compact FPI on SMF core.
• Utilizing Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) principles for sensing.
• Assessing sensor performance by measuring spectral shifts induced by controlled thrombin concentrations in blood samples.

Main Results:

• The micro-tip fiber sensor demonstrated a spectral sensitivity of approximately 7 nm/μL and a power sensitivity of 4.1 dB/μL.
• The SMF type sensor exhibited a spectral sensitivity of 8.7 nm/μL and an optical power sensitivity of 0.4 dB/μL.
• Both sensor types showed distinct spectral shifts correlating with thrombin concentration, indicating clot formation detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed fiber-optic thrombosis sensor provides a sensitive and precise method for detecting blood clot formation.
• The sensor's design versatility (tapered vs. ultra-compact) offers options for different applications.
• This technology holds significant potential for in situ medical monitoring, diagnostics, and broader chemical/biological sensing applications.