Optical Fiber Thermometer For Medical Use

Abstract

Optical fiber thermometers are of extreme interest for very localized and e.m. immune measurements in several medical procedures,such as cancer treatment by R.F. or microwave hyperthermia technique,or blood flow and cardiac output measurements by thermodilution techniques.Operational principle and technical data of an original sensor based on the light intensity modulation induced by a thermosensitive liquid cladding,applied on the distal end of a 200 μm core silica-plastic fiber,are reported.Performance characteristics of this ther-mometer are also reported.