Fiber Optic Sensors for Biomedical Applications

This paper demonstrates how research at the intersection of physics, engineering, biology and medicine can be presented in an interactive and educational way to a non-scientific audience. Interdisciplinary research with a focus on prevalent diseases provides a relatable context that can be used to engage with the public. Respiratory diseases are significant contributors to avoidable morbidity and mortality and have a growing social and economic impact. With the aim of improving lung disease understanding, new techniques in fibre-based optical endomicroscopy have been recently developed. Here, we present a novel engagement activity that resembles a bench-to-bedside pathway. The activity comprises an inexpensive educational tool (<$70) adapted from a clinical optical endomicroscopy system and tutorials that cover state-of-the-art research. The activity was co-created by high school science teachers and researchers in a collaborative way that can be implemented into any engagement development process.

Section: Optical Fibres: From Telecommunications To Biomedical Imaginmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demonstrating the Use of Optical Fibres in Biomedical Sensing: A Collaborative Approach for Engagement and Education

Ehrlich

Parker

McNicholl

et al. 2020

“…Two FBG sensors were encapsulated into a flexible matrix to have a robust system, and to improve the adherence of the sensing elements to the skin and the compliance with the neck movements. FBGs were chosen because of their lightweight, small size, high metrological performances, and immunity to electromagnetic interference [21,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46]. A pilot study on five volunteers aimed at assessing the proposed wearable system in following FE and axial rotation (AR) of the neck, and f R .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi-Parametric Wearable System to Monitor Neck Movements and Respiratory Frequency of Computer Workers

Presti

Carnevale

D’Abbraccio

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common form of occupational ill-health. Neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders experienced by computer workers. Wrong postural habits and non-compliance of the workstation to ergonomics guidelines are the leading causes of neck pain. These factors may also alter respiratory functions. Health and safety interventions can reduce neck pain and, more generally, the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and reduce the consequent economic burden. In this work, a multi-parametric wearable system based on two fiber Bragg grating sensors is proposed for monitoring neck movements and breathing activity of computer workers. The sensing elements were positioned on the neck, in the frontal and sagittal planes, to monitor: (i) flexion-extension and axial rotation repetitions, and (ii) respiratory frequency. In this pilot study, five volunteers were enrolled and performed five repetitions of both flexion-extension and axial rotation, and ten breaths of both quite breathing and tachypnea. Results showed the good performances of the proposed system in monitoring the aforementioned parameters when compared to optical reference systems. The wearable system is able to well-match the trend in time of the neck movements (both flexion-extension and axial rotation) and to estimate mean and breath-by-breath respiratory frequency values with percentage errors ≤6.09% and ≤1.90%, during quiet breathing and tachypnea, respectively.

“…Various optical fibers with different diameters and coating types have been embedded in structural and non-structural film adhesives at various curing temperatures. Detailed attention has been paid to the effect that the embedding has on the sensor (e.g., [13][14][15][16]) but not on the effect that it has on the bonded joint strength and performance. Only very limited research [4,12] is available on this topic, although maintaining quasi-static and fatigue strength is a major issue for the aeronautical industry and airworthiness approval when embedding sensors in aircraft structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Embedding Fiber Optical Sensors in CFRP Film Adhesive Joints on Bond Strength

Grundmann

Brüning

Τσερπές

et al. 2020

The increasing utilization of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the aeronautical industry calls for a structural health monitoring (SHM) system for adhesively bonded CFRP joints. Optical glass fiber with inscribed fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) is a promising technology for a SHM system. This paper investigates the intrusive effect of embedding optical glass fibers carrying FBGs on adhesive bond strength and adhesive layer thickness and quality. Embedding the optical glass fibers directly in the adhesive bond has the advantage of directly monitoring the targeted structure but poses the risk of significantly reducing the bond strength. Optical glass fibers with different cladding diameters (50, 80, 125 µm) and coating types (polyimide, with a thickness of 3−8 µm, and acrylate, with a thickness of ~35 µm) are embedded in structural and repair film adhesives here. Without embedded optical glass fibers, the film adhesives have an adhesive layer thickness of ~90 µm (structural) and ~100 µm (repair) after curing. The intrusive effect of the fiber embedding on the adhesive bond strength is investigated here with quasi static and fatigue single lap joint (SLJ) tensile shear tests. Also, the influence of hydrothermal aging procedures on the quasi static tensile shear strength is investigated. It is found that optical glass fibers with a total diameter (glass fiber cladding + coating) of ~145 µm significantly reduce the quasi static tensile shear strength and increase the adhesive layer thickness and number of air inclusions (or pores) in the structural film adhesive joints. In the repair adhesive joints, no significant reduction of quasi static tensile shear strength is caused by the embedding of any of the tested fiber types and diameters. However, an increase in the adhesive layer thickness is detected. In both adhesive films, no effect on the quasi-static tensile shear strength is detected when embedding optical glass fibers with total diameters <100 µm. The applied aging regime only affects the repair film adhesive joints, and the structural film adhesive joints show no significant reduction. A polyimide-coated 80 µm optical glass fiber is selected for fatigue SLJ tensile shear tests in combination with the more sensitive structural film adhesive. No significant differences between the S-N curves and tensile shear fatigue strength of the reference samples without embedded optical fibers and the samples carrying the polyimide-coated 80 µm optical glass fibers are detected. Thus, it is concluded that the influences of embedding optical glass fibers with total diameters <100 µm on the fatigue limit of the tested film adhesive joints is negligible.