Optical Fiber Probe as a Source of Errors and Uncertainty in Measurements for Optical Noninvasive Diagnostic Devices and Techniques

Abstract

Over the last 10-15 years a large amount of methods and devices of noninvasive medical spectrophotometry including such techniques as in vivo Laser Fluorescent Diagnostics, Tissues Reflectance Oximetry, Laser Doppler Flowmetry, etc. has been developed and involved in a real clinical practice. In that number several problems of accuracy and reproducibility of clinical diagnostic results have been under discussion as well. But systematic metrological research in this field is still unknown. What dispersions and errors in diagnostic data can be estimated if measurements will be executed on the same object several times, by several doctors with different qualifications or using several devices from both the same and a different manufacturer? In this paper some results of the complex study of errors and uncertainties in diagnostic data caused by using an optical multi-fibers probe are presented. Dispersion and errors up to a level of +/-36,3% for the average registered values were discovered. It is shown that the interactive component of errors caused by interaction of the probe and a surveyed object gives the main contribution to the total uncertainty in diagnostic data.