Open AccessEnhancement of accuracy in shape sensing of surgical needles using optical frequency domain reflectometry in optical fibers
Author(s) -
François Parent,
Sébastien Loranger,
K. Mandal,
Victor Lambin Iezzi,
J Lapointe,
Jean-Sébastien Boisvert,
Mohamed Diaa Baiad,
Samuel Kadoury,
Raman Kashyap
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.8.002210
Subject(s) - reflectometry , optics , materials science , optical fiber , tracking (education) , distributed acoustic sensing , fiber bragg grating , fiber optic sensor , optical time domain reflectometer , scattering , computer science , time domain , polarization maintaining optical fiber , physics , computer vision , psychology , pedagogy
We demonstrate a novel approach to enhance the precision of surgical needle shape tracking based on distributed strain sensing using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). The precision enhancement is provided by using optical fibers with high scattering properties. Shape tracking of surgical tools using strain sensing properties of optical fibers has seen increased attention in recent years. Most of the investigations made in this field use fiber Bragg gratings (FBG), which can be used as discrete or quasi-distributed strain sensors. By using a truly distributed sensing approach (OFDR), preliminary results show that the attainable accuracy is comparable to accuracies reported in the literature using FBG sensors for tracking applications (~1mm). We propose a technique that enhanced our accuracy by 47% using UV exposed fibers, which have higher light scattering compared to un-exposed standard single mode fibers. Improving the experimental setup will enhance the accuracy provided by shape tracking using OFDR and will contribute significantly to clinical applications.