Fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot interferometers for axial force sensing on the tip of a needle

Journal article (2017)

Authors

Steven Beekmans Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
J.J. Van Den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J. Van Den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
John J. van den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
John J. Van Den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J. J. van den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
John Van Den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
John van den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J. J. Van Den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J. van den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
J.J. van den Dobbelsteen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
D.J. van Gerwen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Dennis J. van Gerwen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Dennis J. Van Gerwen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
D.J. Van Gerwen Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 Steven Beekmans, T. Lembrechts, J.J. van den Dobbelsteen, D.J. van Gerwen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s17010038
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2017

Language

English

Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Biomechanical Engineering

Research Group

Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology

Abstract

A range of complex percutaneous procedures, such as biopsy or regional anesthesia, rely heavily on accurate needle insertion. Small variations in the mechanical properties of the pierced tissue can however cause deviations from the projected needle path and can thus result in inaccurate placement of the needle. Navigation of a rigid needle towards the target tissue is traditionally based on the surgeons capacity to interpret small variations in the needle insertion force. A more accurate measurement of these small force variations enables improvement in needle targeting, can potentially aid in enhancing force feedback in robotic needle placement and can provide valuable information on tissue-tool interaction. In this study we investigated several concepts for the design of a force sensor based on a fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot interferometer to measure needle-tissue interaction forces on the tip of a 18 G needle, where special attention was given to concepts for a sensor with (1), an intrinsic low cross-sensitivity to temperature and (2), elementary design and fabrication. Three concepts, using either a quartz capillary, an Invar capillary or a thin polyimide film as the force sensitive element were prototyped and subjected to both static and dynamic testing. The force transducer based on a quartz capillary presented the lowest cross-sensitivity to temperature ( 12mN/∘ C) and good accuracy (maximum measurement error of 65 mN /10 N ) in a measurement of static forces. However, limited strength of the sensor is expected to prevent usage of the quartz capillary in small diameter needles. The concepts for a sensor based on an Invar capillary or a thin polyimide film proved a higher cross-sensitivity to temperature ( 50mN/∘ C and 220mN/∘ C, respectively) and higher maximum measurement error (350 mN /10 N , 800 mN /10 N ), comparable to those of FBG-based sensors reported in literature, but are likely to be more suitable for integration in very small biopsy needles.