A miniature, three-axis, fiber-optic force sensor for MRI-guided cardiac ablation demonstrated high sensitivity, a working range of ~0.5 N, force resolution <1 gm, and MRI-compatibility.
A novel miniature triaxial fiber-optic force sensor demonstrates high sensitivity and MRI compatibility, showing promise for real-time force monitoring during MRI-guided cardiac ablation.
This paper presents the development and evaluation of a miniature, three-axis, fiber-optic force sensor. The sensor is manufactured using low-cost, high-resolution rapid prototyping techniques and is integrated with a catheter to enable the detection of force during MRI-guided cardiac ablation procedures. The working principle is based on reflective light-intensity modulation. A force sensitive structure (flexure) is employed to vary the distance and orientation of an integrated reflector when a force is applied at the catheter tip. In this way, the light is modulated accordingly and the force can be calculated. The sensor has a high sensitivity and an adequate linear response along all three orthogonal axes ( Fx , Fy , and Fz ) and a working range of around 0.5 N. Low-noise, high-gain electronics provide a force resolution of less than 1 gm force. Experiments demonstrate the ability of the sensor to acquire accurate force readings in a dynamic environment. MRI-compatibility experiments are performed in a clinical 1.5-T MR scanner.
Polygerinos et al. (Tue,) conducted a other in MRI-guided cardiac ablation procedures. Triaxial Catheter-Tip Force Sensor was evaluated on Force detection and MRI-compatibility. A miniature, three-axis, fiber-optic force sensor for MRI-guided cardiac ablation demonstrated high sensitivity, a working range of ~0.5 N, force resolution <1 gm, and MRI-compatibility.