Biomedical sensors using optical fibres

Optical techniques developed for sensing purposes proved to be essential in many application fields, ranging from aerospace, industry, process control, to security, and also medicine. The capabilities of these sensors are generally enhanced when a bulk-optical configuration is replaced by optical fibre technology. In the past few years, research programmes and also the market for fibre sensors have assumed a relevant role. This is undoubtedly due to the growing interest in optoelectronics, but also to the very satisfactory performance and reliability that optical fibre sensors are now able to provide. This paper focuses on the advantages that optical fibre sensors offer to the biomedical field, recalls the basic working principles of sensing, and discusses some examples. This review was received in July 1995