Fiber Optic Cables in Biomedical Applications

Fiber optic cables are found in hospitals and doctor's offices around the world. They form the backbone of advanced imaging techniques used in digital diagnostics since they can efficiently transport large quantities of sensitive data. Since these optic cables are inert (non-reactive), they introduce no risk of infection. Their flexibility makes it the natural choice for endoscopes used in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The rise of endoscopy has replaced invasive exploratory surgery in diagnosing difficult medical conditions.

There are many different kinds of endoscopes. They are carefully designed to examine a specific part of the body. Endoscopes may be rigid or flexible, but most endoscopes used in routine surgery are flexible. These two (2) kinds appear different but function similarly. They both use light to magnify and view the internal anatomy of the body.

Flexible endoscopes are useful in looking at the digestive and respiratory tracts because they have the ability to bend in curves, corners, and tight spaces. They use this type of optic cables to shine light into the body.  These thin strands of glass or plastic transmit light by reflecting it. The hollow center of an endoscope allows passage of water, air, and surgical instruments necessary to take a tissue sample from the body.

Flexible endoscopes have a tiny camera, which also uses such cables, attached to the end. The footage captured by the camera is displayed on a computer screen for the use of attending physicians. In some cases, patients are also permitted to view the images of their endoscopic procedure, but this is not the norm.

Rigid endoscopes are typically shorter in length than flexible endoscopes. They are used most of the time to view the surface level of internal organs and are usually inserted in the body via a small cut in the skin. Gas or fluid is preferably used to move the surface tissues of organs for clearer visibility. Rigid endoscopes are commonly used to examine the joints.

The rise of technological advancement in the field of fiber optic cable technology has in turn benefitted medical science through the development of valuable life-saving equipment.