Design of an Optically Controlled MR-Compatible Active Needle

An active needle is proposed for the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided percutaneous procedures. The needle uses a low-transition-temperature shape memory alloy (LT SMA) wire actuator to produce bending in the distal section of the needle. Actuation is achieved with internal optical heating using laser light transported via optical fibers and side coupled to the LT SMA. A prototype, with a size equivalent to a standard 16-gauge biopsy needle, exhibits significant bending, with a tip deflection of more than 14° in air and 5° in hard tissue. A single-ended optical sensor with a gold-coated tip is developed to measure the curvature independently of temperature. The experimental results in tissue phantoms show that human tissue causes fast heat dissipation from the wire actuator; however, the active needle can compensate for typical targeting errors during prostate biopsy.

MR-compatible biopsy needle with enhanced tip force sensing

We describe an instrumented biopsy needle that provides physicians the capability to sense interaction forces directly at the tip of the needle's inner stylet. The sensors consist of optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), and are unaffected by electromagnetic fields; hence the needle is suitable for MR-guided procedures. In comparison to previous instrumented needles that measure bending strains, the new design has additional sensors and a series of micro-machined holes at the tip. The holes increase strain sensitivity, especially to axial forces, without significantly reducing the stiffness or strength. A comparison of the dynamic forces measured with the new needle and those obtained using a force/torque sensor at the needle base shows that the enhanced tip sensitivity is particularly noticeable when there is significant friction along the needle sleeve.

Real-Time Estimation of 3-D Needle Shape and Deflection for MRI-Guided Interventions

We describe a MRI-compatible biopsy needle instrumented with optical fiber Bragg gratings for measuring bending deflections of the needle as it is inserted into tissues. During procedures, such as diagnostic biopsies and localized treatments, it is useful to track any tool deviation from the planned trajectory to minimize positioning errors and procedural complications. The goal is to display tool deflections in real time, with greater bandwidth and accuracy than when viewing the tool in MR images. A standard 18 ga × 15 cm inner needle is prepared using a fixture, and 350-μm-deep grooves are created along its length. Optical fibers are embedded in the grooves. Two sets of sensors, located at different points along the needle, provide an estimate of the bent profile, as well as temperature compensation. Tests of the needle in a water bath showed that it produced no adverse imaging artifacts when used with the MR scanner.

Fiber-optic coupling based on nonimaging expanded-beam optics

We have fabricated and experimentally tested low-cost and mass-producible multimode fiber-optic couplers and connectors based on nonimaging beam-expanding optics and Liouville's theorem. Analysis indicates that a pair coupling loss of -0.25 dB can be achieved. Experimentally, we measured insertion losses as low as -0.38 dB. The beam expanders can be mass produced owing to the use of plastic injection-molding fabrication techniques and packaged in standard connector housings. This design is compatible with the fiber geometry and can yield highly stable coupling owing to its high tolerance for misalignments.

Fiber-optic wavelength-division multiplexing and demultiplexing using volume holographic gratings

We present theoretical and experimental results of a novel fiber-optic wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) design employing a broadband (>150-nm) dichromated gelatin volume holographic grating operating in a reflective Littrow configuration with on-axis optics, a single lens, and one fiber array. This configuration can achieve better than -1.5-dB insertion loss and -40-dB cross talk for a 6-channel system and -2.5-dB insertion loss and -20-dB cross talk for a 12-channel system with 15-nm channel spacing. For an experimental 4-channel WDM unit we measured better than -1.5-dB insertion loss for all channels and less than -32-dB cross talk. This design can provide cost and performance benefits for local area network communication applications.

Bandwidth estimation for multimode optical fibers using the frequency correlation function of speckle patterns

In this paper we present a new method for estimating the bandwidth of multimode optical fibers based on the frequency correlation function of the speckle patterns generated by the interference of fiber modes. This technique, which does not require a pulse or signal generator, can be utilized to estimate the bandwidth of a multimode fiber using a relatively short length of fiber. By applying this method to a test fiber we obtained a bandwidth of approximately 36 MHz km which is in relatively good agreement with the approximately 44-MHz x km bandwidth measured by a conventional pulsed technique.

Laser phase noise effects in fiber-optic signal processors with recirculating loops

The power spectrum of the optical intensity at the output of a single-mode-fiber recirculating delay line driven by a multimode semiconductor laser is shown to exhibit a spectral structure with notches at zero frequency as well as at other multiples of 1/(loop delay). A theoretical model based on laser phase noise is suggested to explain the experimental data.

Fiber-optic signal processor with applications to matrix-vector multiplication and lattice filtering

A new fiber-optic signal processor is proposed to implement systolic matrix-vector multipliers and lattice filters. 10(9) multiplications/sec can be achieved with currently available components for matrix-vector multiplications that involve Toeplitz matrices. A 2 x 2 (Toeplitz) matrix-vector multiplier has been experimentally demonstrated using single-mode fibers and directional couplers. The filtering characteristics of the device are also discussed.