Distributed Sensing Network Enabled by High-Scattering MgO-Doped Optical Fibers for 3D Temperature Monitoring of Thermal Ablation in Liver Phantom

• Main Authors: Aidana Beisenova, Aizhan Issatayeva, Zhannat Ashikbayeva, Madina Jelbuldina, Arman Aitkulov, Vassilis Inglezakis, Wilfried Blanc, Paola Saccomandi, Carlo Molardi, Daniele Tosi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: distributed sensing; nanoparticles doped fibers; optical fibers; temperature monitoring; thermal ablation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/3/828

Thermal ablation is achieved by delivering heat directly to tissue through a minimally invasive applicator. The therapy requires a temperature control between 50–100 °C since the mortality of the tumor is directly connected with the thermal dosimetry. Existing temperature monitoring techniques have limitations such as single-point monitoring, require costly equipment, and expose patients to X-ray radiation. Therefore, it is important to explore an alternative sensing solution, which can accurately monitor temperature over the whole ablated region. The work aims to propose a distributed fiber optic sensor as a potential candidate for this application due to the small size, high resolution, bio-compatibility, and temperature sensitivity of the optical fibers. The working principle is based on spatial multiplexing of optical fibers to achieve 3D temperature monitoring. The multiplexing is achieved by high-scattering, nanoparticle-doped fibers as sensing fibers, which are spatially separated by lower-scattering level of single-mode fibers. The setup, consisting of twelve sensing fibers, monitors tissue of 16 mm × 16 mm × 25 mm in size exposed to a gold nanoparticle-mediated microwave ablation. The results provide real-time 3D thermal maps of the whole ablated region with a high resolution. The setup allows for identification of the asymmetry in the temperature distribution over the tissue and adjustment of the applicator to follow the allowed temperature limits.