Abstract

The unique properties of optical fibers such as small size, immunity to electromagnetic radiation, high sensitivity with simpler sensing systems have found their applications from structural monitoring to biomedical sensing. The inclusion of optical transducers, integrated electronics and new immobilization methods, the optical fibers have been used in industrial process, environmental monitoring, food processing and clinical applications. Further, the optical fiber sensing research has also been extended to the area of detection of micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. The validation of optical fibers in bio-sensing applications can be observed from the growing number of publications. This chapter provides a brief picture of optical fiber biosensors, their geometries including the necessary procedure for their development. This chapter could be a milestone for the young researchers to establish their laboratory.

Highlights

  • The inclusion of optical fibers in bio-sensing applications was started by two different, but interrelated discoveries, such as the laser light and optical fibers

  • This book chapter presents a brief discussion about the different optical fiber geometries which have been utilized for the development of different optical fiber sensors and biosensors

  • The second section of the chapter presents the brief discussion about the presence of biochemical markers usually used in bio-sensing applications

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Summary

Introduction

The inclusion of optical fibers in bio-sensing applications was started by two different, but interrelated discoveries, such as the laser light and optical fibers. Based on the core size, operating wavelength, and RI difference of core and cladding, an optical fiber can work in the regime of single or multimode. The optical sensors detect the variation in optical properties of propagating signal, that occurs due to the physiochemical change in targeted environment. For the efficient operation of optical fiber sensors, the interaction of optical signal with external environment should need to be maximized. This can be attained by adopting different optical fiber processing schemes which frequently utilizes the interaction of leaking fields with external environment. The commonly used geometry of optical fiber in sensing applications are discussed in following subsections

Cladding less evanescent based optical fiber sensors
Tapered optical fiber sensor
Interferometers
Grating based optical fiber sensor
Biochemical measurands in healthcare
Chemical optical Fiber sensors
Diagnosis in gas phase
Diagnosis in liquid phase
Characterization and analysis process of optical fiber biosensors
Conclusions
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