Multicore large-aperture fiber-optic probe based on quartz–quartz-type lightguides for near-infrared fluorimeters

Abstract

The optimization problem of the parameters of lightguides for fiber-optic probes used in fluorescent tumor diagnostics (of benign and malignant tumors) is considered. It has been shown that, to increase the sensitivity of a fluorimeter in the near-infrared region, it is promising to use fiber lightguides of the quartz–quartz type, with an increased numerical aperture of up to 0.30 and a biocompatible protective coating of P-12 polyamide or tetrafluoroethylene copolymer with Tefzel ethylene, as probe lightguides for detecting luminescence. Using such lightguides, a prototype version of a 19-core large-aperture fiber-optic probe for a laser oncofluorometer with increased sensitivity operating in the spectral range 900–1100 nm has been developed. The minimum dose of the injected drug was 10 μg/kg of bio-object weight, which corresponds to a world-class level of sensitivity of photosensitizer detection in biological tissues.