Photonics/​Optics

Optical Fiber Sensor Measures Deviations in Spine

The sensors have already been used to monitor the curvature of structures and robotic arms. But measuring both the magnitude and direction of the spine’s curvature presents an additional challenge.

New Products and Services

The new products and services in November 2022.

Self-Cleaning Optical Fiber Can Help in Diagnosing Cancer, Monitoring Environment

Researchers have successfully developed a novel optical fiber design allowing the generation of rainbow laser light in the molecular fingerprint...

Miniature Optical Fiber Treatment Device Offers More Effective Cancer Immunotherapy

The device infuses antibodies through the miniature fiber to the tumor to activate T cells around tumor cells.

New Products and Services

EMI filters, plastic optic fibers, power modules, and more.

Sensor Tracks Stress Hormone in Real Time

A prototype of a fluorescence-based sensor provides continuous detection of cortisol concentrations in real time.

Ultra-Sensitive, Small Optomechanical Ultrasound Sensor

An optomechanical ultrasound sensor on a silicon photonic chip provides unprecedented sensitivity due to an innovative optomechanical waveguide.

From the Editor: The 2020 Products of the Year

This year, our two winners both represent new imaging capabilities for medical devices.

Product of the Month

Toray Industries has launched Raytela® polymer optical fibers for minimally invasive surgery.

Medical Fiber Optics Market to Benefit from Increasing Use for Improving Patient Care: Study

Technological advancements pertaining to the electronics and healthcare industries is driving the medical fiber optics market. The adoption of...

Researchers Map Light and Sound Wave Interactions in Optical Fibers

Optical fibers make the Internet happen. They are fine threads of glass, as thin as a human hair, produced to transmit light. Optical fibers carry thousands of gigabits of...

CMOS Imaging Sensors: Direct, Real-Time Color Imaging in Cardiovascular Devices

Advances in CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) imaging sensor (CIS) module technology are shrinking pixel size, allowing more pixels to fit...

Handheld Laser Probe Detects Cancer in Real Time

An optical probe that detects cancerous brain cells in real time is impressive enough. Scientists in Montreal say they’ve developed one that is “infallible.”

Glass Fibers with Potential Far Beyond Transmitting Light

Glass fibers do everything from connecting us to the Internet to enabling keyhole surgery by delivering light through an endoscope. But as versatile as today’s fiber optics are,...

Probe Detects Difference between Cancer and Normal Tissue

Researchers have developed an optical fiber probe that distinguishes breast cancer tissue from normal tissue, potentially allowing surgeons to be much more precise when removing...

Fiber Optic Microswitch

Micronor, Camarillo, CA, introduced the MR386 ZapFREE® Microswitch — a fiber-optic microswitch for MRI, medical, and industrial applications. It is interchangeable with the industry-standard V15-series electrical...

Endoscopic Microscope Can Detect Diseases Sooner

A biomedical engineer at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, has developed an inexpensive, endoscopic microscope that, he says, can produce real-time, high-resolution, sub-cellular...

Plastic Optic Fiber—An Evolving Technology

Plastic Optic Fiber (POF) is an established, continually evolving technology available since the early 1980s. From the outset, it was a technology not highly visible for years. At times, it was...

Laser Marking for ID and Traceability Within the Medical Industry

The use of lasers to mark surgical instruments has become of greater significance, however, the parameters used in these applications are not always fully appreciated. The...

Fiber-Optic Pen Allows View into Children’s Brains

Scientists at the University of Washington, Seattle, say that for less than $100, they have designed a computer-interfaced drawing pad that can help scientists see inside the brains of...

Micro-Endoscope as Thin as a Human Hair

Engineers at Stanford University have developed and demonstrated a prototype single-fiber endoscope that, they say, quadruples the resolution over existing designs, which might lead to the development...

High Strength Aluminum Coated Fibers

Stirling, NJ-based Fiberguide Industries, Inc., supplies aluminum coatings for added strength to optical fibers for applications requiring tight bends or resistance to harsh conditions. The fibers have...

Light Source Enables Endoscope Miniaturization

Physical space constraints continue to impact advanced procedures such as single-incision laparoscopic surgery, robotic-assisted surgery, and other minimally invasive surgical procedures....

LED Fiber Optic Light Module

Excelitas Technologies (Waltham, MA) has announced the addition of the XLM Plus LED Fiber Optic Light Module with Electronics, suitable for integration into endoscopy, surgical microscopy, and headlamp...

Composite Cables and Assemblies

The Specialty Photonics Division of OFS Fitel (Avon, CT) has introduced a new composite cable and composite cable assembly product line that offers custom configurations of multiple metal and optical fiber...