Optical Fibers Make Sense of Chemicals

Jane Ferguson and David Walt, Tufts University

Optical fibers have revolutionized a variety of fields: They carry images through endoscopes, voices through phone lines, data and video through cable networks, and, more recently, physical and chemical information through sensors.
The fiber's flexibility, long range transmission capability, high bandwidth, high resolution imaging ability and small size enable visual and telecommunication in remote areas. Fiber optic technology and support instrumentation enable measurements of many physical parameters, including strain, pressure, temperature, viscosity and chemical parameters for clinical, process control and environmental applications.
Our research team at Tufts University has used optical fibers to develop multianalyte chemical sensors, microbiosensors, and combined imaging and sensing devices. Recently, the unique features of imaging fibers have been exploited for microfabricating nanostructures and devices.