Table 3.1 Major categories of opticalfibers and their applications to biomedical research and
clinical practice (J. Biomed. Opt. 19(8), 080902 (Aug 28, 2014). doi:10.1117/1.JBO.19.8.080902)
Opticalfiber types Characteristics Biophotonics
applications
Conventional solid-core
silicafibers
Multimode Multimode propagation Light
diagnosis;
light therapy
Single-mode Single-mode
propagation
Light
diagnosis
Specialty solid-core
fibers
Photosensitive High photosensitivity
to UV radiation; FBG
fabrication
Light care;
light therapy
UV-resistant Low UV sensitivity and
reduced attenuation
below 300 nm
Light
diagnosis
Bend-loss insensitive High NA and low
bend-loss sensitivity
Light therapy
Polarization-maintaining High birefringence;
preserve the state of
polarization
Light
diagnosis
Double-cladfibers Single-mode core and
multimode inner
cladding
Light
diagnosis
Hard-clad silicafibers Silica glass core with
thin plastic cladding;
increasedfiber strength;
high power
transmission
Light
diagnosis;
light therapy
Coated hollow-corefibers Low absorption for
mid-IR and high optical
damage threshold
Light therapy
Photonic crystalfibers Low loss; transmit high
optical power without
nonlinear effects
Light
diagnosis;
light therapy
Plastic opticalfibers or Polymer opticalfibers Low cost; fracture
resistance;
biocompatibility
Light
diagnosis
Side-emittingfibers and side-firingfibers Emit light along the
fiber or perpendicular
to thefiber axis
Light therapy
Mid-infraredfibers Efficient IR delivery;
large refractive index
and thermal expansion
Light
diagnosis;
light therapy
Opticalfiber bundles Consist of multiple
individualfibers
Light
diagnosis
3.1 Light Guiding Principles in Conventional Optical Fibers 55