Biophotonics_Concepts_to_Applications

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