Cellulose optical fiber for human health monitoring

Ari Hokkanen*, Markku Kapulainen, Aayush Kumar Jaiswal, Anniina Savolainen, Sourov Chandra, Minna Makki, Olli Ikkala, Hannes Orelma

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

Cellulose, as a fully renewable, biodegradable, and biocompatible material, creates new possibilities for optical fiber (OF) sensor applications. Cellulose OFs are highly hygroscopic, exhibiting rapid wetting and drying properties with water and moisture, easily functionalized, and can be either made water-resistant or water-soluble. These fibers are not aimed towards replacing the existing glass or polymer OFs in telecommunication or in current sensing applications, rather cellulose OF sensors can open new application areas where the reactive materials are required. For example, compared to glass or polymer OFs, cellulose OFs are porous and allow liquid transport in and out of the fiber. Moreover, the cellulose waveguide material itself can be chemically functionalized. Such cellulose OFs fit well with human health monitoring where the new possibilities that cellulose offers can be utilized. Here we demonstrate a face mask that contains regenerated cellulose (RC) OF with a 1.8 dB/cm attenuation constant for respiratory rate monitoring. RC is a class of man-made cellulose materials that includes commonly materials like rayon textiles and cellophane films. The cellulose fiber inside the face mask rapidly absorbs moist and dries between each breath, which causes a periodic change in optical power transmitted through the fiber. A face mask does not prevent fast drying of the fiber. Such RC fiber fits well to respiratory rate monitoring because it exhibits good mechanical performance in both dry and wet states. Cellulose OF length was about 5 cm long with a loop-type sensor structure. Measured respiratory rates varied between 16-54 breaths per minute.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOptical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Diagnostics, Treatment, and Environmental Applications XXIV
EditorsIsrael Gannot, Israel Gannot, Katy Roodenko
PublisherSPIE
Pages1-9
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-5106-6930-7
ISBN (Print)978-1-5106-6929-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Mar 2024
MoE publication typeA4 Conference publication
EventOptical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Diagnostics, Treatment, and Environmental Applications - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 27 Jan 202429 Jan 2024
Conference number: 24

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE
PublisherSPIE
Volume12835
ISSN (Print)1605-7422
ISSN (Electronic)2410-9045

Conference

ConferenceOptical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Diagnostics, Treatment, and Environmental Applications
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period27/01/202429/01/2024

Keywords

  • Cellulose
  • optical fiber
  • regenerated cellulose
  • respiratory rate
  • sensor

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