A group of researchers from Russia and Switzerland, led by Skoltech professor Dmitry Gorin, has developed a modified optical fiber capable of acting as a miniature light source inside the body. This technology opens up new possibilities for medical diagnostics and therapy, including vessel visualization and photodynamic therapy.
Traditional endoscopic probes face the problem of light intensity loss during examination. Scientists have solved this problem by creating a hollow optical fiber coated with polymer membranes and quantum dots – nanoparticles that act as artificial atoms, effectively converting light.
A medical probe equipped with the proposed light source can be used to examine surfaces, visualize biological tissues, remove pathological formations using so-called photodynamic therapy, and solve other problems. Also, the resulting optical system is promising for creating optically pumped lasers operating in a fairly wide range of wavelengths.
Scientists were able to create a method that allows quantum dots to be applied to optical fiber. This method significantly reduces optical losses and makes the material suitable and effective for research. This opens up new opportunities for studying blood vessels and creating various optical devices. If mirrors are added to the optical fiber, it can be turned into a compact and tunable laser emitter. This may find application in medicine, as scientists note.
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