Optic fibers are widely used in medicine to diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments. Because optic fibers can be manufactured extremely thin and in the form of flexible strands, they can be inserted into blood vessels, the lungs, and other body cavities. Through tiny incisions made in the skin, physicians have been able to view and work inside the body using optical fibers and an instrument called an Endoscope. Endoscopes are medical devices that contain two bundles of optic fibers inside a single long tube. One bundle of optic fiber directs light directly at the tissue under examination, while the other bundle of optic fiber transmits light reflected from the tissue, resulting in a detailed image. Endoscopes can be customized to examine particular areas of the human body. For instance, physicians can use the Endoscope's optic fibers to examine knees, shoulders, and other joints throughout the body.
Arthroscopy (pronounced ahr-THROS-kuh-pee) is a medical procedure that involves the use of another medical instrument called an arthroscope. This instrument is straight and cylindrical in shape, with a series of lenses and optic fiber bundles ranging in size from 1/12 to 1/5 inch (2 to 5 millimeters.) It is used to examine joints in the body, such as knee joints, ankle joints, elbows, hips, and shoulders. This is accomplished by inserting the Arthroscope through a small incision into a body joint. The optic fibers are then used to transmit light to the tip of the Arthroscope, illuminating the joint. The Arthroscope's use of optic fiber enables a physician to conduct a thorough examination of a joint for diagnosis or treatment.
The Arthroscope's optical fibers can be used to measure temperature and other bodily parameters in addition to performing surgical procedures. Arthroscopy is most frequently used to treat torn cartilage in the knee. This is when a small incision is made at the joint to allow for the use of the Arthroscope's optic fiber and then a second incision is made to allow for the removal of the cartilage with other surgical instruments. The primary advantage of using optic fibers in arthroscopic surgery is that the procedure can be performed through a small incision, resulting in minimal discomfort and a significantly shorter recovery time than with other methods of surgery.
Apart from Endoscopes and Arthroscopes, another frequently used function of optic fibers in the medical field is their ability to be inserted into blood vessels to provide rapid and accurate blood chemistry analysis. Additionally, physicians have discovered a medical application for optical fibers: they can be used to direct intense laser light at a wound to stop bleeding or burn away abnormal tissue. In the field of medicine, fiber optic training is required. The use of optic fiber in medical science continues to grow at a rapid pace, enabling the development of new and advanced medical devices that enable physicians to provide better care to patients.
