Resorbable optical fibers for monitoring physiological signals: a proof-of-concept validation

Development of optical quality bioresorbable fibers is an emerging area of study where researchers are trying to advance the field by assessing the suitability of these fibers for various biomedical applications. These types of fiber implants dissolve in the human body over a clinically relevant time scale eliminating the need for extraction surgeries. We conducted both ex-vivo and in vivo diffuse correlation spectroscopic studies using our fibers to measure blood flow and a preliminary trial to integrate a biocompatible electrode material on the fiber for electrical signal measurements. The results demonstrated the potential of Calcium Phosphate glass-based fiber-optic devices in future physiological monitoring applications which can be implanted inside the body without the need of an explant procedure.