Fiber optics sensors for ultrasonic virtual biopsy

Recent progresses in optoacoustics let us foresee the possibility to realize a strongly miniaturized transducer constituted by two optical fibers: a first fiber, with a heavily absorbing film on its extremity, to generate broadband ultrasounds; another fiber, with a Fabry-Perot cavity mounted, or deposed, on its tip, to optically detect ultrasonic echoes. The proposed transducer is characterized by high cutoff frequency, wide bandwidth, high electromagnetic compatibility and no electrical wiring. Due to these virtues, the transducer may result greatly useful for diagnostic applications, allowing for higher echographic resolution and microstructural tissue characterization. In addition, the transducer miniaturization would make possible its insertion in the human body for a direct investigation of focal lesions with minimal invasivity. Thus, a path toward virtual biopsy may be traced.