Ultra-short DBR fiber laser based sensor for arterial pulse monitoring

An ultra-short DBR fiber laser based device for arterial pulse wave monitoring is proposed and demonstrated. As the sensing element, the 10mm length laser cavity is mounted onto a soft plastic plate and then embedded into textile. Deformation of the textile, involving the transverse force subjected by the laser cavity, is proportional to the vibration caused by the arterial pulse. The sensing principle is based on the linear relationship between the beat frequency of the laser and the transverse force. Laboratory studies demonstrate that the sensor could achieve real-time and accurate measurement of the weak and dynamical arterial pulse signal.