abhiraj singh

Journal Entry 1.

Fibre optic technology offers many advantages when used in medical applications.

describe how optical fibre may be used in medical applications
identify the traditional medical techniques that optical fibres might replace
Evaluate the benefits of fibre optic technology to medicine

Over the past twenty years, endoscopic techniques have become widely used in diagnosing and treating tear duct problems.

Endoscopic techniques permit intervention inside the tear duct, through the opening of the duct itself, as opposed to operating surgically from the outside.

Endoscopy as related to tear ducts employs an endoscope comprising a cannula, which is inserted inside the tear duct, and in which is formed a channel housing optical fibres for illuminating and visualizing, as is known, the interior of the tear duct, to permit non-invasive inspection of the condition of the duct, e.g. the existence and location of occlusions or stenoses, and simplify diagnosis of the problem involved.

In the latest embodiments, tear duct endoscopes are designed, either separately or in combination, to flush the channel with water to enhance the images obtained by the optical fibres, and the cannula is fitted on its free end with a cutting member or, at any rate, a member capable of mechanically removing occlusions or stenoses.

A major drawback of endoscopes of the above type lies in their only visualizing the tear duct during diagnosis and/or mechanical removal of the obstruction, whereas confined medication and/or histological sampling are performed with no possibility of visualizing the work area.

without optical fibres this invention would not be possible.