MRI-Compatible W-Bent Fiber Optic Nasal Sensor for Continuous Real-Time Breath Pattern Monitoring & Analyses

Conventional monitoring devices for breath pattern analyses such as spirometers and thermistors remain costly, cumbersome to use and susceptible to interference. Fiber-optic sensors (FOS) offer immunity to such interference, but its designs in sensitivity and usability need to be validated. We developed a reliable, easy-to-use, and rapid diagnosis device for real-time assessment of breath pattern analysis, which could potentially be used for sleep apnea screening and other clinical applications such as ICU, sleep clinics, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) suites which require continuous respiratory monitoring. Methods: We present a W-bent FOS with multiple bend zones embedded in the nasal prongs to enhance light attenuation in the presence of moisture from exhaled breath. The W-bent FOS prototype accurately captured breathing waveforms and rates (15.8 ± 2.4 breaths/min) during normal respiration, exhibited distinctive signal patterns during simulated apnea (30 s breath-holds with post-apnea hyperventilation), and functioned reliably in a mock MRI setup. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and evaluation of a device which could potentially be used in sleep clinics and monitors warning signs such as impending claustrophobia in an MRI console.