Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Systems for Physiological Monitoring and Patient Safety Enhancement

6. Abstract in inglese (obbligatorio): The present thesis explores the integration of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) technology in the Health 4.0 paradigm. It presents novel custom FBG-based systems for physiological monitoring and patient safety enhancement by leveraging the advantages of this technology (i.e., small dimensions, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, flexibility, immunity to electromagnetic interferences, multiplexing capabilities, and good metrological properties). The primary goal of this thesis is the design, fabrication, and metrological characterization of different FBG-based systems. It also explores their validation in lab settings and real scenarios for monitoring respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR), estimating force in epidural procedures, and tracking tissue temperature during hyperthermia treatments. The thesis is structured as follows: Chapter 1 discusses FBGs within Health 4.0, emphasizing their role in physiological monitoring and patient safety. Chapter 2 introduces a nearable technology based on FBG sensing elements for monitoring RR and HR. Chapter 3 explores FBG technologies for safer epidural anesthesia, including wearable and non-wearable devices. Chapter 4 investigates FBGs in temperature monitoring for hyperthermia treatments, studying their effectiveness in various organs. Finally, Chapter 5 summarizes the thesis’ contributions and future directions in the field.