Development of the pulse analyzing system using FBG

FBG를 이용한 맥진 시스템 개발

This work reports the pulse diagnosis system using FBG sensors which can display pulse signals detected while oriental medical doctors are conducting pulse diagnoses and simultaneously pressing the sensors by three fingers. Each optical fiber has five FBG sensing units fabricated in 2 mm width and 2 mm inter-sensor spacing. Three optical fibers with the FBG units in the parallel line configuration are then placed on each finger-pressing region and thus overall 9 fibers are used for the pulse measurements on the so-called "chon", "gwan", and "ch대k". A fixture holding the optical fiber arrays is able to adjust the height of the FBG sensing units while placing the fibers on the wrist. The pulse signals detected by the FBG sensors from chon, kwan, and chuk have been analyzed using 4 channel spectrum analyzer connected to the optical fibers. The measured pulse signals exhibit variations due to the nonuniform pressure distributions applied. resulting in the differences in the detected pulse signals between fiber lines. However. this work is the first step towards objective and quantitative analyses of the pulse diagnosis in oriental medicine which has traditionally been performed on subjective basis. Future works will be devoted to improving sensor stability, developing the way applying pressure and algorithms reporting the objective classification of the pulse status from systemic measurements using the sensors instead of relying on the clinicians' diagnoses subjectively performed. A successful pulse diagnosis system emerging in the future is expected to contribute to education as well as promoting pulse diagnosis in oriental medicine to the scientific research area.