Infrared Silver Halide Fiber for Medicine Appication

The article discusses infrared polycrystalline fibers based on the AgCl-AgBr crystals system, which are promising for use in medicine, since they are non-hygroscopic, non-toxic, and easy to sterilize. Mid-Infrared radiation (MIR) is interesting for medical applications, since numerous organic molecules and compounds are absorbed in the wavelength range from 2.0 to 15.0 $\mu$ m. To date, various sources of MIR radiation have been developed, such as IR lasers and IR spectrometers. These devices require fiber optic channels to output an optical signal to provide a non-invasive and safe examination of biological tissues and organic substances. Fibers made on the basis of AgCl-AgBr crystals can be used as such channels, since they have a wide transparency range from 2.0 to 20.0 $\mu$ m without absorption windows, have high mechanical strength and flexibility, and low optical loss. Uncladded and cladded polycrystalline infrared fibers are convenient for use in IR spectroscopy for the study of biological tissues. Photonic crystal fibers are convenient for use as fiber radiation leads, since they provide a small aperture and high transmission power of radiation.