Controlled piezoelectric ceramic as tissue opacity sensor, using photovoltaic effect

Made with Pb1-xLax (ZR1-yTiy) 01-x/4O3 with x = 0.09 y = 0.65 (PLZT) denoted as (9/65/35) and implanted with platinum the transparent ceramic sensor is 1 cm in diameter and 2 mm thick. It shows good characteristics as a sensor for opacity of biological tissue (SOBT). When illuminating the front of SOBT with pulsed laser light at 650 nm with a maximum illumination power of 160 mW at a frequency of 3 Hz and a distance of 1 cm, and due to the photovoltaic effect a signal current of the order of pico amperes can be measured between the implant and the Pt side. When one places on the front face different materials (such as glass, polyethylene, acetate, carbon paper, epicarp of plum or apple) the opacity can be measured and good results obtained. Finally, the data shows SOBT repeatable with good characteristics. It is a tiny sensor and can record the opacity of most translucent material without contaminating the sample.