FiberLab: A multi-sensing approach in a single optical fiber

Femtosecond laser technology allows a new approach for direct writing of waveguides and periodic modulation of the index of refraction in optical transparent materials such as fibers. This technique can be used for processing Bragg grating structures in the core or in the cladding of an optical fiber but also in combination with chemical etching for processing well defined microstructures that offer interesting and up to now unknown possibilities for designing chemical fiber sensors. The combination of both approaches is the basis for the novel FiberLab concept that will find interesting application in fiber based 3D-shape sensing devices used in medicine for catheter navigation or in oil and gas exploration for downhole monitoring. Both, the technology and various very recent applications will be discussed.