Disposable fiber-optic sensor device for assessing tissue biomechanical properties

A method to measure at least one biomechanical property of a tissue, the method comprising:

• a. providing a fiber-optic biomechanical sensing system, the system comprising:
• i. a biomechanical sensor comprising:
• 1. a fiber optic comprising opposed proximal and distal ends;
• and
• 2. a deformable Fabry-Perot interferometer optically coupled to the distal end of the optic fiber;
• ii. a light source optically coupled to the biomechanical sensor at the proximal end of the optic fiber;
• iii. a vibrational indentation module mechanically coupled to the biomechanical sensor, the vibrational indentation module configured to periodically advance and retract the biomechanical sensor along a proximal-distal axis at a predetermined frequency and displacement;
• and
• iv. a spectrometer optically coupled to the fiber optic of the biomechanical sensor, the spectrometer configured to receive a plurality of optical signals from the deformable Fabry-Perot interferometer, wherein the optical signals encode interference patterns generated by the deformable Fabry-Perot interferometer in response to the periodic displacements of the biomechanical sensor by the vibrational indentation module;
• b. positioning the deformable Fabry-Perot interferometer of the biomechanical sensor against the tissue;
• c. periodically advancing and retracting the biomechanical sensor along a proximal-distal axis at a predetermined frequency and displacement while delivering light from the light source to generate a series of interference patterns;
• d. detecting the series of interference patterns at the spectrometer;
• and
• e. transforming the series of interference patterns into the at least one biomechanical property of the tissue.