FBG-based wearable sensors and devices in the healthcare field: A review

With the advancement of society and improvements in medical services, people's awareness and demands for healthcare have significantly increased. The focus of healthcare is shifting from hospitals to personal, leading to a rise in demand for wearable health monitoring devices. Fiber optic sensors, known for their excellent sensing capabilities and compatibility with wearable technology, have become a key player in this area. They are expected to be an important complement to the next generation of medical devices. This paper thoroughly investigates and analyzes Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) wearable sensors, focusing on their basic principles, technology characteristics, materials, design, features, and applications. Furthermore, this article discusses the current state of miniaturized FBG interrogation devices and their application in the medical and health fields, particularly in physiological monitoring and human motion tracking. Finally, the paper concludes by discussing the strengths and challenges of FBG wearable sensors, affirming their role in future medical monitoring devices, and suggesting directions for further research.