Which of the following best explains how fiber-optic technology benefits the field of medicine?
Fiber optics consist of one or many thin strands of silica glass encased in a flexible, transparent sheath. They are used instead of metal wire in high-speed communications systems because signals travel much further along them with less loss, and they don't suffer from the electromagnetic interference that hampers metal wires. The technology is the backbone of home internet service, and it's also used in medical imaging and laser practices as well as private and public networking for cable and phone.
National Geographic reports that the latest transatlantic fiber-optic cable can transmit 100 hours of digital video or 30 million phone calls at once. The same technology is used for safe, decorative lighting in our homes and at major events like theme parks.
In addition to their role in high-speed data transmission, fiber optics are vital in communication technologies like remote sensing and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). A fiber-optic sensor channels optical light from a source to a device that analyzes changes in the light's properties, and it's often used as a replacement for electrical signals that would be hampered by long distances or electromagnetic interference.
The field of fiber-optic sensor applications continues to grow. For example, researchers recently developed a technique known as wavelength division multiplexing that allows a single fiber to carry multiple optical signals at once, significantly increasing bandwidth capacity. The same method can also be applied to existing optical fibers, allowing them to carry more data over the same length of cable.
