Luna's exclusive shape sensing technology can track the position (location) of an optical fiber along its entire length. This "smart fiber" is minimally intrusive, virtually weightless, and can be used to monitor the dynamic 3D shape of a structure to which it conforms. It can also be embedded or attached to a surface to monitor the dynamic 3D shape independent of temperature or load from the environment.

This enabling technology for determining the dynamic shape of an object, including long, flexible bodies, has applications in:

• The medical field enabling localization of minimally invasive surgical (MIS) devices and instruments inserted inside the human body for navigation in surgical procedures.
• Ocean surveillance situations such as military security using static and towed sonar, or for tracking of search and rescue robots.
• The industrial environment for direct position monitoring in manufacturing and assembly.
• The sports and gaming industry for motion capture and virtual reality.
• Aerospace for deployable structures such as large antennas, sunshields and solar sails and morphing wings for shape modification of aircraft wings during flight.
• Energy, to measure such parameters as temperature inside gas turbines that create power, as well as measure the shape of the blade on wind turbines for real-time control.

Testimonials

"We view Luna as the clear technology leader in the area of advanced shape sensing and position tracking systems."
-- Gary Guthart, President & CEO, Intuitive Surgical
Read the release about Luna's partnership with Intuitive Surgical.

"Luna's shape sensing technology is an important component in meeting the Navy's goals for the Deployable Autonomous Distributed System (DADS) program in the coming years. If proven in the underwater environment, this unique sensing technology will enable the Navy to retrieve more accurate information from future underwater arrays and it could substantially reduce weight and cost."
-- Dana Hesse, Program Officer for the Office of Naval Research
Read the release about Luna's award from the Office of Naval Research.

Watch a Video Demonstration

• Read more in the following article from NASA TechBriefs:
  NASA-Inspired Shape-Sensing Fibers Enable Minimally Invasive Surgery
  http://www.techbriefs.com/content/view/2585/36/
• Press releases related to Luna's shape sensing technology include:
  Luna Innovations and Intuitive Surgical Expand Relationship
  Luna Innovations and Hansen Medical Reach Settlement
  Luna Awarded Shape Sensing in Underwater Arrays