A Three Tier Bioimplantable Sensor Monitoring Platform
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Abstract
The possibility of creating cheap miniature bioimplants has led the research community to attempt to use these in the continuous monitoring of patients. A variety of sensors have been reported for the purpose, including devices aimed at monitoring blood pressure, sugar levels, temperature, etc. However, one of the current hurdles to the effective use of these technologies is the problem of remotely (externally) gathering data from deeply bio-implanted sensors whilst causing minimum impact to the lives of the patients (e.g. without the need for cables, replacing implanted batteries, etc). A novel solution to this problem is proposed here. The idea consists of a Three-Tier Network comprising sensor + ultrasonic transducer implants, a subcutaneously implanted transponder that communicates with the implants at ultrasonic frequencies and an external transponder that communicates with the subcutaneously implanted transponder via inductive coupling and externally at microwave frequencies. The network proposed will enable future designers of bioimplantable devices to focus solely on their particular sensor's operation, without having to worry about the problematic task of communicating remotely with it. Interfacing any sensor to the system proposed will be a relatively simple matter. The work carried out in this project will be of benefit to researchers in the medical and bioengineering research community as it will help accelerate the current effort to remotely monitor the health of patients.
Organisations
Publications
Vilches A
(2009)
Single coil pair transcutaneous energy and data transceiver for low power bio-implant use
in Electronics Letters
Sanni A
(2012)
Inductive and ultrasonic multi-tier interface for low-power, deeply implantable medical devices.
in IEEE transactions on biomedical circuits and systems
Murphy O
(2012)
A Pseudo-Normal-Mode Helical Antenna for Use With Deeply Implanted Wireless Sensors
in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Lui K
(2011)
Ultra-efficient microwave harvesting system for battery-less micropower microcontroller platform
in IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation
Grossman N
(2011)
Modeling study of the light stimulation of a neuron cell with channelrhodopsin-2 mutants.
in IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering
Description | This project investigated the feasibility of developing a multi-tier bio-communication platform for deeply implanted devices. By combining traditional means (eg. Inductive coupling) with new methods (eg. ultrasonic propagation) significant improvement in overall performance has been shown in comparison to the state-of-the-art. Specific outcomes include: • Ultrasonic bio-communication: Through an extensive evaluation of all standard (and certain custom) piezo-transducer materials for in-body communication and have identified most appropriate for transmission of power/data in blood/tissue. Principle has been successfully demonstrated using tank propagation (using bio-realistic phantom medium). • Inductive coupling: Developed a methodology for the systematic design and fabrication of planar coils using FR4 substrates, achieving good correlation between theoretical and experimental (measured) results. Using this approach, a biotelemetry system for power/data transfer was developed based on inductive coupling. • Multi-tier bio-communication system demonstrator: By combining hardware for ultrasonic propagation together with inductive coupling, results demonstrate improved overall power efficiencies (and power-to-load) over traditional single-tier approaches. • Active RF scavenging: A 50mW microwave wirelessly powered sensor platform with a 2m range has been developed; exceeding previously published data on wirelessly powered sensor platforms. In order to further enhance the efficiency of the platform and make it more suitable as a body worn device, a novel antenna design has been optimized for integration onto textiles with particular emphasis on allowing the wearer to be in any position - i.e. does not need in direct line of sight with the power source. • Transcutanous magnetic neural stimulation (tMNS): We have introduced and demonstrated the feasibility of a new modality of non-invasive brain stimulation with a great potential of improving spatial resolution (focality). This is based on a custom configuration of miniature electromagnets for treatment of neural disorders. |
Exploitation Route | 1. Medical Community: This Three-Tier Communications Platform for deeply implanted bio-sensors will provide the medical community with a vast real-time knowledge of the functionality of individual organs and systems within the body, along with a better understanding the overall well-being of the patient. The potential of being able to communicate between sensors can help provide continuous feedback loops between sensors and implanted drug pumps leading to more precise pharmacological treatment of patients as well as actual patient assessment. 2. Human Community: An effective communications system can allow increased freedom of movement to all patients, whether they are suffering from acute or chronic diseases. Due to an improved wireless interface it will be possible to move the patient out of the hospital and into their homes without reducing the standard of care which they can receive as clinicians will be able to continuously monitor patients progress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 3. Research Community: The proposed RF/ultrasonic based network system will enable developers of implantable biosensors to focus solely on their particular device's operation, without having to worry about the problematic task of communicating between implants and the external world. Interfacing any sensor to the system proposed will be a relatively simple matter. This project will eventually be of benefit to researchers in the medical and bioengineering research community and will hopefully accelerate the current effort to remotely monitor the health of patients. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
URL | http://www.imperial.ac.uk/bio-inspired-technology |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £153,155 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G070466/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £153,155 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/G070466/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £517,222 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I000569/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £57,648 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Knowledge Transfer Secondment |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £517,222 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I000569/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |