Bioelectromagnetics

Deep In-body Implants

In this project, a deep implant system was designed to monitor post-operative complications that include bacteria infection and internal bleeding. A link was able to be established between a 30 cm deep implant and a wearable on-body system.

In-body implant - 1

In-body implant - 3

In-body implant - 2

Enabling Technologies for Intelligent Wireless Sensor Network for Mobile Health

Hearing loss is one of the most common physical and sensory impairments among all ages, especially seniors, in modern society. Since hearing loss has an asymmetrical nature and it may affect both ears at a different degree of impairment, each hearing aid device should be able to deal with such asymmetry of the ears, as well as the natural asymmetry induced by spectral sound differences. By using a pair of hearing aid devices, wirelessly communicating with each other, the binaural processing will be improved for the person who suffers from unbalanced hearing loss between the two ears and he/she can properly localize the sources of the sounds.

Main aspects of the project:

  • Bluetooth band (2.4GHz-2.5GHz).
  • Low power and miniaturization of antenna.
  • The presence of human head near hearing aid device makes the design more complicated.

Hearing Aid Antenna

Design of Low Power Wireless Hearing Aid Communication Systems:

hearing aid

Low Radiation Scans

Craniosynostosis is a congenital disease that causes the premature closure of the suture line on the skull.

Craniosynostosis
This research used a low-power UWB radar system (safer than MRI and CT scans) to perform low-radiation scans and is effective to monitor the healing stages for possible defects.

Low Radiation scans

UWB Radar System
Resistive Antenna

Non-invasive wireless glucose monitor

How about having a prick-free diabetes monitor? We believe that one solution would be through using wireless sensing. We have developed a prototype system and showed that it is possible to use mm-wave radios to discriminate between various glucose-water concentrations at a high accuracy. We utilized silicone rubber structures and animal meat as human tissue-equivalent phantoms for further validations.

We are currently running a large campaign with various actual blood samples to investigate further the suitability of using our wireless system in non-invasive glucose sensing.

However, it should be stressed that despite having promising preliminary results, this area is still in its infancy, and we believe that there is tremendous research due before non-invasive electromagnetic-based monitoring of diabetes through skin can become a reality. Among the many challenges to address is the fact that scattered electromagnetic energy through skin/blood stream is known to vary with naturally varying physiological parameters such as moisture levels, sweat, temperature, and tissue scarring. Such variations can significantly affect the detection system. Attempts to minimize their impact are part of our ongoing research campaign.

Achieved:

  • Proved sensor can differentiate glucose at ranges for diabetes diagnosis (5.7 mmol/L – 7 mmol/L)
  • Started clinical tests

Non-invasive wireless glucose monitor

Non-invasive wireless glucose monitor

Non-invasive wireless glucose monitor

Goal:

To develop a viable solution for rapid, accurate non-invasive real-time monitoring of blood glucose levels

Awards: Best Paper in ACM Mobile Human Computer Interface 2017 - Object Recognition

Remote Breathing and Heart Rate Detection

In this project, remote breathing and heart rate monitoring of patients that were sitting, sleeping, and driving were observed.

Heart Rate Monitoring - 1

Heart Rate Monitor - 2