1. Role of MEMS and nanotechnology in medical technologies
Shekhar Bhansali 1

2. First of all, what is MEMS ?
MEMS stands for Micro Electro Mechanical Systems.
It is a technique of combining Electrical and Mechanical components together on a chip, to produce a system of miniature dimensions ..
By miniature, we mean dimensions less than the
thickness of human hair !!!!
Shekhar Bhansali

3. The wonder called nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the technology of arranging atoms and molecules in a material.
This allows to alter the properties of a material and build structures of desired features.
A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
Nanotechnology makes it possible to manufacture devices 80,000 times smaller than the thickness of human hair !!
Shekhar Bhansali

4. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
A simple analogy..
The atoms in an object can be compared to the blocks in a building game.
In a building game, the blocks can be arranged to create different looking structures.
Similarly, atoms can be arranged differently to produce a multitude of devices. This forms the basis of nanotechnology.
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5. Benefits of MEMS and nanotechnology in medical applications
Small volume of reagent samples (like blood), required for analysis.
Low power consumption, hence lasts longer on the same battery.
Less invasive, hence less painful.
Integration permits a large number of systems to be built on a single chip.
Batch processing can lower costs significantly.
Existing IC technology can be used to make these devices.
Silicon, used in most MEMS devices, interferes lesser with body tissues.
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6. Can MEMS devices really replace the existing medical devices ?
A lot of MEMS medical devices have been developed that are much more sensitive and robust than their conventional counterparts.
Market trends for MEMS medical devices show a promising future ahead.
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7. Projected MEMS market share in 2006
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8. Classification of biological MEMS devices
Biomedical MEMS – deals “in vivo”, within the host body.
precision surgery
Biotelemetry
Drug delivery
Biosensors and other physical sensors
Biotechnology MEMS – deals “in vitro”, with the biological samples obtained from the host body.
Diagnostics
gene sequencing
Drug discover
pathogen detection
Shekhar Bhansali

9. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
MEMS Sensors
MEMS sensors in the biomedical field maybe used as:
Critical sensors, used during operations.
Long term sensors for prosthetic devices.
Sensor arrays for rapid monitoring and
diagnosis at home.
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10. MEMS and nanotechnology in precision surgery
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11. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
MEMS and endoscopy
What is endoscopy ?
A diagnostic procedure which involves the introduction of a flexible device into the lower or upper gastrointestinal tract for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Conventional endoscopes
Can be used to view only the first
third of the small intestine.
Require sedation of patient
Is an uncomfortable procedure
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12. MEMS redefines endoscopy with “Lab on a Pill”
Size : 35mm
Components of lab on a pill
Digital camera (CMOS Technology)
Light source
Battery
Radio transmitter
Sensors (MEMS Technology)
Requires no sedation
Can show a view of the
entire small intestine
Can aid in early detection
of colon cancer
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13. Working of this magic pill !
The pill is intended to be swallowed like any normal pill.
Once within the body, the pill's sensors sample body fluids and pick up "meaningful patient data" such as temperature, dissolved oxygen levels and pH.
The pill is expected to retrieve all data over a 12-hour period and disposed off, once excreted.
This data is transmitted wirelessly to a card attached
to the wrist of the individual.
Shekhar Bhansali

14. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
Micro-surgical tools
Present day surgeons operate within a domain restricted by the mobility and control of the surgical tools at hand.
MEMS surgical tools provide the flexibility and accuracy to perform precision surgery.
Shekhar Bhansali

15. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
MEMS driven scalpels
Precise control of the scalpel is an important requirement in any surgery.
MEMS piezoelectric motor help to accurately position the scalpel.
MEMS pressure sensors incorporated on the scalpel, can help to measure the force exerted on the area operated upon. Accordingly, the scalpel can he handled.
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16. Ultrasonic MEMS cutting tool
These tools make use of piezoelectric materials attached to the cutter.
Consist of microchannels to flush out the fluid and debris while
cutting.
Can be used to cut tough tissues, like the hardened lenses of
patients with cataract
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17. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
Skin Resurfacing
Skin resurfacing is a form of cosmetic surgery that is often used to aesthetically enhance the appearance of wrinkles, skin lesions, pigmentation irregularities, moles, roughness, and scars.
Conventional resurfacing techniques involve the use of :
Dermabraders – devices or tools used in plastic surgery.
Chemical peels – chemicals such as glycolic acid.
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18. Drawbacks of the conventional approaches in skin resurfacing
May cause excessive bleeding
Often require time-consuming procedures
Require multiple sessions.
Lightened pigments at the operated site
Furthermore, chemical peels cannot be
used for removal of lesions with
significant depth.
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19. MEMS skin resurfacing tools
Though still not commercially available, MEMS tools have been found to overcome many drawbacks present in the conventional techniques.
They can be used to remove raised skin lesions as well as lesions upto certain depths.
These MEMS structures are packaged
onto rotary elements and used
over the affected areas.
The debris can then be sucked out
using a suction pump.
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20. Micro/Nano Robots in medical field
These are micro/nano scale devices capable of treating and eliminating medical problems.
Such problems may arise due to the accumulation of unwanted organic substances, which interfere with the normal body functions, such as :
Tumors
Life threatening blood clots
Accumulation of scar tissue
Arterial blockage
Localized sites of infection.
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21. Considerations before introducing the robots into the body.
The robot size should be smaller than the diameter of the artery .
The robot should not damage the arterial walls as it
traverses through it.
The robot can be introduced into the body through the circulatory system of the body.
The femoral artery in the leg would be the most suited, because it is a large diameter artery and is traditionally used to introduce catheters in the body.
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22. Removal of the diseased area
Fatty material deposited on the arterial walls causing artery blockage, can be physically removed using nanoblades.
Physically shredding tumor can pose a great threat. The pieces can be carried to other locations and result in furthering of cancerous cells.
One effective approach to kill the cancerous cells would be to enclose the entire tumor in a nano box and destroying everything in the box.
Captions/Image201.html
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23. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
A Graphical Representation of nanorobots working in a blood vessel, to remove a cancerous cell
trans/blood/
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24. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
MEMS and drug delivery
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25. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
MEMS microneedles
MEMS enables hundreds of hollow microneedles to be fabricated on a single patch of area, say a square centimeter.
This patch is applied to the skin and drug is delivered to the body using micropumps.
These micropumps can be electronically controlled to allow specific amounts of the drug and also deliver them at specific intervals.
Microneedles are too small to reach and stimulate the nerve endings, and hence cause no pain to the body.
gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/ newsrelease/NEEDLES.htm
Shekhar Bhansali

26. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
Smart Pill
A MEMS device that can be implanted in the human body.
Consists of
biosensors
Battery
Control circuitry
Drug reservoirs
The biosensors sense the substance to be measured, say insulin.
Once this quantity falls below a certain amount required by the body, the pill releases the drug.
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27. Challenges for MEMS medical sensors
Biocompatibility remains the biggest hurdle for MEMS medical devices.
Life of the device.
Retrieving data out of the device.
Resist drifting along with the body fluids.
Shekhar Bhansali

28. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
Acknowledgements
This effort is based upon work partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No and The Florida Hi-Tech Corridor Workforce Training grant
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Florida HiTech Corridor Workforce Training Grant.
Shekhar Bhansali

29. Shekhar Bhansali bhansali@eng.usf.edu
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