Biomedical Engineering Seminar: Smita Rao, PhD
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Texas Arlington,
Sponsored by the Department of Biomedical Engineering
Thursday, February 5th, 3:00pm, Dillman 320
Title: “Medical Devices and Technology”
Abstract
The recent advances in fabrication, design and simulation and ease of access to novel techniques have driven the advances in medical devices and technologies. There is a rise in the demand for wearable or minimally invasive interventions and therapies to improve the day-to-day life of a patient. Currently, several treatment modalities suffer from the need for bulky bedside equipment that limit mobility and hamper quality of life. The cost of such care is also significant. By reducing the size of the devices, making them battery operated or wireless improves the quality of life at a fraction of the cost. In many cases, the device can be implanted in a simple outpatient procedure lowering recovery times and risks associated with post-operation infections. New and innovative diagnostic methodologies, significantly smaller device footprints and lower cost of fabrication using existing techniques have yielded promising results. Implantable wireless, batteryless sensor for gastro-esophageal reflux disease, wirelessly powered gastrostimulators, miniature nanorod sensors for detecting neuro-transmitters such as dopamine have been demonstrated. Another aspect of these advances is in the field of lab-on-chip technologies for
diagnostic applications. Microfluidics has been in the forefront of this effort and continues to provide invaluable information. Microfluidic platforms to study biological phenomenon such as cell proliferation, migration and interaction promise to yield vital clues to the development and spread of diseases like cancer, study the interaction of drugs and explore the bio-mechanic aspects of tissues.