Sensing
A primary motivation of our research is the monitoring of physical, physiological, and biochemical parameters - in any environment and without activity restriction and behaviour modification - through using miniaturised, wireless Body Sensor Networks (BSN). Key research issues that are currently being addressed include novel sensor designs, ultra-low power microprocessor and wireless platforms, energy scavenging, biocompatibility, system integration and miniaturisation, processing-on-node technologies combined with novel ASIC design, autonomic sensor networks and light-weight communication protocols. Our research is aimed at addressing the future needs of life-long health, wellbeing and healthcare, particularly those related to demographic changes associated with an ageing population and patients with chronic illnesses. This research theme is therefore closely aligned with the IGHI’s vision of providing safe, effective and accessible technologies for both developed and developing countries.
Some of our latest works were exhibited at the 2015 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition.
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Journal articleSingh M, Nabavi E, Zhou Y, et al., 2019,
Laparoscopic fluorescence image-guided photothermal therapy enhances cancer diagnosis and treatment
, Nanotheranostics, Vol: 3, Pages: 89-102, ISSN: 2206-7418Endoscopy is the gold standard investigation in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers and the management of early and pre-malignant lesions either by resection or ablation. Recently gold nanoparticles have shown promise in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics (theranostics). The combination of multifunctional gold nanoparticles with near infrared fluorescence endoscopy for accurate mapping of early or pre-malignant lesions can potentially enhance diagnostic efficiency while precisely directing endoscopic near infrared photothermal therapy for established cancers. The integration of endoscopy with near infrared fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy was aided by the accumulation of our multifunctionalized PEG-GNR-Cy5.5-anti-EGFR-antibody gold nanorods within gastrointestinal tumor xenografts in BALB/c mice. Control mice (with tumors) received either gold nanorods or photothermal therapy, while study mice received both treatment modalities. Local (tumor-centric) and systemic effects were examined for 30 days. Clear endoscopic near infrared fluorescence signals were observed emanating specifically from tumor sites and these corresponded precisely to the tumor margins. Endoscopic fluorescence-guided near infrared photothermal therapy successfully induced tumor ablations in all 20 mice studied, with complete histological clearance and minimal collateral damage. Multi-source analysis from histology, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, blood, clinical evaluation, psychosocial and weight monitoring demonstrated the inherent safety of this technology. The combination of this innovative nanotechnology with gold standard clinical practice will be of value in enhancing the early optical detection of gastrointestinal cancers and a useful adjunct for its therapy.
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Journal articleDudina A, Seichepine F, Chen Y, et al., 2019,
Monolithic CMOS sensor platform featuring an array of 9 ' 216 carbon-nanotube-sensor elements and low-noise, wide-bandwidth and wide-dynamic-range readout circuitry
, SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, Vol: 279, Pages: 255-266, ISSN: 0925-4005 -
Conference paperDagnino G, Liu J, Abdelaziz M, et al., 2019,
Haptic feedback and dynamic active constraints for robot-assisted endovascular catheterization
, 2018 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2018), Publisher: IEEERobotic and computer assistance can bring significant benefits to endovascular procedures in terms of precision and stability, reduced radiation doses, improved comfort and access to difficult and tortuous anatomy.However,the design of current commercially available platforms tends to alter the natural bedside manipulation skills of the operator, so thatthe manually acquired experience and dexterityare not well utilized. Furthermore, most of these systems lackofhaptic feedback, preventing their acceptance and limiting the clinical usability.In this paper a new robotic platform for endovascular catheterization, the CathBot, is presented.It is an ergonomic master-slave system with navigation system and integrated vision-based haptic feedback, designed to maintain the natural bedside skills of the vascular surgeon. Unlike previous work reported in literature, dynamic motion tracking of both the vessel walls the catheter tip is incorporated to create dynamic activeconstraints. The system was evaluated through a combined quantitative and qualitative user study simulating catheterization tasks on a phantom. Forces exerted on the phantom were measured. The results showed a 70% decrease in mean force and 61% decrease in maximum force when force feedback is provided. This research provides the first integration of vision-based dynamic active constraints within an ergonomic robotic catheter manipulator. The technological advances presented here, demonstratesthat vision-based haptic feedback can improve the effectiveness, precision, and safety of robot-assisted endovascular procedures.
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Journal articleLi B, Tan H, Anastasova-Ivanova S, et al., 2019,
A bioinspired 3D micro-structure for graphene-based bacteria sensing
, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Vol: 123, Pages: 77-84, ISSN: 0956-5663Nature is a great source of inspiration for the development of solutions for biomedical problems. We present a novel biosensor design utilizing two-photon polymerisation and graphene to fabricate an enhanced biosensing platform for the detection of motile bacteria. A cage comprising venous valve-inspired directional micro-structure is fabricated around graphene-based sensing electronics. The asymmetric 3D micro-structure promotes motile cells to swim from outside the cage towards the inner-most chamber, resulting in concentrated bacteria surrounding the central sensing region, thus enhancing the sensing signal. The concentrating effect is proved across a range of cell cultures - from 101 CFU/ml to 109 CFU/ml. Fluorescence analysis shows a 3.38–3.5 times enhanced signal. pH sensor presents a 2.14–3.08 times enhancement via the detection of cellar metabolite. Electrical measurements demonstrate an 8.8–26.7 times enhanced current. The proposed platform provides a new way of leveraging bio-inspired 3D printing and 2D materials for the development of sensing devices for biomedical applications.
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Conference paperKassanos P, Seichepine F, Yang G-Z, 2019,
Characterization and Modeling of a Flexible Tetrapolar Bioimpedance Sensor and Measurements of Intestinal Tissues
, 19th Annual IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering (BIBE), Publisher: IEEE, Pages: 686-690, ISSN: 2471-7819
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