1,721,276 research outputs found
Toward all flexible sensing systems for next-generation wearables
No full textRecent advances in science and technology have enabled a promising future for wearable devices with the ability to seamlessly interact with their users. The next generation of wearable systems should be fully flexible, conformable, multifunctional, and energy autonomous. Over the past decade or two, significant progress has been made in wearable soft sensors, whereas the development of flexible integrated circuits (ICs) for sensing front-end and data processing is just starting to gain momentum. This review article comprehensively examines the state of the art in flexible ICs for wearable applications. It discusses the progress and challenges in various dimensions, including materials, devices, and circuits. The paper further discusses essential algorithms for processing sensor data and provides insights into their hardware implementations. A co-design strategy is emphasized to holistically address the realization of wearable systems at different levels. By shedding light on the ongoing progress and challenges in the field, this paper provides a forward-looking perspective for future efforts in advancing flexible sensing systems for the next generation of wearables and aims to attract a wider readership in relevant fields
Microtechnologies For Rapid Detection Of Aflatoxin M1 In Milk
No full textIn dairy industry, one of most pressing unmet needs is the timely detection of aflatoxin M1 contaminations that originate from animal feed and are secreted into milk and represents a hazard for human health and an economic loss for the dairy industry. The available technology for aflatoxin detection is laboratory-based, in most cases requires sample preparation and does not provide timely identification of contaminants, thus fails to deliver cost-effective management of milk quality. We have investigated further advancements with respect the traditional methodologies (e.g. ELISA, HPLC), by evaluating an novel twofold approach based on microfluidic technologies, biochemistry for sample preparation and photonic integrated sensors leading toward precision process management in dairy industry. Our aim was to develop a detection instrument2 that will integrate sample preparation and highly sensitive and selective label-free biosensing based on innovative photonic sensors functionalised with aptamers for the detection (Limit of detection < 50 ng/Kg) of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples. The main purpose of the sample preparation stage is to clean the milk sample from unwanted components like fats, which may interfere with the following stages and cause clogging of the system, and to concentrate and make the toxin available for detection. The core of the system is the detection module based on a low cost Si-based photonic device with aptamers to provide selectivity to targets and improved sensor stability. This work aim is to present the current technical achievements of this research activity and stimulate the discussion on bio-microtechnologies application in the dairy industry
Design of a novel Tri-axial force sensor for optimized design of prosthetic socket for lower limb amputees
No full textRealizing a prosthesis for lower limbs amputee is
a time consuming and costly process. The socket design results
particularly challenging due the need of tailoring its shape on
the residual limb of the amputee. Socketmaster is an European
project aiming to improve this process by integrating several
micro sensors in a master socket, allowing a fast customization
of prosthetic socket for lower limb. One of the most important
parameter that the master socket has to monitor is the force
interaction between the leg and the socket. This paper describe
a low cost tri-axial force sensor designed to be implemented in
a master socket
Recent sensing technologies for pathogen detection in milk: a review
No full textQuality control utilising Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points in the dairy industry generates a large volume of samples. The associated costs are significant. The development and application of fast, sensitive and cost effective analytical systems for pathogen detection in milk could aid the industry in the reduction of overheads, find new uses in dairy farming and production precision management and unlock new markets. Recent progress in pathogen sensing technologies for milk analysis, in particular nucleic acid amplification and biosensors, is reviewed here. The importance of representative samples, detection probability and practical detection limit are clarified. Methods for sample pretreatment are discussed in association with the most applicable detection methods. The major findings are summarised and future perspectives are drawn to inspire new ideas in the scientific community
Modelling and design of a microcantilever-based sensor module for chromatographic systems
No full textFabrication of Single Crystal Silicon Micro-/Nanowires and transferring them to Flexible Substrates
No full textThis work describes the method to fabricate micro-structured single-crystal Si wires and ribbons from silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers using “topdown” fabrication strategy. The ordered wires of Si have been successfully transferred to flexible PDMS substrates. The processing and combining stiff and brittle materials like Si with highly compliant substrates such as PDMS is a challenging task. The result presented here is an important milestone for fabricating electronic circuits over large and ultra flexible substrates
Modeling ISFET microsensor and ISFET-based microsystems: a review
No full textSilicon technology is one of the most promising for sensor development. Moreover, electronic simulation tools, originally introduced to design electronic circuits, can be adapted to design silicon-based chemical- and bio-sensors. These considerations lead to the description of the models we developed and implemented in the program SPICE for simulating ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) and ISFET-based microsystems. The implementation in SPICE and the simulation results are described in terms of each model. In particular, a new model of a Si3N4-gate ISFET operating under subthreshold conditions and the related electrochemical characterization are presented.
The ISFET models were then used to develop a CAD system that can be considered as a general-purpose tool for designing integrated ISFET-based sensors and microsystems with on-chip processing and control capabilitie
An unconventional approach to impedance microbiology: detection of culture media conductivity variations due to bacteriophage generated lyses of host bacteria
No full textA novel and unconventional approach to impedance microbiology has been under investigation. In our approach, solution conductivity variations are generated from bacteriophage lyses of infected host cells and the consequent release of conductive endoplasmic material. To sensitively detect the lysis, low conductive growth media have been developed. A microchip has been fabricated to perform the analysis. The microchip is made of two bare gold electrodes and PDMS microchamber of 36 nL volume. Escherichia coli and selective phages T4 have been used as case study. Proof-of-principle experiments are here presented and discussed. The method was characterised in a wide range between 104 and 108 CFU/mL, where linear relation was found between conductivity variation and cell concentration in a log10 vs. log10 plot. The method is suited to integration with sample preparation based on phage-functionalised magnetic beads. It has a potential detection limit below 1 CFU/chamber and a total assay time of less than 1 hour
Development of an integrated reference electrode for cell culture monitoring with large arrays of pH sensors
No full textThe possibility to monitor the metabolism of a in vitro extracellular activity, by monitoring the medium acidification rate, is of great interest in several fields of applications, where it can provide information on the culture status. To realise a highly integrated system with high throughput, ISFET sensors are good candidates. One drawback of this solution is the need of bulky external reference electrodes, which limits the actual integration of the system. Recently, reference electrodes based on polymeric layers doped with lipophilic salts to provide electrical conductivity, have provided promising results in term of potential stability and long term viability of the device. In this paper, we present the development of an “all-solid state” integrated reference electrode based on a PVC solid electrolyte with different types of lipophilic salts for the integration of an ISFET sensor array with Si3N4 gate dielectric used as sensitive material
- …
