Artificial Kidney-Project

This abstract explains an innovated design of an implantable artificial kidney. The proposed design introduces a dialisit-free miniature size complex of cells, each built as a rectangular passage through which blood flows. Two plate electrodes cover two sides of the passage and two special semipermeable membranes engulf the electrodes without touching them. Each membrane is separated by a few millimeters from the adjacent electrode, and the two membranes themselves are at distance from each other. An electric field is applied between the two electrode plates. This field will force the blood ions to migrate across a membrane towards the targeted electrodes. The migrating blood ions will generates an ionic current responsible for main ions filtration. The field magnitude is gradually varied and results are then recorded. The spacing between the two membranes is also varied to study its effect on the concentration of ions in the main blood stream and near the electrodes where the filtered waste products rich in ions gather after crossing the semi-permeable membrane. The overall ionic current is generated from the diffusion and the migration currents that obey the general Nernst-Planck equation. One cell model was constructed using inert electrodes. The instrument is capable of regulating the amount of water excretion by controlling a required range of suction pressure (micro-pump) relative to the incoming blood pressure to enhance the generated osmotic pressure across the membrane. The nitrogenous waste products could be removed by simple diffusion enhanced with an applied ultra-filtration pressure. Preliminary results showed a 20% separation of ions from the main stream. Despite of the difficulties encountered during model construction and performing the experiments using the one-cell compartment, the obtained results show a significant reduction of the time required for the patient to attend hospital sessions

Read more »

Project on Stimulation of paralysed muscle using IR

Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. This is caused due to the damage of the under lying nerves. This paralysed muscle can be cured by stimulating the nerves by using IR radiation . An instrument is designed using IR radiating LED.Infrared radiation can be detect by special sensors . LED radiates IR radiation of frequency of about 50KHz. A frequency of 20KHz are used to contract paralysed muscles since it is the stimulating frequency of the muscle. Paralysed muscles get fatique when it loses it function . the main aim is to bring back this fatique muscle to normal.

Read more »

Nano Technology-For Treating Cancer Project

In today's world of biomedical tools and therapies, researchers are thinking big by thinking small with the arrival of pocket-sized ectrocardiographs for monitoring the heart and diagnostic cameras the size of a vitamin pill that travel the length of the digestive tract. These days, scientists are downsizing to the "nano" scale. Nanotechnology deals with the creation and use of materials or devices at the level of molecules and

atoms that are 1/1000th the width of a human hair—too small to be seen with a conventional laboratory microscope. Nanomedicine is an area of biomedical

research that seeks to use tools from the field of nanotechnology to improve health. Scientists say that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials

at the nanoscale differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties of larger-sized matter. Nanotechnology is changing the way materials and devices will be made in the future. With the

ability to build products and devices atom-by-atom and moleculeby-

molecule, according to the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)--a federal research and development program--scientists will create new classes of structural

materials that are expected to bring about lighter, stronger, smarter, cheaper, cleaner, and more precise products. And we know cancer also occurs at the cellular

level, hence nanotechnology can conveniently used for the treatment of cancer.

According to the NNI, more powerful nanotechnology developments expected in the next 10 years likely will include solutions to repair and rearrange

living cells.

Read more »

Pace Maker- Project

The heart's natural pacemaker is an electrical timing device that controls the rate of the heart's muscular contractions, enabling the heart to pump blood under the wide range of demands encountered in daily life. Everyone's heart speeds up or slows down under different conditions and may on occasion appear to flutter or miss a beat. These palpitations are usually minor and transitory. However, sometimes the heart's electrical system malfunctions and serious rhythm disorders result. These cardiac arrhythmias can be debilitating and even life-threatening, but the recent availability of artificial pacemakers and the recent advent of implantable defibrillators have revolutionized treatment. Today, physicians can help patients by using electronic devices that directly counter these serious rhythm disturbances. Implantable electronic devices have been developed to treat both abnormally slow heart rates (bradycardias) and excessively rapid heart rates (tachycardias). Such rhythm disorders arise because of disruptions to the normal production or transmission of electrical impulses within the heart. The heart's natural pacemaker is the sinus node (SN), located in the upper right atrium near the point where blood returning from the head and limbs reenters the heart. Specialized cells in this node emit electrical impulses at the rate of about 70 per minute. These impulses spread throughout the atria and travel to the ventricles via the atrioventricular node (AV node). The electrical system ensures that impulses reach the right part of the heart at the right time and at the right pace, coordinating the contraction of the heart muscle so that it can pump effectively. When the sinus node fails to generate impulses or transmission is blocked in some part of the electrical system, an abnormally slow heart rate can result. Assuming that this bradycardia is not the side effect of a medication or produced by some other reversible condition, the most likely cause is disease in the sinus node, the AV node, or some other part of the conduction pathway. If the patient is experiencing symptoms and the heart beat is extremely slow (below 45 or 50), the condition may be markedly improved by an artificial pacemaker. There are, however, many people who function normally with slow heart rates of 40-50 and evidence of some degree of heart block. Pacemakers are generally reserved for those with symptoms and advanced degrees of block.
Abstract/Summary:
Human heart contain SA node which generate impulse for functioning of heart. It is known as natural pacemaker. If natural pacemaker is failed then required pulse from externally. So Artificial pacemaker is a device detects the heart pulse from ECG signal. If there is no pulse, the artificial pacemaker generates pulse. An artificial pacemaker is a battery-operated device that is programmed to keep the heart beating at a certain rate. It is inserted by placing a special wire (catheter) into the right side of the heart and attaching the wire to a small, metal-covered battery that is placed just under the skin in the upper chest or sometimes in the abdomen. Insertion causes little discomfort and is done with the patient awake. The stitches are removed about a week later. So, pacemaker is electronic cardiac support device that produce rhythmic electric impulse that take over the regulation of the heart beat in patient with certain type of heart disease.

Read more »

TRANSIENT OPTICAL NERVE STIMULATION

Neuro-stimulation is used in research and clinical applications. Neuroscientists use nerve stimulation to answer fundamental questions about the functions of the nervous system and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and biological processes. Electrical stimulation has traditionally served as the standard method to stimulate neural tissue; but researchers have developed an optical technique called transient optical nerve stimulation.

                           Transient optical nerve stimulation is a technique that optically stimulates neural tissue using mid-infrared light. The method relies on direct but transient (non contact) irradiation of nerve surface. The laser uses an optimized radiant exposure and wavelength to generate action potentials and physiological effects.

TRANSIENT OPTICAL NERVE STUMULATION

STIMULATION:

Stimulation is the irritation action of various agents on muscles, nerves, by which the activity is evoked; especially, the nervous impulse produced by various agents on nerves, by which the part connected with the nerve is set into a state of activity.

EVOLUTION OF LASERS IN NERVE STIMULATION:

We describe the evolution of lasers in nerve stimulation is this induction of neural damage by electrical stimulation. The Electrophysiological recordings resulted in a                                                signal that contains a stimulus-induced artifact and hence required signal processing.

                       These limitations have driven researchers to pursue other means for neural stimulation, including magnetic, ultrasound, lasers and other mechanical methods. Researchers are studying to use laser light to stimulate and control nerve cells. This optical technique is known as transient -optical nerve stimulation - a non-contact approach to neural activation.

             

TRANSIENT OPTICAL NERVE STIMULATION

It is a technique that optically stimulates neural tissue using mid-infrared light. The method relies on the direct but transient irradiation of the nerve surface. The laser uses an optimized radiant exposure and wavelength to generate action potentials and subsequent physiological effects; for example, muscle contraction. The response is spatially precise permitting selective targeting of individual nerve with no observed tissue damage and exhibits no stimulation artifacts.

SPATIAL SELECTIVITY

Optical stimulation is more spatially precise than the electrical stimulation.

Electrical stimulation excites the entire nerve and elicits a subsequent twitch response from all innervated muscles, where as optical stimulated response is specific.

         Finally, the transient optical nerve stimulation is declared to be safe with no neurological functional deficit.

Read more »

Wireless ECG-Project

The following report details the design, construction, and theory behind a wireless electrocardiogram (ECG). This write-up is arranged in such a manner as to follow a patient’s cardiac signal from its initial detection by the ECG amplifier, its progression through the various subsystems of figure 1, and ultimately culminating in its final wireless transmission to a PC.

How is large is each part? Will it be wearable or sit on a table?

The prototype ECG that has been designed is 4.25in wide x 6in long x 2.25in high. A production version could be stripped down to have a smaller footprint so that the user could wear it on his or her belt.

The device is contained in a box that contains a circuit board and wireless transmitter. On the outside are connections that can be attached to the appropriate leads (left arm, right arm, left leg). The leads will be attached by the user and he or she will be taught the correct method by a hospital technician. For use during the day, the leads will be measured and fit to the user so as to not cause disturbance underneath the clothes. At night, the user can switch to longer leads and place the device on the nightstand. Ideally, the leads would be linked to the device wirelessly.

Does this send data continuously or just check every once in a while?

As cardiac data is transmitted to the computer at a rate of approximately 20ms/transmission, software residing on the PC would log this data. As this technology becomes more sophisticated, logic could be built into the system allowing it to notify a clinician if adverse events occur.

Does it have some sort of arrhythmia detection?

Presently, the device does not have any arrhythmia detecting functionality. As mentioned earlier, a production model of this device would be able to match the patient’s cardiac waveform with those of known arrhythmia, and then subsequently alert the proper people.

Would there be a local alarm to call somebody, a doctor, a friend, a neighbor?

Currently, the prototype version does not have an alarm system built-in. In a production version of this device,  a clinician (e.g. a nurse), would be paged were a red flag to occur. The alarm system can be easily implemented to be as comprehensive or as scaled-back as needed—the system can theoretically notify anyone once the patient’s information is read into the PC and a live Internet connection is present.

Who and how will the ECG patches be changed?

The patient would be taught how to apply and change the ECG patches. If the patient is unable to, he or she can visit the hospital briefly to have the patches reapplied when needed.

Read more »

Digital stethoscope- Project

digital stethoscope works most reliably with a strong heartbeat signal. If a signal is not very strong, it may be hard to detect peaks because of inherent noise. Thus, on a few occasions, we found it necessary to get out of our chairs in the lab and run up and down the stairs a few times to keep our blood moving. It’s quite amazing how much this makes a difference. Finding the right place for the end piece of stethoscope is also very important. The strongest and most reliable place on the body that we found was the neck. We had limited success on the heart when blood flow was good. The wrist rarely worked at all. Additionally, you must be very still and quiet to use our device. Talking or movement of the stethoscope produces output far above the voltage rail of the amplifier, and the resulting heartbeat trace and BPM will not be displayed accurately. This is however inherent to any stethoscope and not unique to our project; if an old-fashioned stethoscope moves around or the patient talks when it is on his/her neck there will be mostly noise.

Read more »

Project RESPIROCYTE

Nanomedicine is a science that uses nanotechnology to maintain and improve human health at the molecular scale. Current and potential applications of nanotechnology in medicine range from research involving diagnostic devices, drug delivery vehicles to enhanced gene therapy and tissue engineering procedures. A nanomedical device - an artificial mechanical erythrocyte, or "respirocyte".

Respirocytes are artificial red blood cells, which can take the place of our oxygen carrying cells and do a more efficient job in the process. They have one micrometer in diameter. These mimic the action of the natural hemoglobin-filled red blood cells. The design of the spherical nanorobot is made up of 18 billion atoms arranged as a tiny pressure tank. The tank can be filled up with oxygen and carbon dioxide - making one complete transfer point at the lungs, and the reverse transfer at the body's tissues. Each respirocyte can store and transport 200 times more oxygen and carbon dioxide than our natural red blood cells. Filled with these respirocytes, an adult human could hold his/her breath underwater for four hours. Each respirocyte would need to be able to detect the concentration of gases in the blood. This would be done using sensors on the surface. Gas molecules would enter the tanks inside the respirocyte via molecular sorting rotors. These rotors would have pockets that would spin, and be able to pick up and drop off oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules.

 

respiratory gases throughout the body. Second, they must help prevent the blood from becoming too acidic, since carbon dioxide dissolved in water is an acid. In brief, oxygen and carbon dioxide are carried between the lungs and the other tissues, mostly within the red blood cells. Hemoglobin, the principal protein in the red blood cell, combines reversibly with oxygen, forming oxyhemoglobin. About 95% of the O₂ is carried in this form, the rest being dissolved in the blood. Carbondioxide also combines reversibly with hemoglobin, forming carbamino hemoglobin. About 25% of the CO₂ produced during cellular metabolism is carried in this form, with another 65% transported inside the red cells as bicarbonate ion and the remaining 10% dissolved in blood plasma.

The key to successful respirocyte function is to provide some active means of conveying gas molecules into, and out. Eric has proposed molecular sorting rotors that would be ideal for this task. Each rotor has binding site "pockets" along the rim exposed alternately to the blood plasma and the interior chamber by the rotation of the disk. While exposed to blood plasma, a pocket selectively binds a specific molecule like oxygen or carbon dioxide. The disk then rotates so that the loaded binding site moves into the interior chamber. Once the pocket has moved into the chamber, the bound molecule is forcibly ejected by a rod thrust outward by the cam surface.

Read more »

Bionic Eye-Project

A "bionic eye" may one day help blind people see again, according to US
Researchers who have successfully tested the system in rats. The eye implant - a 3-millimetre-wide chip that would fit behind the retina - could be a dramatic step above currently available technology.

About 1.5 million people worldwide have a disease called retinitis pigmentosa, and 700,000 people in the western world are diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration each year. In both degenerative diseases, retinal cells at the back of the eye that process light gradually die.

For the device to work, the microchip would have to be implanted behind the retina of the blind person. The patient would wear goggles mounted with a small video camera. Light enters the camera, which then sends the image to a wireless wallet-sized computer for processing. The computer transmits this information to an infrared LED screen on the goggles. The goggles reflect an infrared image into the eye and on to the retinal chip, stimulating photodiodes on the chip. The photodiodes mimic the retinal cells by converting light into electrical signals, which are then transmitted by cells in the inner retina via nerve pulses to

the brain. These are then sent back to the glasses and wirelessly on to a receiver just under the surface of the front of the eye. Working on the bionic eye, these implants have very low resolution.

OVERVIEW OF BIONIC EYE

1: Camera on glasses views image

2: Signals are sent to hand-held device

3: Processed information is sent back to glasses and wirelessly transmitted to receiver under surface of eye

4: Receiver sends information to electrodes in retinal implant

5: Electrodes stimulate retina to send information to brain

Read more »

Biosmart Dentistry

This study mainly focuses on the applications of “smart materials” in the field of dentistry. And this particular field is said to be known as BIO SMART DENTISTRY. Description: “Smart Materials” are materials that can significantly change their properties in response to their environment. These smart materials are highly responsive and it is for this reason that they are often called as “responsive materials”. The recent advances in the design of smart materials have created novel opportunities for their applications in bio-medical fields. One of the applications is the dental restoratives. Teeth are constantly subjected to a number of diseases like dental caries. Loss of a tooth structure due to such diseases may be compensated by a number of dental restoratives. Smart materials are used in restoring and preventing dental caries as these materials encounter the carious process and aid in its prevention. Recent developments: The smart materials used in dentistry are the shape memory alloys, ceramics and hollow-core photonic-crystal fibres (PCF). Shape memory alloys are used instead of orthodontic wires while the ceramics like zirconium di oxide are used to build teeth bridges and crystal fibres are used in laser dentistry. The important aspect of smart materials in the field of dentistry is because of its excellent bio compatibility which is the most important property of any bio material. Conclusion: Due to a rapid progress in this area of science, such smart materials hold a good promise for the future. This paper throws light on smart materials that are used in dentistry and thus the field is said to be known as BIO SMART DENTISTRY.
“Smart materials” are those materials whose properties can be
changed or altered significantly by applying some external stimuli like stress, temperature, moisture, magnetic and electric field, change in pH, etc.,. The use of smart materials and structures is the most promising technology for life time efficiency and reliability in today’s world.
There are a wide range of smart materials that are already in use in a number of fields, some of them are: Piezo electric materials that produce voltage when stress is applied.
Thermo responsive shape memory alloys that can recover any temperature change.
Halo chromic materials that show a significant colour change in response to the change in the acidity.
Photo chromic materials that change their colour, in response to light. Example: light sensitive sunglasses.
“materials that can respond to biological signal can revolutionize medicine” 
Biomedical applications of smart materials include:
Delivery of therapeutics
Tissue engineering
Cell culture
Bioseparations
Thermo responsive surfaces


Some of the smart materials used in dentistry include shape memory alloys as orthodontic wires and springs, cercon smart ceramics as dental restoratives SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS:
Shape memory alloys have a wide use in the field of dentistry because of their exceptional super elasticity, good shape memory and resistance to wear. These materials also have good biocompatibility which is the most essential characteristic of any biomaterial.
The shape memory effect was first observed in copper-zinc and copper-tin alloys by Greninger and Mooradian in the year 1938. These shape memory materials are in radiology, cardiovascular and other medical applications as endovascular stents and tissue connectors. The most commercially important use of these SMAs is the orthodontic applications. The arch wires used as a corrective measure of misaligned teeth for many years were made of stainless steel. As these wires had only limited flexibility and tensile character, they created a great discomfort during the usage. Re-tensioning of these wires for every three or four weeks was necessary for which the patient had to visit the orthodontist very often.


Super elastic wires are used nowadays for these corrective measures owing to their flexibility and resistance. Thus the visits to the orthodontist are reduced significantly. Other than the arch wires there are other orthodontic devices that can move the uneven teeth linearly to correct position by reducing uneven spacing between the teeth.


The movement of these arch wires is only 6mm for 6 months that causes only a minimal discomfort. The superior flexibility, durability, torqueability when compared to stainless steel is the fundamental advantage of these materials thus producing greater ease to use and increased patient comfort.


NITINOL BRACES:
Nickel-titanium alloys (nitinol) are used in case of these braces. The adjustment of any teeth arrangement is due to the remodeling of the bone by the forces exerted by the braces that are used. This force should be minimal and should be of a very narrow range so that it will lead to proper correction of dental malformations. The introduction of SMA braces gave good results due to their corrective forces. The Ni-Ti alloy braces were introduced in 1972 that reduced the length of the orthodontic treatment and reduction of check-ups.

ADVANTAGES OF USING NITINOL BRACES:

Ni-Ti alloys have a unique combination of properties of shape memory, super elasticity, great workability in martensitic state and resistance to fatigue and corrosion.
The Ni-Ti braces are more comfortable for the patients during installation and also during treatment. Consumption of a very hot or very cold food does not lead to any complications in case of these braces if the austenite and martensite phases are well chosen.


CERAMIC BRACES:
Ceramic braces offer a less-visible alternative to well established traditional metal braces. They blend themselves to the natural colour of the teeth so that they appear more appealing.
The ceramic braces may cause wear to the teeth as these braces are harder than the teeth enamel. So they have the potential to cause a wear or even a severe wear on those teeth that touch against them. Thus the orthodontist should decide that on which all teeth that the braces can be placed. In most cases they are placed on the upper teeth especially on the centre six upper front teeth so that the wear that takes place is less. And also these braces are not placed on the patient’s lower teeth for the fear of creating excessive wear.


Adults very much like to choose ceramics braces because they “blend in” with teeth and they are less noticeable when compared to metals. Ceramic braces are made up of crystalline ceramic. Many adults and a few children also use ceramic braces for there cosmetic advantage.

The ceramic braces are translucent in appearance so they blend in with natural tooth colour.  This means that unlike traditional stainless steel metal braces, ceramic braces won’t make the smile look “metallic”.

          Smart brackets braces are containing microchip capable of measuring the forces applied to the bracket/tooth line. This braces could significantly reduce the treatment times and to set the non-harmful applied forces.

CERCON-SMART CERAMICS:
                In 1995 at ETH Zurich the first “all ceramic teeth and bridge” was invented based on the process that enables the direct machining of ceramic teeth and bridges.  Then these materials were introduced and tested in the market as CERCON – smart ceramics.  Due to the strength and technology of cercon the bridges were produced without stainless steel and metals. 
                        
              The Zircon based ceramic material is created from one unit with no metal and it is not baked in layers of metals.  Thus the product is metal free biocompatible with more strength that helps to resist crack formation.  Artificial grey shadows and unsightly dark margins from the underlying metal is no longer a problem with cercon.  Cercon Smart Ceramics deliver excellent aesthetics without reservations or compromise whether it is a “front” or “back” teeth, single or multi unit bridges.  
                           
              A highly stable ceramic oxide which is used in the industrial applications   requiring high strength and stability is Zirconium oxide (ZrO2).  It has a history as a bio material from 1970’s.  
              It is also very much useful in non dental applications and in implants.  One of the current usages of this material is in total hip replacements.  Hip replacements like the dental, show close proximity to vascular and osseous tissues.   
         Alumina or any other currently available ceramics do not have high fracture toughness and flexural strength as in the case of zirconia.  Cercon system offers a good solution to all these needs by taking the advantages of these properties namely strength, toughness, reliability and biocompatibility of zirconium oxide.  As cercon ceramics are bioresponsive they are said to be smart materials.

IMPORTANCE OF CERCON SMART CERAMICS:
          In dentistry, there has been continuous research and development to find materials suitable for dental prosthesis that are aesthetically acceptable, of sufficient strength and which are perfectly tolerated by the human body. For many years ceramic materials combined with metals have been used in dental restorations, ceramic to achieve the desired aesthetics, metal for strength. A high-tech ceramic, Zirconium Oxide, is now available and has already been pr oven in many extreme situations such as heat shields in the Space Shuttle, brake disks for sports cars and the spherical heads of artificial hip joints. This high-tech ceramic has the potential to give prosthetic care a whole new image, because thanks to Cercon smart ceramics it can now be used in dentistry. With the Cercon system, all-ceramic crowns and bridges of up to four units can be made in the incisal and molar regions. In individual cases, depending on the gap of the bridged teeth, even bridges of up to six units are possible.
SMART COMPOSITES:
          Smart composites containing ACP (Amorphous Calcium Phosphate) are also very much useful in bio smart dentistry.  Among the most biologically important calcium phosphate ACP is the most soluble one.   It also exhibits the property of being rapidly converted into hydroxyapatite (HAP).   
                                         
          When ACP is introduced into specially designed and formulated resin, to make a composite material it will have an extended time release nature to act as a source for calcium and phosphate useful in preventing caries.                        
                                          
           One of the basic building blocks of tooth enamel is hydroxyapatite; it is also an inorganic component of dentine.  In the case of carious attack hydroxyapatite is removed from the tooth resulting in cavities or white spots. 
            The exposure of low pH conditions either from bacteria or any other biological organisms releasing, food or acidic beverages result in carious attack.  Even if the pH of ACP is neutral or high it remains the same.  Only when its pH value gets lower (below or at 5.8) during carious attack ACP gets converted into HAP and precipitates thus replacing HAP lost to the acid.    
          Thus if the pH in mouth drops below 5.8 these ions will be generated within seconds which ultimately forms a gel.   This gel becomes amorphous crystals resulting in calcium and phosphate ions in about 2 minutes.            



SMART FIBERS FOR LASER DENTISTRY: 
           Laser radiation of high- fluency can be easily delivered by Hollow-core photonic-fibers (PCFs) i.e., the laser radiations can easily be snaked through the body using this hollow-core photonic-fibers which are capable of ablating tooth enamel been developed. 
          Through a hollow-core photonic –fiber, sequences of picoseconds pulses of Nd: YAG laser radiation with a core diameter of approximately 14µm is transmitted and these pulses are focused on the tooth surface to ablate dental tissue. 
                                    
            The same fiber is also used in transmitting emission from plasmas that are produced by laser pulses on the tooth surface in the backward direction for detection and optical diagnostics.
            While using these fibers we ought to be very careful because there is a risk factor that in some cases the fiber walls fail and the laser light may escape and harm the healthy tissue.

Read more »

Bio-Robotics..

Biorobotics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see Biomechanical. Biorobotics is a term that loosely covers the fields of cybernetics, bionics and even genetic engineering as a collective study. Biorobotics is often used to refer to a real subfield of robotics: studying how to make robots that emulate or simulate living biological organisms mechanically or even chemically. The term is also used in a reverse definition: making biological organisms as manipulatable and functional as robots. In the latter sense biorobotics is referred to as a theoretical discipline of comprehensive genetic engineering in which organisms are created and designed by artificial means. The creation of life from non-living matter for example, would be biorobotics. Because of its mostly theoretical status it is presently limited to science fiction; the actual field is in its infancy and is known as synthetic biology and bionanotechnology. The replicants in the film Blade Runner would be considered biorobotic in nature: (synthetic) organisms of living tissue and cells yet created artificially. Instead of microchips, their brain would be based on ganglions/artificial neurons.

Read more »

Eyeball Operated Bionic Arm--- Project

The system comprised an implant and an external transmitter integrated in an eyeglasses-frame. The implant system converts the image patterns into interpretable stimulation signals, and data and energy are transferred to the implant by a telemetric link. Nerve cells inside the eye are then stimulated according to the captured images. The intact cells are innervated by means of 3-D stimulation electrodes that rest against the retina like small studs. As long as there is no damage to the optic nerve, the vision signals can be sent to the brain just like they are with healthy eyes In this system a surgery is underwent to graft existing nerve endings from the patients shoulder onto the pectoral muscle on his chest. Those nerves grew into the muscle about a specific period of time. Electrodes on the graft can now pick up any thought-generated nerve impulses to the now-absent limb and transmit those to the mechanical prosthesis, controlling the movements of the arm. Bionic arm work by detecting movements of chest muscle that have been connected to the remains of nerves that once went to the lost limb. The impulses emitted from the transplanted nerves into the chest muscle are picked up by the harness and processed by a computer which then directs very precise movements of the artificial limb.

Read more »

Safe Guard for Blind -- Project

The aim of the project is to make the life simpler for the blind people. It is difficult to step out without someone?s help. We used electronic safety guard system that alerts them of any obstacle or object in their path. The system comprises transmitter and receiver section. -Transmitter section -Receiver section uses an embedded system. TRANSMITTER SECTION: Components used in the transmitter section are TIMER IC 555 CURRENT AMPLIFIER IR DIODES The Timer IC 555 act as astable multivibrator . The transmitter built around the Timer IC 555 which is designed to operate at a frequency of 38 KHZ. This signal is amplified by a current amplifier and transmitted through IR diodes.the reflection from obstcle is recieved by using IR detector,then the alarm or vibrator will active for the safety of people.

Read more »

IV Tubing Organizer-Project

Project Overview:
Currently the numerous amounts of IV tubing required for pediatric patients causes confusion in lines and places the patient at risk for injury. The goal of this project is to create an IV tubing organizer to prevent “spaghetti” while maintaining the functionality of an IV tube.
Abstract:
The pediatric critical care unit of the UW Children’s hospital currently has no organizational system for IV tubing. IV lines extend from multiple syringe pumps to one patient, becoming entangled. They are especially hard to differentiate when placed on the patient’s bed during transport. A prototype was assembled to minimize line confusion, in which each length of IV tubing is individually wound around a central core. Automatic recoil is controlled by a constant force spring-loaded system that allows for patient movement by retracting or extending extra lengths of IV tubing. This design will ultimately separate the IV lines and improve hospital efficiency.

Read more »

SPO2 DETEMINATION USING ECG SIGNAL

 ECG is the most basic electric potential of our body. In fact any the disease related to the heart can be easily determined using this “ECG”. But in our body each and every activity is interrelated with each other. From a minute cell to any system such as cardiac system, respiratory system is interrelated. Each and every signal coming out from the brain is related with the various muscular activities, various metabolic activities are related with the pumping activity of our heart and also on various muscle movements. Till now we have technology where we can measure parameter of one system by using one technique i.e. using ECG we can only determine the parameters of cardiac system but not able to determine the parameters of respiratory. In our project we tried to solve this limitation by using ECG we can measure SPO2 in the arterial blood. To establish the relationship between heart rate and SPO2 we have taken help of applied mathematics. In our project we have tried to use interrelation to measure multiple parameters. In this project we are measuring SPO2 with the help of “ECG” signal. Up till now we used to find SPO2 using pulse-oximeter, but using this device we will be able to measure many parameters using simple clamp electrodes. Theses parameters include 1. Heart Rate 2. Cardiac Output 3. SPO2 4. Oxygen Uptake

If you want to download the whole project the click on the link "DOWNLOAD"

DOWNLOAD 

Read more »

ULTRASOUND IMAGING : SIGNAL ACQUISITION, NEW ADVANCED PROCESSING

Use of ultrasound, namely in the biomedical diagnosis and industrial fields, pioneered in 1950s, is today particularly widespread. In the last decades, ultrasound imaging has benefited from advances in numerical technologies such as signal processing. On the other hand, the use of ultrasound imaging has increased the need for signal processing techniques. This paper presents a review and the up-to-date developments in ultrasound imaging techniques, including elementary principles, signal acquisition and processing, from one dimensional to multidimensional systems. This paper also deals with typical relevant applications.

If you want full paper please click on the link below

ULTRASOUND IMAGING

Read more »

Blood Infusion Warmer-Project

1. Introduction BLOOD INFUSION WARMER is a device which is aimed to warm the blood prior to transfusion therapy. The main concept behind this project is use of temperature difference signal for proportional heating of the cold blood. This difference is of 2 temperatures.1.of patient body and 2. Of blood bag. As, sensing range of thermistor is in microvolts, directly the error signal can be given as input to the heating circuit because it will provide insufficient heat production.So,it is required to be properly amplified.So,the block diagram is designed taking into account this matter. It is not the actual design but at the beginning phase with almost simulation of basic function of the warmer.So,the component specifications may differ from the actual one. 2. Requirement of project The normal body temperature of human is 37.5 deg.Celcius. The blood stored at lower temperature to lower the metabolic rate and bacterial growth.Now,if it is directly infused in the patient body,it leads to a life-threatening situation due to adverse reaction of normal blood and transfused blood named as “Hypothermia.”The result is shearing of blood cells,slow metabolism due to hypodynamia,ague,spasm of blood vessel,arthrosisache,stomachache,platelet dysfunction, increase in blood viscocity,disturbed CVS function. To avoid it,BLOOD INFUSION WARMER is used.This device heats the blood of the blood bag till it equals to the body temperature by detecting the temperature difference between both. Thus it is very needy instrument in operation theatres,I.C.U.s or in other environment which needs transfusion therapy to prevent mishaps related with low temperature blood transfusion. 3. Generalized block diagram: 3.1 EACH BLOCK IN BRIEF……… 0. Power supply to give d.c.supply to ICs and other devices 1. Temperature sensor with bridge for blood bag temperature.(B) 2. Temperature sensor with bridge for patient body temperature (P) 3. Instrumentation amplifier for channel-1.i.e.B-channel 4. Instrumentation amplifier for channel -2 i.e.-channel 5. Differential amplifier for obtaining temperature difference. 6. Voltage to Current converter to make compatible electrical signal for heating coil. 7. Power amplifier (Optional):to strengthen the V-I output. 8. Heating element i.e. coil coated with mica wound on fabricated steel tube. . 3.2 BLOCKS CAN BE ADDED AS SORT OF MODIFICATION 9. ADC-Analog-TO Digital converter 10.Microcontroller. 11.Audible alarm circuit.

Abstract: Temperature maintenance is the prime consideration for the effective and safe handling of the patient. Mistakes regarding to it can lead to life-threatening condition for the patient. The normal body temperature of human is 37.5 deg. Celsius. The blood from blood bank is at lower temperature.It is dangerous to directly infuse cool blood in patient . To avoid hypothermic adverse effects in the patient body while  transfusion,real time comparision of blood bag temperature and patient body temperature and accordingly heating is provided to IV line upto themal equilibrium. Thermistor is a very suitable temperature sensor with NTC (Negative temperature co-efficient) is the heart of the WARMER FOR BLOOD INFUSION and is in form of bridge configuration.The device can be hand-held or fixed on IV panel near the patient bed. Blood warmer has advantages of no contamination,easy manipulation, portability ,clear  digital temperature indication,  with fast result.As being a recent concept based device-it has also limitations and challenges like inability to cool the heated blood and restriction on use i.e. must with doctors prescription.Here is a model which has the same function with use of electronic circuitry at beginner level to better understand the above stated concept of warming of blood. With the latest electronic circuitry comprising of PID programmed microcontroller, and audible alarm system the blood  infusion warmer  can be made more dynamic but more costly.  Undoubtedly, the actual device is altogether different with the aspects of component specifications, accuracy, dynamicity and appearance.We are taking water or dextrose in stead of blood. But, this project is sufficient to provide functional simulation to the actual real-time warmer for blood infusion.     


 Requirement of project

The normal body temperature of human is 37.5 deg.Celcius. The blood stored at lower temperature to lower the metabolic rate and bacterial growth.Now,if it is directly infused in the patient body,it leads to a life-threatening situation due to adverse reaction of normal blood and transfused blood named as “Hypothermia.”The result is shearing of blood cells,slow metabolism to hypodynamia,ague,spasm of blood vessel,arthrosisache,stomachache,platelet dysfunction, increase in blood viscocity,disturbed CVS function.

To avoid it,BLOOD INFUSION WARMER is used.This device heats the blood  of the blood bag till it equals to the body temperature by detecting the temperature difference between both.

Thus it is very needy instrument in operation theatres,I.C.U.s or in other environment which needs transfusion therapy to prevent mishaps related with low temperature blood transfusion.

 Generalized block diagram:

if you want to download full projects then click on the link below...

Full Projects Download

Read more »

PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM WITH NIGL-Project

The Objective of Patient monitoring is to have a quantitative assessment of the important physiological variables of the patients during critical periods of their biological functions. Patient monitoring system measures physiological characteristics either continuously or at regular intervals over time and thereby differs from diagnostic instruments that detect existing medical conditions through single testing procedures. The choice of proper parameters, which have information content, is chosen and it is agreed that monitoring of following biological functions are often needed, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Heart Rate, Body Temperature, Non Invasive Blood pressure, Spo2. Along with these parameters Glucose level is also important for patient monitoring system. Because when a patient faints due to hyperglycemic condition admitted in ICU, with out proper testing if glucose is administered to the patient then it may even lead to a fatal condition, so along with the five vital signs monitoring glucose level should also be monitored. The advantage is that glucose level is measured using non invasive technique. It is based on optical technique which continuously monitors the blood glucose levels. Whenever there is a decrease in the blood glucose level (hypoglycemia) or increase in blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) an alarm is produced which alerts the people around, so that they can come to patient’s rescue.

Read more »

Orthopedic bone cements

Bone cements are polymeric materials that are extensively used for the fixation of components of arthroplasties. The materials are usually based on methylmetacrylate (MMA) monomer and a prepolymer powder, mainly poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) that - after mixing - cure in situ. The cured cements are weight-bearing and load-transferring, and therefore their mechanical behavior plays a critical role in the implant outcome. Registry studies have shown that implant loosening often is related to cement failure (Espehaug, 2002; Havelin, 1995). Today, the clinical performance of new bone cements is basically revealed only by clinical registries of implant survival, as was the case with a bone cement using a new formulation (Boneloc).
The ultimate goal of this project is to identify parameters, as revealed by preclinical testing that can predict clinical outcome of bone cements. The aims are:

• To investigate the time-dependent mechanical properties of a commonly used bone cement
• To assess the influence of testing conditions on the mechanical behavior of cements
• To characterize bone cement retrieved from revision operations

Read more »

Optical heart rate monitor-Project

Pulse Oximetry is a non invasive method of measuring a person's oxygenation level. It monitors the percentage of haemoglobin (Hb) which is saturated with oxygen. A probe is attached to the patient's finger or ear lobe comprising LEDs and photodetector. As the light from the two LEDs (red - 660 nm and infrared - 950 nm) pass through the body tissues to a photodetector, it is absorbed by blood and soft tissue. The light absorption rate at the two wavelengths by the hemoglobin is different and depends on the degree of oxygenation. The light level changes as the blood is pumped by the heart. As a consequence, the oximeter also measures the heart rate in beats per minute (BPM). In this application note, we create a heart rate monitor by using one IR LED & phototransistor pair and observing the waveform at the phototransistor output. This is intended for illustrating a typical light sensor application and not intended for actual medical use. The accompanying video also shows the typical low level signals involved in this type of circuit and how the dynamic range from a 24 bit ADC (EMANT300 USB DAQ) allows such signals to be observed without further signal conditioning.

Read more »