Team
invents sensor that uses radio waves to
detect subtle changes in
pressure (VIDEO)
A lot of patients can benefit from continuous blood
pressure monitoring, but inflatable arm cuffs are currently the only reliable method to do so. Attempts are currently underway by a number of organizations to use pulse wave transit time obtained through single lead ECG to provide cuffless blood
pressure monitoring, but clinical level precision may **t be achieved any time soon with this technique. A new solution may come in the form of a tiny wireless implant, only one millimeter on a side and 0.1 mm thick, that’s been developed by engineers at Stanford University.
The device consists of a layer of squishable tiny pyramids sandwiched between two copper coils set on top of a flexible substrate. The coils act as an antenna
that can be electrically resonated by an external
radio signal. The resonance induced signal
that comes back can be measured using the same external device. As the
pressure around the implant goes up, the copper coils are pushed closer together, lowering the resonant frequency. This change is detected in real time, providing a reliable indicator of the
pressure around the implant. Besides measuring blood pressure, the device has great potential for continuous wireless intracranial
pressure monitoring, which the research
Team demonstrated successfully in laboratory mice.
Here’s a quick overview of the new
pressure sensor tech**logy:
Study in
Nature Communications:
Continuous wireless pressure monitoring and mapping with ultra-small passive sensors for health monitoring and critical care…
Press release:
STANFORD TEAM INVENTS SENSOR THAT USES RADIO WAVES TO DETECT SUBTLE CHANGES IN PRESSURE…
