• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.168-177
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• 2016

In this paper we present an implantable pressure sensor to measure real-time blood pressure by monitoring mechanical movement of artery. Sensor is composed of inductors (L) and capacitors (C) which are formed by microfabrication and direct bonding on two biocompatible substrates (quartz). When electrical potential is applied to the sensor, the inductors and capacitors generates a LC resonance circuit and produce characteristic resonant frequencies. Real-time variation of the resonant frequency is monitored by an external measurement system using inductive coupling. Structural and electrical simulation was performed by Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) programs, ANSYS and HFSS, to optimize geometry of sensor. Ultrafast laser (femto-second) cutting and MEMS process were executed as sensor fabrication methods with consideration of brittleness of the substrate and small radial artery size. After whole fabrication processes, we got sensors of $3mm{\times}15mm{\times}0.5mm$. Resonant frequency of the sensor was around 90 MHz at atmosphere (760 mmHg), and the sensor has good linearity without any hysteresis. Longterm (5 years) stability of the sensor was verified by thermal acceleration testing with Arrhenius model. Moreover, in-vitro cytotoxicity test was done to show biocompatiblity of the sensor and validation of real-time blood pressure measurement was verified with animal test by implant of the sensor. By integration with development of external interrogation system, the proposed sensor system will be a promising method to measure real-time blood pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2013

In this paper, we present a MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) implantable blood pressure sensor which has designed and fabricated with consideration of size, design flexibility, and wireless detection. Mechanical and electrical characterizations of the sensor were obtained by mathematical analysis and computer aided simulation. The sensor is composed of two coils and a air gap capacitor formed by separation of the coils. Therefore, the sensor produces its resonant frequency which is changed by external pressure variation. This frequency movement is detected by inductive coupling between the sensor and an external antenna coil. Theoretically analyzed resonant frequency of the sensor under 760 mmHg was calculated to 269.556 MHz. Fused silica was selected as sensor material with consideration of chemical and electrical reaction of human body to the material. $2mm{\times}5mm{\times}0.5mm$ pressure sensors fitted to radial artery were fabricated on the substrates by consecutive microfabrication processes: sputtering, etching, photolithography, direct bonding and laser welding. Resonant frequencies of the fabricated sensors were in the range of 269~284 MHz under 760 mmHg pressure.

• Proceedings of the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.3-4
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• 2004

A flexible Packaging scheme, which embedded chip packaging, has been developed using a thinned silicon chip. Mechanical characteristics of thinned silicon chips are examined by bending test and finite element analysis. Thinned silicon chips ($t<50{\mu}m$) are fabricated by chemical etching process to avoid possible surface damages on them. These technologies can be use for a real-time monitoring of blood pressure. Our research targets are implantable blood pressure sensor and its telemetric measurement. By winding round the coronary arteries, we can measure the blood pressure by capacitance variation of blood vessel.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.445-450
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• 2012

We have developed an implantable wireless sensor for real time pressure monitoring of blood circulation system. MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) technology was adopted as a sensor development method. The sensor is composed of photolithographically patterned inductors and a distributed capacitor in gap between the inductors. A resulting LC resonant system produces its resonant frequency in range of 269 to 284 MHz at 740 mmHg. To read the resonant frequency changed by blood pressure variation, we developed a custom readout system based on a network analyzer functionality. The bench-top testing of the pressure sensors showed good mechanical and electrical functionality. A sensor was implanted into tibial artery of farm pig, and interrogated wirelessly with accurate readings of blood pressure. After 45 days, the sensor's electrical response and histopathology were studied with good frequency reading and biocompatibility.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.599-604
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• 2004

Implantable flexible sensor using polymer/metal multilayer processing technique for telemetrical real-time blood pressure monitoring is presented. The realized sensor is mechanically flexible, which can be less invasively implanted and attached on the outside of blood vessel to monitor the variation of blood pressure. Therefore, unlike conventional detecting methods which install sensor on the inside of vessel, the suggested monitoring method can monitor the relative blood pressure without injuring blood vessel. The major factor of sudden death of adults is a disease of artery like angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. A disease of circulatory system resulted from vessel occlusion by plaque can be preventable and treatable early through continuous blood pressure monitoring. The procedure of suggested new method for monitoring variation of blood pressure is as follows. First, integrated sensor is attached to the outer wall of blood vessel. Second, it detects mechanical contraction and expansion of blood vessel. And then, reader antenna recognizes it using telemetrical method as the relative variation of blood pressure. There are not any active devices in the sensor system; therefore, the transmission of energy and signal depends on the principle of mutual inductance between internal antenna of LC resonator and external antenna of reader. To confirm the feasibility of the sensing mechanism, in vitro experiment using silicone rubber tubing and blood is practiced. First of all, pressure is applied to the silicone tubing which is filled by blood. Then the shift of resonant frequency with the change of applied pressure is measured. The frequency of 2.4 MHz is varied while the applied pressure is changed from 0 to 213.3 kPa. Therefore, the sensitivity of implantable blood pressure is 11.25 kHz/kPa.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1280-1287
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• 2019

For developing a wireless implantable device to monitoring the artery variation in real-time. The concept of a special vessel variation measurement capacitive sensor is presented in this paper. The sensor consists of two part; main sensor to measuring the arterial variation, and reference sensor is used to improve the accuracy of the capacitance value variation. Before sensor manufacture, a model of the sensor attached on the artery was designed in 3D to conduct in the FEA simulation to validate the validity and feasibility of the idea. The artery model was designed as layered structures and made of collagenous soft tissues with intima inside, followed by the media and the adventitia. Also, a grease layer was designed in the inner of the arterial wall to imitate the clogged arteries. The simulation was divided into two parts; sensor performance test by changing the diameter of the grease layer, and arterial wall tension test by changing the blood pressure. As the simulation results, the capacitance value measured by the proposed sensor is decreased follow the diameter of the grease increased. Also, large elastic deformation of the arterial wall since changing the blood pressure has been observed.