In a recent article published on June 2, 2008, the focus was on groundbreaking advancements at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco. These innovations are merging biology with electronics, creating new possibilities for medical technology. One such development is a wireless silicon crystal monitor that functions like an "OK stretcher," designed to be disposable after use. Another exciting project involves a chip that could become the first commercially available artificial retina. Additionally, there's a component capable of monitoring brainwave patterns and being implanted deep within the brain.
These developments have sparked significant interest among researchers and engineers. Mark McDermott from the University of Texas emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary learning, encouraging engineers to study both electrical engineering and natural sciences. He noted that more engineers are now showing a strong interest in medical applications.
At the ISSCC conference, Arto Nurmikko from Brown University discussed brain implant designs that integrate electronics, optics, and anatomy. He described the field as highly interdisciplinary, combining computer science, engineering, biology, and even precision mechanics akin to Swiss watchmaking.
Chris Van Hoof from IMEC highlighted the growing interaction between silicon technology and the human body during a seminar at the conference. He stressed how this relationship is becoming increasingly close.
Looking ahead, Hyung Kyu Lim from Samsung Advanced Technology Research Institute mentioned that patients will soon be able to use wireless wearable sensors without frequent hospital visits. Healthcare equipment and service robots are emerging as key consumer products in this space, though the systems involved are complex and costly due to the need for advanced machine intelligence.
Toumaz Technology introduced a custom chip at ISSCC that turns a wireless monitor into a disposable sticker. This chip is part of a new generation of smart wearable devices that allow patients to receive medical monitoring services comfortably at home.
Alison Burdett, technical director at Toumaz, pointed out that society is facing both an aging population and a lack of healthy lifestyles, leading to a rise in chronic diseases. This trend places a heavy burden on global health systems.
A major U.S. healthcare company is reportedly working with Toumaz to launch a silicon-based medical patch by the end of 2009. Companies like GE and Philips are also exploring similar projects in their labs.
To improve power efficiency and reliability, Toumaz developed custom hardware and protocols for wireless networks operating between 800MHz and 900MHz, supporting data rates up to 50kbps. The chip consumes only 2.5mA during communication, with the digital control section using just 100μW.
Customized Media Access Controllers (MACs) are essential for handling interference in short-range communications, according to Burdett. Despite being custom-designed, the patch is expected to cost as little as $5 when launched next year. The chip measures 16 square millimeters and will be manufactured by Infineon Technologies using a 130nm process.
When mass-produced, the silicon chip’s cost will be minimal, with most expenses coming from assembly and manufacturing due to the need for a new production process.
The chip can connect to various sensors, enabling electrocardiogram, three-axis accelerometer, blood glucose, pH, and pressure monitoring. While it can only support one sensor at a time, it can switch between three different ones.
In a ready-made design, the chip can be integrated into a watch or badge, recording body temperature and providing daily assessments of mental, physical, and social well-being. Field tests with 200 users showed that even a single sensor can detect subtle changes in daily life, as noted by Hitachi engineers.
The monitors are housed in a 30 cubic centimeter module featuring a 32-bit H8S processor operating on a ZigBee network.
Silicon Eyes
When it comes to implantable technology, Albrecht Rothermel from the University of Ulm introduced a chip that could be the first commercial artificial retina. His university is collaborating with Retina Implant on a 1,600-pixel device measuring 3 x 3.5mm. This component was recently manufactured and based on a 1,450-pixel array developed by the Stuttgart Microelectronics Institute (IMS). The CMOS imager has a dynamic range of 170dB and was tested in a multi-week hospital experiment involving many patients.
This artificial retina uses 0.8μm technology and is only 20μm thick. It employs a wide voltage swing for retinal stimulation and features a new power architecture and digital controller for sequential pixel addressing. Rothermel stated that the device could help some blind individuals perceive reflected light. —Shanghai Medical Device Industry Association
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