IRMACS: The Interdisciplinary Colloquium: "New Technologies for Preventive Health Care"

Abstract

The most promising healthcare technologies are exponentially smaller, cheaper, easier, smarter and far more powerful than any before in history. Microelectronics, MEMS, wireless communication, biosensors, embedded computing, biophotonics and optoelectronics exemplify our research interests at the CiBER laboratories. The CiBER (Computational and Integrative Bio-Engineering Research) lab aims to integrate research in microelectronics, biosensors, wireless communications and related technologies with challenging applications in medicine and human health.

The presentation will center on the integration of biomedical components within modern engineered microstructures to conceive a new class of miniature disposable devices with incorporated wireless control. Heart monitoring will be used as an example of new devices, algorithms and clinical studies. Our methodology includes ballistocardiography and other related devices. Ballistocardiography (BCG) has the potential to non-invasively detect heart issues before they have manifested on a noticeable scale and much before ECG differentiation. Thus, successful completion of a BCG screening will help target at-risk individuals sooner and ensure they see a specialist early. We develop and integrate appropriate technologies including micro-sensors, signal processing algorithms, pattern recognition software and ECG analysis to create a new methodology, devices, and software for detecting heart disease non-invasively and inexpensively.