Documents / Report
This Defense Intelligence Agency reference document, dated 31 March 2010 (DIA-08-1003-020), was one of a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2009 under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) program. It surveys biosensors and BioMEMS, covering brain-implanted neuroelectrodes, drug-delivery pumps, implantable glucose sensors, brain-machine interfaces, retinal prostheses, microfluidic lab chips, NASA cell culture systems, and microcantilever sensors. It concludes that the field is expanding rapidly toward nanomechanical systems.
UNCLASSIFIED//F'ilA. 'ilFFilii,tde l!l!ii! 8111!1f to gain federal approval there may be biocompatibility issues to resolve, clinical trials to perform, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements to satisfy. CATEGORIES OF BIOMEMS We divide the BioMEMS field into several subcategories. Some devices are targeted to be implanted into the human body or are applied to the body. Many of these are being developed as alternatives to drugs which therapeutically treat illness or disease. There is also activity in using microscale stimulation devices to treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease and to treat neurological injuries such as stroke or trauma to the spinal cord. Another promising field of research is directed towards integration of the human brain with microelectrical components. For example implants are being developed which allow volitional (thought) control of machines. Most of this effort is targeted towards rehabilitation of individuals who are quadriplegics in order to allow them some control over their environment. Then there are devices being developed for clinical applications such as rapid blood analysis, and there are those targeted for benchtop biological research. In this review, the focus is on specific microscale and MEMS-based devices that are used in medicine and biology. These include: • Micromachines that interface to brain electrodes. • Blood glucose sensors. • Microfluidics. • Neural Interfaces. • Neurostimulators. • Microbeam sensors. Several of these technologies have been the subject of research by the present author and by colleagues at Arizona State University. BioMEMS Micromachines Micromachines made by photolithography are among the most complex and sophisticated of all MEMS devices. They have seen some application in various forms of biomedical devices where motion must be achieved with an implantable device. Motion within the human body by a device is difficult since it implies sliding surfaces, a need for electrical power, and long term reliability and stability. Biomedical implants are usually introduced by surgery and so once implanted cannot be easily removed for servicing. 3 UNCLASSIFIED/ ;CEiOAt OFFI&l11J.k laUiEii SU•L¥
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Report, from the dia collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 45 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.