Current projects (2006-Present)
- Development of a novel flex sensor for use in medical pressure diagnostic tools
- Grating light modulator for uses as wavelength selective switch
Development of a novel flex sensor for use in medical pressure diagnostic tools
PhD Candidate: Ming Foey Teng
Supervisors: Dr Alex Hariz
Co-Supervisors: Dr H.Y. Hsu
The aim of this research is to develop a novel flexible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based manometric catheter for medical diagnosis, used especially in the area of functional swallowing disorder diagnosis. Literature focusing on new materials as well as new concept designs on flexible medical diagnosis tool in this particular area is limited.
The functional swallowing disorder, also known in medical terms as dysphagia, is caused by the disruption of the swallowing mechanism. The children’s development process can be curtailed by this disease and can become fatal if in a serious condition.
Doctors use a manometric catheter to measure the pressure profile along the esophagus segment during the swallowing action. The recorded pressure readings are used to diagnose abnormalities of the muscles and also provide appropriate pathways in the assessment of the efficiency of the therapy.
The current available diagnosis devices used by doctors are the reusable multi-lumen water-perfusion catheters and the solid state manometric catheter. Both the water-perfusion and solid state manometric catheter have their individual drawbacks and limitations. In order to overcome this, the aim of this research is to develop a flexible MEMS-based pressure micro-sensor using polymeric materials. This research will carry out investigation and experiments in micromachining on flexible substrates, where eventually a pressure micro-sensor will be built and implement into a manometric catheter.
The knowledge gained from the review of past research publications, as well as the understanding of PTF technology and its related polymer sensor development examples make the task of developing a flexible sensor for manometric catheter use feasible. The proposed device development will be based on polymer materials. Computer simulation of the sensor will be carried out, followed by a large scale prototype fabrication to assess the materials and sensor function performance. Due to the limitation of thick-film materials and its screen printing technique in producing micro sized sensors, micromachining technique will be used.
Grating light modulator for uses as wavelength selective switch
PhD Candidate: Araya Pothisorn
Supervisors: Dr Alex Hariz
Associate Supervisors: Dr Bruce Wedding
All optical switches have been used with measured success in response to a high demand in all optical networks and a dramatic increase in the Internet and communications needs over the last decade. MEMS-based wavelength-selective switches (WSS) are the most promising technology to bring all-optical switches into wide implementation by providing reasonable cost, excellent performance, and most reliable use of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
Optical-MEMS devices, often referred to as micro-opto-electromechanical systems or MOEMS; have been used successfully in optical network systems and particularly in switching devices, which are waveguide and free-space switches. Free-space switching devices are more popular than waveguide switches, because they offer faster switching time and are more scalable.
The development of a switching system having GLM as both de-multiplexer and switching device in one spot is proposed. The system does not require any moving micro-mirror arrays and the switching time is totally dependent on the GLM device which is very fast. GLMs use diffraction principle to de-multiplex a WDM signal with a square-well grating like deformation when suitable voltages are applied to the device to perform ‘ON’ and ‘OFF’ states as a switch. This is a significant challenge in micro systems fabrication technology and optical network development, which could lead the way to achieving a new class of micro optical components.