Miniature Noninvasive Sensor Based on Impedance-Change Detection in Branches for Measuring Branch Ice Content in Overwintering Woody Plants.

Advancements in detection instruments have enabled the real-time acquisition of water information during plant growth; however, the real-time monitoring of freeze-thaw information during plant overwintering remains a challenge. Based on the relationship between the change in the water-ice ratio and branch impedance during freezing, a miniature noninvasive branch volume ice content (BVIC) sensor was developed for monitoring real-time changes in volumetric ice content and the ice freeze-thaw rate of woody plant branches during the overwintering period. The results of the performance analysis of the impedance measurement circuit show that the circuit has a lateral sensitivity range, measurement range, resolution, measurement accuracy, and power consumption of 0-35 mm, 0-100%, 0.05%, ±1.76%, and 0.25 W, respectively. The dynamic response time was 0.296 s. The maximum allowable error by the output voltage fluctuation, owing to the ambient temperature and humidity, was only ±0.635%, which meets the actual use requirements. The calibration curve fit coefficients were >0.98, indicating a significant correlation. The ice content of plant branches under cold stress was measured for indoor and field environments, and the sensors could effectively monitor changes in the branch ice content in plants exposed to cold stress. Additionally, they can differentiate between plants with different cold resistances, indicating the reliability of the BVIC sensor.

A miniature CuO nanoarray sensor for noninvasive detection of trace salivary glucose.

An ultrasensitive mini-sensor has been developed for nonenzymatic and noninvasive determination of trace glucose in saliva. The miniature detector exhibits ultra-high sensitivity and resolution at very low glucose concentration owing to the excellent electrocatalytic activity and electron transfer rate of the prepared 3D ordered CuO nanoflake array in-situ grown on a copper foil. The structure and morphology of the cupric oxide nanoarray were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrocatalysis of the CuO nanoarray modified electrode to glucose was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The modified electrode presents a high sensitivity of 4954 µA mM-1 cm-2 to glucose at + 0.55 V with a wide linear range of 1.0 µmol/L to 6000 µmol/L and a low detection limit of 0.1 µmol/L and long-term stability. Furthermore, the mini-sensor can clearly distinguish diabetics from healthy people because of its excellent sensing performance. The developed miniaturized sensor holds the prospect for noninvasive determination of trace glucose in saliva for diabetic patients.

Low-Cost Hyperspectral Imaging System: Design and Testing for Laboratory-Based Environmental Applications.

The recent surge in the development of low-cost, miniaturised technologies provides a significant opportunity to develop miniaturised hyperspectral imagers at a fraction of the cost of currently available commercial set-ups. This article introduces a low-cost laboratory-based hyperspectral imager developed using commercially available components. The imager is capable of quantitative and qualitative hyperspectral measurements, and it was tested in a variety of laboratory-based environmental applications where it demonstrated its ability to collect data that correlates well with existing datasets. In its current format, the imager is an accurate laboratory measurement tool, with significant potential for ongoing future developments. It represents an initial development in accessible hyperspectral technologies, providing a robust basis for future improvements.

Developed wearable miniature sensor to diagnose initial perturbations of cardiorespiratory system.

The progress of microelectromechanical systems tends to fabricate miniature motion sensors that can be used for various purposes of biomedical systems, particularly on-body applications. A miniature wireless sensor is developed that not only monitors heartbeat and respiration rate based on chest movements but also identifies initial problems in the cardiorespiratory system, presenting a healthy measure defined based on height and length of the normal distribution of respiration rate and heartbeat. The obtained results of various tests are compared with two commercial sensors consisting of electrocardiogram sensor as well as belt sensor of respiration rate as a reference (gold standard), showing that the root-mean-square errors obtain <2.27 beats/min for a heartbeat and 0.93 breaths/min for respiration rate. In addition, the standard deviation of the errors reaches <1.26 and 0.63 for heartbeat and respiration rates, separately. According to the outcome results, the sensor can be considered an appropriate candidate for in-home health monitoring, particularly early detection of cardiovascular system problems.

A miniature tension sensor to measure surgical suture tension of deformable musculoskeletal tissues during joint motion.

The aim of this study was to develop a new suture tension sensor for musculoskeletal soft tissue that shows deformation or movements. The suture tension sensor was 10 mm in size, which was small enough to avoid conflicting with the adjacent sensor. Furthermore, the sensor had good linearity up to a tension of 50 N, which is equivalent to the breaking strength of a size 1 absorbable suture defined by the United States Pharmacopeia. The design and mechanism were analyzed using a finite element model prior to developing the actual sensor. Based on the analysis, adequate material was selected, and the output linearity was confirmed and compared with the simulated result. To evaluate practical application, the incision of the skin and capsule were sutured during simulated total knee arthroplasty. When conventional surgery and minimally invasive surgery were performed, suture tensions were compared. In minimally invasive surgery, the distal portion of the knee was dissected, and the proximal portion of the knee was dissected additionally in conventional surgery. In the skin suturing, the maximum tension was 4.4 N, and this tension was independent of the sensor location. In contrast, the sensor suturing the capsule in the distal portion had a tension of 4.4 N in minimally invasive surgery, while the proximal sensor had a tension of 44 N in conventional surgery. The suture tensions increased nonlinearly and were dependent on the knee flexion angle. Furthermore, the tension changes showed hysteresis. This miniature tension sensor may help establish the optimal suturing method with adequate tension to ensure wound healing and early recovery.