EFRI-BioFlex: Hybrid polymer-paper based multi-sensor implants for continuous remote monitoring

EFRI-BioFlex：基于混合聚合物纸的多传感器植入物，用于连续远程监控

• 批准号: 1332394
• 负责人: Ellis Meng
• 金额: $ 200万
• 依托单位: University of Southern California
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-10-01 至 2019-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1332394&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EFRI; BioFlex; Hybrid; polymer; paper

Hydrocephalus is a chronic incurable condition that characterized by the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and affects 1 to 2 in every 1000 births per year. Today, hydrocephalus is primarily treated using an implanted shunt to drain excess fluid, a technique that is virtually unchanged since its introduction in the 1950?s. Its temporary efficacy has made hydrocephalus one of the most frequently encountered problems in neurosurgery with repeated shunt revisions or replacements required over the lifetime of a patient. A major unmet need is early diagnosis of shunt malfunction which is difficult, unreliable, and costly. Intellectual Merit:Rapid and accurate diagnoses are critically important to initiate timely intervention and avoid prolonged suffering. Therefore, the overall goal of this proposal is to realize a transformative wirelessly-operated multi-sensor system comprising a self-aware, self-reporting hydrocephalus shunt. Novel concepts will be introduced in materials, sensors, microfabrication, and systems integration to overcome the current limitations and engineering challenges. Flexible substrates will consist of paper selectively integrated into a polymer carrier film that is either directly applied to catheters or seamlessly connected to tissue using selectively patterned and strategically placed thermosensitive bioadhesives. Composite thin film substrates with novel material properties will contain sensors, electronics, and a power source while still allowing conformal placement. Functional initiated chemical vapor deposited polymers will be selectively applied using novel techniques to modify surfaces to minimize immunologic responses and prevent biofouling and infection. Electrodeposited films will be explored as novel sensor materials that are easily integrated with BioFlex. Multi-sensor arrays will feature ?wet? electrochemical impedance transduction technology that does not requiring hermetic packaging. Flexibility and miniature form factor are critical for low profile multi-sensor systems that conform to standard flexible polymer shunts and occupy limited real estate in vivo. This system provides a wireless technology platform for the objective diagnosis of shunt dysfunction and real-time monitoring of hydrocephalus-shunt hydrodynamics to enable better patient care and correlation of treatment to disease progression. The foundation established here will promote long-term growth of BioFlex remote monitoring implants for challenging critical care applications. The technical team brings complementary strengths in biomaterials, surface coatings, modeling and simulation, microelectronics, microelectromechanical systems fabrication and sensors, wireless devices, implantable devices, and system integration to realize transformational bioelectronic implants. Broader Impacts:BioFlex will enable improved care of hydrocephalus, a chronic, incurable disease typically starting at childhood and requiring a lifetime of medical care. Remote monitoring followed by timely intervention will improve care and quality of life while reducing both hospitalizations and healthcare costs. The economic and environmental benefits of the development and use of implantable, wireless BioFlex for hydrocephalus include reduced hospital admissions, earlier interventions, prevention of crisis management, reduced complications, and halting of disease progression. This platform will be the basis for future development of self-aware . The diverse BioFlex team is committed to broadening participation with an extensive track record to prove it. A major focus is recruitment of diverse students for research experiences at all education levels and focused mentoring. Students will amplify outreach as BioFlex ambassadors to recruit future engineers to undergraduate programs. International collaborations will be developed and enriched through undergraduate, graduate, and researcher exchange through existing programs. Partnership with the Center for Technology and Innovation in Pediatrics and Center for Body Computing will promote timely collaboration between students, researchers, clinicians, and industry.

脑积水是一种慢性无法治愈的疾病，其特征是脑脊液在大脑中过度积聚，每年每 1000 名新生儿中就有 1 至 2 人患有脑积水。 如今，脑积水主要通过植入分流器排出多余液体来治疗，这种技术自 20 世纪 50 年代推出以来几乎没有变化。 它的暂时疗效使脑积水成为神经外科最常见的问题之一，患者一生中需要反复进行分流修正或更换。 一个主要的未满足的需求是分流故障的早期诊断，这是困难的、不可靠的和昂贵的。 智力优点：快速准确的诊断对于及时干预并避免长期痛苦至关重要。 因此，该提案的总体目标是实现一种变革性的无线操作多传感器系统，包括自我意识、自我报告的脑积水分流器。 将在材料、传感器、微加工和系统集成方面引入新概念，以克服当前的限制和工程挑战。 柔性基材将由选择性集成到聚合物载体膜中的纸张组成，该载体膜可以直接应用于导管或使用选择性图案和策略性放置的热敏生物粘合剂无缝连接到组织。 具有新颖材料特性的复合薄膜基板将包含传感器、电子器件和电源，同时仍允许保形放置。 将使用新技术选择性地应用功能引发的化学气相沉积聚合物来修饰表面，以最大限度地减少免疫反应并防止生物污垢和感染。 电镀薄膜将被探索作为易于与 BioFlex 集成的新型传感器材料。 多传感器阵列将具有“湿”功能无需密封封装的电化学阻抗转换技术。 灵活性和微型外形对于符合标准柔性聚合物分流器并在体内占用有限空间的薄型多传感器系统至关重要。 该系统提供了一个无线技术平台，用于客观诊断分流功能障碍和实时监测脑积水分流流体动力学，以实现更好的患者护理以及治疗与疾病进展的相关性。 这里建立的基础将促进 BioFlex 远程监控植入物的长期发展，以应对具有挑战性的重症监护应用。 该技术团队在生物材料、表面涂层、建模与仿真、微电子、微机电系统制造和传感器、无线设备、植入设备和系统集成方面发挥互补优势，以实现变革性的生物电子植入。更广泛的影响：BioFlex 将改善脑积水的护理，脑积水是一种慢性、无法治愈的疾病，通常从儿童时期开始，需要终生的医疗护理。 远程监控和及时干预将改善护理和生活质量，同时减少住院和医疗费用。 开发和使用可植入无线 BioFlex 治疗脑积水的经济和环境效益包括减少住院人数、早期干预、预防危机管理、减少并发症和阻止疾病进展。 这个平台将成为未来自我意识发展的基础。多元化的 BioFlex 团队致力于扩大参与范围，并以丰富的业绩记录证明了这一点。 一个主要重点是招募不同的学生来获得各个教育级别的研究经验和有针对性的指导。 学生将作为 BioFlex 大使扩大外展范围，招募未来的工程师参加本科课程。 国际合作将通过现有项目的本科生、研究生和研究人员交流来发展和丰富。 与儿科技术与创新中心和身体计算中心的合作将促进学生、研究人员、临床医生和行业之间的及时合作。