Collaborative Research: Conformal and robust integrated infrared spectroscopic sensors

合作研究：共形且坚固的集成红外光谱传感器

• 批准号: 1708768
• 负责人: Mo Li
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-09-01 至 2018-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1708768&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Conformal; robust; integrated

The program aims to pioneer a flexible optical sensor which can be conformally attached to human skin for continuous physiological monitoring. Unlike conventional optical sensors which are often bulky, costly, and involve mechanical moving parts which compromise their robustness, the proposed effort will leverage advanced integrated photonic technologies to combine miniaturized optical components on a flexible polymer membrane. The proposed sensor is ideally suited for continuous glucose monitoring. Instead of relying on fingertip pricking with lancets to draw blood for intermittent analysis, the proposed sensor will assume a minimally invasive, tattoo-like form factor for continuous monitoring of glucose concentration in body fluids.Integrated photonic devices are uniquely poised for in-vivo sensing, diagnostics, therapeutics, and stimulation functions, given their small form factor, low power consumption, robustness, large multiplexing capacity, as well as strong light-molecule/tissue interactions enabled by tight optical confinement in these devices. Nevertheless, conventional photonic integration is predominantly based on rigid semiconductor substrates, and their mechanical stiffness makes the resulting devices inherently incompatible with soft biological tissues. Further, while optical spectroscopy based on bench top instruments has become the gold standard in analytical chemistry, integrated spectroscopic sensors remain largely unexplored. This program aims to resolve the challenges by combining flexible photonic integration and on-chip infrared spectroscopic sensing technologies to pioneer a wearable photonic sensing system on conformal plastic substrates. Specifically, a minimally invasive epidermal sensor for continuous glucose monitoring will be demonstrated as a proof-of-concept model platform. The two-fold intellectual merits of the program lie in the unconventional multi-material photonic integration approach on conformal substrates as well as the innovative spectroscopic sensor design. Photonic integration on conformal substrates poses a diverse set of often mutually conflicting requirements on the mechanical and optical properties of constituent materials. In this program, a transformative multi-material, multi-functional integration approach on flexible substrates will be pursued where each material is seamlessly integrated into the process flow and strategically shaped and positioned so as to make use of its advantageous properties while circumventing its limitations. On the spectroscopic sensing front, miniaturization and integration of spectrometers present a major technical barrier towards spectroscopic sensor integration onto chip-scale platforms. Rather than downscaling traditional spectrometers, the program will develop a novel sensor design with significantly improved system simplicity, ruggedness, reproducibility and specificity, enabling wearable sensing applications. The scientific research will be tightly integrated with curriculum development, undergraduate student training, and development of hands-on modules for optics education. In addition to augmenting classroom education at both institutes, the program will promote the free sharing and distribution of knowledge by developing online courses through the MIT OpenCourseWare and edX initiatives.

该计划旨在先驱一个灵活的光学传感器，该传感器可以与人类皮肤合成以进行连续的生理监测。与常规笨重，昂贵且涉及损害其稳健性的机械运动部件的常规光学传感器不同，拟议的努力将利用高级集成光子技术来在柔性聚合物膜上结合微型的光学组件。所提出的传感器非常适合连续葡萄糖监测。该提议的传感器不会依靠指尖刺刺刺吸血进行间歇分析，而是假设一个微创的，类似纹身的形式，用于连续监测体液中的葡萄糖浓度。整合的光子设备是独特的，用于视野内置的感应。鉴于其较小的外形，低功耗，稳健性，大型多路复用能力以及强烈的轻质分子/组织相互作用，这些设备中的紧密光学限制可实现，诊断，治疗和刺激功能。然而，常规的光子整合主要基于刚性半导体底物，它们的机械刚度使所得的设备与软生物组织固有地不相容。此外，虽然基于基准顶部仪器的光谱已成为分析化学的黄金标准，但集成的光谱传感器仍未开发。该计划旨在通过结合柔性光子整合和片上红外光谱传感技术来解决挑战。具体而言，用于连续葡萄糖监测的微创表皮传感器将被证明为概念验证模型平台。该程序的两倍优点在于在保形底物以及创新的光谱传感器设计上的非常规多物质光子整合方法。共形底物上的光子整合对组成材料的机械和光学特性构成了一组经常相互冲突的要求。在该计划中，将采用一种在柔性基材上进行的变革性多物质，多功能集成方法，如果每种材料无缝地集成到过程流中，并具有策略性的形状和定位，以利用其优势性能，同时避免其局限性。在光谱传感方面，光谱仪的微型化和整合呈现了将光谱传感器集成到芯片尺度平台上的主要技术障碍。该程序不会降低传统光谱仪，而是将开发出一种新型的传感器设计，并具有显着改善的系统简单性，坚固性，可重复性和特异性，从而实现可穿戴感应应用。科学研究将与课程开发，学生培训本科生培训以及用于光学教育的动手模块的开发紧密融合。除了增强这两个机构的课堂教育外，该计划还将通过MIT OpenCourseware和EDX计划开发在线课程来促进知识的自由共享和分发。