New-TechEurope Magazine | November 2017 | Digital Edition

Sensors Special Edition

MEMS Sensors Set to Revolutionise Healthcare Sector

Mark Patrick, Mouser

Micro electro-mechanical system (or MEMS) technology has been with us for several decades, but in terms of its true potential some would argue that it has barely arrived. The integration of electrical circuits and mechanical structures on a single substrate, at the micron scale, is the enabling technology behind most wearable devices and fundamental to many smartphone functions. MEMS is also having a massive impact on the development of biotechnology, providing researchers the ability to search for, locate and influence biological and chemical compounds in the body and its many complex subsystems. This will undoubtedly lead to new ways to identify and prevent illnesses and debilitating conditions. For example,

the use of MEMS technology in nerve prosthesis is now being explored, research that could help the blind see or return some mobility to the disabled - clearly real life enhancing developments. MEMS has been a disruptive innovation within the medical sector for diagnosis and health care, and been very successfully applied in pressure sensors. Today MEMS-based pressure sensors that communicate using RF can be implanted into the body, providing a valuable insight into the condition of organs and arteries. Recent advancements in the packaging of MEMS has been instrumental here. Outside of the body, the small and unobtrusive form factor of MEMS pressure sensors means that they

can be used to reduce the size of equipment, making it more portable, while their relatively low cost means the prospect of disposable sensors becomes feasible. The scope of their use includes measuring the blood pressure and respiration of patients in hospitals and ambulances. Their application in dialysis machines and infusion pumps has also been ground breaking. The incorporation of MEMS inertial sensors in consumer devices is also influencing the way health providers are addressing the care of vulnerable patients who may be susceptible to falls. Monitoring the movement of patients can provide an early warning system for carers, alerting them to the need for attention. The same technology is now being

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