Micro Electronic Pill

Micro Electronic Pill
Seminar Report
ABSTRACT
A micro electronic pill is basically a multi channel sensor used for remote bio medical measurements using microtechnology this has been developed for the internal study and detection of diseases and abnormalities in the gastro intestinal GI tract where restricted access prevents the use of traditional endoscopy the measurement parameters for detection include real time remote recording of temperature, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen in the GI tract This paper with the design of the micro electronic pill which mainly consists of an outer biocompatible capsule encasing 4 channel micro sensors a control chip, a discrete component radio transmitter and 2 silver oxide cells.
www.seminarstopics.com
Seminar Report
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION BLOCK DIAGRAM BASIC COMPONENTS PERFORMANCE OTHER APPLICATIONS FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS FUTURE CHALLENGES CONCLUSION REFERENCES
Seminar Report
INTRODUCTION
The invention of transistor enabled the first use of radiometry capsules, which used simple circuits for the internal study of the gastrointestinal (GI) [1] tract. They couldnt be used as they could transmit only from a single channel and also due to the size of the components. They also suffered from poor reliability, low sensitivity and short lifetimes of the devices. This led to the application of single-channel telemetry capsules for the detection of disease and abnormalities in the GI tract where restricted area prevented the use of traditional endoscopy. They were later modified as they had the disadvantage of using laboratory type sensors such as the glass pH electrodes, resistance thermometers, etc. They were also of very large size. The later modification is similar to the above instrument but is smaller in size due to the application of existing semiconductor fabrication technologies. These technologies led to the formation of MICROELECTRONIC PILL. Microelectronic pill is basically a multichannel sensor used for remote biomedical measurements using micro technology. This is used for the real-time measurement parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen. The sensors are fabricated using electron beam and photolithographic pattern integration and were controlled by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
Seminar Report
BLOCK DIAGRAM
Fig 1. Microelectronic pill consists of 4 sensors (2) which are mounted on two silicon chips (Chip 1 & 2), a control chip (5), a radio transmitter (STDtype 1-7, type2-crystal type-10) & silver oxide batteries (8). 1-access channel, 3-capsule, 4- rubber ring, 6-PCB chip carrier
Seminar Report
BASIC COMPONENTS
A. Sensors
Fig 2. There are basically 4 sensors mounted on two chips- Chip 1 & chip 2. On chip 1(shown in fig 2 a), c), e)), temperature sensor silicon diode (4), pH ISFET sensor (1) and dual electrode conductivity sensor (3) are fabricated. Chip 2 comprises of three electrode electrochemical cell oxygen sensor (2) and optional NiCr resistance thermometer.
Seminar Report
1)
Sensor chip 1:
An array consisting of both temperature sensor & pH sensor
platforms were cut from the wafer & attached onto 100-m- thick glass cover slip cured on a hot plate. The plate acts as a temporary carrier to assist handling of the device during level 1 of lithography when the electric connections tracks, electrodes bonding pads are defined. Bonding pads provide electrical contact to the external electronic circuit. Lithography [2] was the first fundamentally new printing technology since the invention of relief printing in the fifteenth century. It is a mechanical Plano graphic process in which the printing and non-printing areas of the plate are all at the same level, as opposed to intaglio and relief processes in which the design is cut into the printing block. Lithography is based on the chemical repellence of oil and water. Designs are drawn or painted with greasy ink or crayons on specially prepared limestone. The stone is moistened with water, which the stone accepts in areas not covered by the crayon. Oily ink, applied with a roller, adheres only to the drawing and is repelled by the wet parts of the stone. Pressing paper against the inked drawing then makes the print. Lithography was invented by Alois Senefelder in Germany in 1798 and, within twenty years, appeared in England and the United States. Almost immediately, attempts were made to print pictures in color. Multiple stones were used; one for each color, and the print went through the press as many times as there were stones. The problem for the printers was keeping the image in register, making sure that the print would be lined up exactly each time it went through the press so that each color would be in the correct position and the overlaying colors would merge correctly.
Seminar Report
Early colored lithographs used one or two colors to tint the entire plate and create a watercolor-like tone to the image. This atmospheric effect was primarily used for landscape or topographical illustrations. For more detailed coloration, artists continued to rely on hand coloring over the lithograph. Once tinted lithographs were well established, it was only a small step to extend the range of color by the use of multiple tint blocks printed in succession. Generally, these early chromolithographs were simple prints with flat areas of color, printed side-by-side. Increasingly ornate designs and dozens of bright, often gaudy, colors characterized chromolithography in the second half of the nineteenth century. Overprinting and the use of silver and gold inks widened the range of color and design. Still a relatively expensive process, chromolithography was used for large-scale folio works and illuminated gift books that often attempted to reproduce the handwork of manuscripts of the Middle Ages. The steam-driven printing press and the wider availability of inexpensive paper stock lowered production costs and made chromolithography more affordable. By the 1880s, the process was widely used for magazines and advertising. At the same time, however, photographic processes were being developed that would replace lithography by the beginning of the twentieth century. Chip 1 is divided into two- LHS unit having the diode while RHS unit comprises the ISFET.
Fig. 3.
www.seminarstopics.com 7
Seminar Report
DT-470-SD Features Monotonic temperature response from 1.4 K to 500 K* Conformance to standard Curve 10 temperature response curve Useful above 60 K in magnetic fields up to 5 T The rugged, reliable Lake Shore SD package designed to withstand repeated thermal cycling and minimize sensor self-heating Variety of packaging options ISFET: [4] Ion Selective Field Effect Transistor; this type of electrode contains a transistor coated with a chemically sensitive material to measure pH in solution and moist surfaces. As the potential at the chemically active surface changes with the pH, the current induced through the transistor varies. A temperature diode simultaneously monitors the temperature at the sensing surface. The pH meter to a temperature compensated pH reading correlates the change in current and temperature. This device [5] has an affinity for hydrogen ions, which is the basis for the determination of the pH. The surface of the sensitive area of the sensor contains hydroxyl groups that are bound to an oxide layer. At low pH values hydrogen ions in the sample will bind to these hydroxyl groups resulting in a positively charged surface. In alkaline environments hydrogen ions are abstracted from the hydroxyl groups, leading to a negatively charged surface. Thus, each pH change has a certain influence on the surface charge. On its turn, this attracts or repulses the electrons flowing between two electrodes in the semiconductor device. The electronics compensates the voltage in order to keep the current between the two electrodes at its set point. In this way this potential change is related to the pH.
Seminar Report
Attachment of a polymer membrane on the ISFET introduces the possibility to go beyond the measurement of pH toward other ions. In this plastic layer certain chemicals (ionophores), which can recognize and bind the desired ion, are put in. Now, complex formations of the ionophore and the ion introduce a charge. The potential change is a measure for the ion concentration. Typically, these sensors can be used in a concentration range between app. 10-5 up to 1 mol/l.
2.) Sensor chip2:

Level 1 pattern was defined in 0.9 m UV3 resist by electron beam lithography. It contains three-electrode electrochemical oxygen sensor & NiCr resistance thermometer. Oxygen sensor detection principle: [6] Most portable or survey instruments used for workplace evaluation of oxygen concentrations make use of "fuel cell" type oxygen sensors. "Fuel cell" oxygen sensors consist of a diffusion barrier, a sensing electrode (cathode) made of a noble metal such as gold or platinum, and a working electrode made of a base metal such as lead or zinc immersed in a basic electrolyte (such as a solution of potassium hydroxide). Oxygen diffusing into the sensor is reduced to hydroxyl ions at the cathode: O2 + 2H2O + 4eOH
Hydroxyl ions in turn oxidize the lead (or zinc) anode: 2Pb + 4OH 2PbO + 2H2O + 4e
This yields an overall cell reaction of: 2Pb + O2 2PbO

9
Seminar Report
Fuel cell oxygen sensors are current generators. The amount of current generated is proportional to the amount of oxygen consumed (Faraday's Law). Oxygen reading instruments simply monitor the current output of the sensor. An important consideration is that fuel cell oxygen sensors are used up over time. In the cell reaction above, when all available surface area of the lead (Pb) anode has been converted to lead oxide (PbO), electrochemical activity ceases, current output falls to zero, and the sensor must be rebuilt or replaced. Fuel cell sensors are designed to last no more than one to two years. Even when installed in an instrument which is never turned on, oxygen sensors which are exposed to atmosphere which contains oxygen are generating current, and being used up. Oxygen sensors are also influenced by the temperature of the atmosphere they are being used to measure. The warmer the atmosphere the faster the electrochemical reaction. For this reason oxygen sensors usually include a temperature compensating load resistor to hold current output steady in the face of fluctuating temperature. (Microprocessor based instrument designs usually provide additional signal correction in software to further improve accuracy.) Another limiting factor is cold. The freezing temperature of electrolyte mixtures commonly used in oxygen sensors tends to be about 5 o F (- 20 o C). Once the electrolyte has frozen solid, electrical output falls to zero, and readings may no longer be obtained. There are two basic variations on the fuel cell oxygen sensor design. These variations have to do with the mechanism by which oxygen is allowed to diffuse into the sensor. Dalton's Law states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the various gases. The partial pressure for oxygen is that fraction of the total pressure due to oxygen. Partial atmospheric pressure oxygen sensors rely on the partial pressure (or pO 2) of oxygen to
Seminar Report
drive molecules through the diffusion barrier into the sensor. As long as the pO
2
remains constant, current output may be used to indicate oxygen
concentration. On the other hand, shifts in barometric pressure, altitude, or other conditions which have an effect on atmospheric pressure will have a strong effect on pO 2 sensor readings. To illustrate the effects of pressure on pO
2
sensors, consider a sensor located at sea level where atmospheric
pressure equals 14.7 PSI (pounds per square inch). Now consider that same sensor at an elevation of 10,000 feet. Although at both elevations the air contains 20.9 percent oxygen, at 10,000 feet the atmospheric pressure is only 10.2 PSI! Since there is less force driving oxygen molecules through the diffusion barrier into the sensor, the current output is significantly lower. "Capillary pore" oxygen sensor designs include a narrow diameter tube through which oxygen diffuses into the sensor. Oxygen is drawn into the sensor by capillary action in much the same way that water or fluid is drawn up into the fibers of a paper towel. While capillary pore sensors are not influenced by changes in pressure, care must be taken that the sensor design includes a moisture barrier in order to prevent the pore from being plugged with water or other fluids.
Figure 4: Capillary pore type oxygen sensor
11
Seminar Report
1.1. Effects of contaminants on oxygen sensors Oxygen sensors may be affected by prolonged exposure to "acid" gases such as carbon dioxide. Most oxygen sensors are not recommended for continuous use in atmospheres which contain more than 25% CO 2. 1.2. Substance-specific electrochemical sensors One of the most useful detection techniques for toxic contaminants is the use of substance-specific electrochemical sensors installed in compact, field portable survey instruments. Substance-specific electrochemical sensors consist of a diffusion barrier which is porous to gas but nonporous to liquid, reservoir of acid electrolyte (usually sulfuric or phosphoric acid), sensing electrode, counter electrode, and (in three electrode designs) a third reference electrode. Gas diffusing into the sensor reacts at the surface of the sensing electrode. The sensing electrode is made to catalyze a specific reaction. Dependent on the sensor and the gas being measured, gas diffusing into the sensor is either oxidized or reduced at the surface of the sensing electrode. This reaction causes the potential of the sensing electrode to rise or fall with respect to the counter electrode. The current generated is proportional to the amount of reactant gas present. This two electrode detection principle presupposes that the potential of the counter electrode remains constant. In reality, the surface reactions at each electrode causes them to polarize, and significantly limits the concentrations of reactant gas they can be used to measure. In three electrode designs it is the difference between the sensing and reference electrode which is what is actually measured. Since the reference electrode is shielded from any reaction, it maintains a constant potential which provides
12
Seminar Report
a true point of comparison. With this arrangement the change in potential of the sensing electrode is due solely to the concentration of the reactant gas.
Figure 5: Three electrode electrochemical sensor The oxidation of carbon monoxide in an electrochemical sensor provides a good example of the detection mechanism: Carbon monoxide is oxidized at the sensing electrode: CO + H2O CO2 + 2H+ + 2e -
The counter electrode acts to balance out the reaction at the sensing electrode by reducing oxygen present in the air to water: 1/2 O2 + 2H+ + 2eH 2O
Similar reactions allow for the electrochemical detection of a variety of reactant gases including hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen, ethylene oxide, phosphine and ozone. A bias voltage is sometimes applied to the counter electrode to
Seminar Report
help drive the detection reaction for a specific contaminant. Biased sensor designs allow for the detection of a number of less electrochemically active gases such as hydrogen chloride and nitric oxide. Several other contaminants (such as ammonia) are detectable by means of other less straight forward detection reactions. Electrochemical sensors are stable, long lasting, require very little power and are capable of resolution (depending on the sensor and contaminant being measured) in many cases to 0.1 ppm. The chief limitation of electrochemical sensors is the effects of interfering contaminants on toxic gas readings. Most substance-specific electrochemical sensors have been carefully designed to minimize the effects of common interfering gases. Substance-specific sensors are designed to respond only to the gases they are supposed to measure. The higher the specificity of the sensor the less likely the sensor will be affected by exposure to other gases which may be incidentally present. For instance, a substance-specific carbon monoxide sensor is deliberately designed not to respond to other gases which may be present at the same time, such as hydrogen sulfide or methane. Even though care has been taken to reduce cross-sensitivity, some interfering gases may still have an effect on toxic sensor readings. In some cases the interfering effect may be "positive" and result in readings which are higher than actual. In some cases the interference may be negative and produce readings which are lower than actual. Electrochemical sensor designs may include a selective external filter designed to remove interfering gases which would otherwise have an effect on the sensing electrode. The size and composition of the filter are determined by the type and expected concentration of the interfering contaminants being removed.
14
Seminar Report
B. Control Chip:
Fig 6. Interfacing of ASIC with external components of the system ASIC is the control chip that connects together the external components of the micro system. Application-Specific Integrated Circuit [7] (ASIC) An integrated circuit designed to perform a particular function by defining the interconnection of a set of basic circuit building blocks drawn from a library provided by the circuit manufacturer. ASIC is a novel mixed signal design that contains an analog signal conditioning module operating the sensors, 10-bit ADC & DAC
Seminar Report
converters & a digital data processing module. An RC relaxation oscillator (OSC) provides the clock signal. The analog module is based on the AMS OP05B opamp, which offer a lot of power saving scheme (sleep mode) & a compact IC design. The temperature circuitry biased the diode at constant current, so that a change in temperature would result in corresponding change in diode voltage. The pH ISFET sensor was biased as a simple source & drain follower at constant current with D-S voltage changing with threshold voltage & pH. Conductivity circuit operated at direct current measuring the resistance across the electrode pair as an inverse function of solution conductivity. An incorporated potentiostat operated the amperometric oxygen sensor with a 10-bit DAC controlling the working electrode potential w.r.t. reference. The analog signals were sequenced through a MUX prior to being digitized by the ADC. The BW for each channel was limited by the sampling interval of 0.2 ms. The digital data processing module conditioned the digitized signals through the use of a serial bit stream data compression algorithm, which decided when transmission was required by comparing the most recent sample with the previous one. This minimizes the transmission length & particularly effective when the measuring environment is at quiescent, a condition encountered in many applications. The entire design is based on low power consumption & immunity from noise interference. The digital module is clocked at 32 kHz & employed in sleep mode to conserve power from analog module.
16
Seminar Report
C. Radio Transmitter
Its assembled prior to integration in the capsule using discrete surface mount components on a single-sided PCB. Its designed to operate at a transmission freq. of 40.01 MHz at 20C generating a signal of 10 kHz. BW. A second crystal stabilized transmitter was also used. This unit is similar to the free running STD transmitter, having a transmission freq. limited to 20.08 MHz at 20C, due to crystal used. Pills incorporating the STD transmitter are Type 1, where as the pills having crystal stabilized unit is Type 2. The transmission range was measured as being 1 m & the modulation scheme FSK, with a data rate of 1 kb/s.
Capsule
The microelectronic pill consists of a machined biocompatible (non-cytotoxic), chemically resistant polyether-terketone (PEEK) capsule and a PCB chip carrier acting as a common platform for attachment of sensors, ASIC, transmitter & batteries (fig 1.). The fabricated sensors were each attached by wire bonding to a custom made chip carrier made from a 10-pin, 0.5-pitch polymide ribbon connector. The connector in turn was connected to an industrial STD. flat cable plug (FCP) socket attached to the PCB carrier chip of the microelectronic pill, to facilitate the rapid replacement off the sensors when required. The PCB chip carrier was made from 2 STD. 1.6 mmthick fiber glass boards attached back to back epoxy resin which maximized the distance between the 2 sensor chips. The sensor chips are connected to both sides of the PCB by separate FCP sockets, with sensor chip 1 facing the top face, with the sensor chip 2 facing down. Thus, the oxygen sensor on chip 2 had to be connected to the top face by 3 200 nm copper leads soldered onto the board. The transmitter was integrated in the PCB which also incorporated the power supply rails, the connection points to the sensors, as well as the transmitter & the ASIC & the supporting slots for the capsule in which the carrier is located.
Seminar Report
The ASIC was attached with double-sided Cu conducting tape prior to wire bonding to the power supply rails, the sensor inputs & the transmitter (a process which entailed the connection of 64 bonding pads). The unit was powered by 2 STD. 1.55V SR44 Silver oxide (Ag2O) cells with a capacity of 175mAh. The batteries were connected & attached to a custom made 3-pin, 1.27 mm pitch plug by electrical epoxy. The connection on the matching socket on the PCB carrier provided a three point power supply to the circuit comprising a negative supply rail (1.55V). The capsule was machined as two separate screw-fitting compartments. The PCB chip carrier was attached to the front section of the capsule (fig 1.). The sensor chips were exposed to the ambient environment through access ports & were sealed by 2 stainless steel clamps incorporating a 0.8 m thick sheet of Viton fluoroelastometer seal. A 3 mm dia access channel in center of each of the steel clamps (incl. the seal), exposed in sensing regions of the chips. The rear section of the capsule is attached to the front section by a 13 mm screw connection incorporating a Viton rubber O-ring. The seals rendered the capsule water proof, as well as making it easy to maintain (e.g. during sensor & battery replacement) The complete prototype was 16*55 mm & weighs 13.5 g including the batteries.
18
Seminar Report
PERFORMANCE
Fig 7. a) Temperature Channel Performance, b) pH channel performance
A. Temperature Channel Performance:

The linear sensitivity was measured over a temp. range from 0C to 70C & found to be 15.4 mV/C. This amplified signal response was from the analog circuit, which was later implemented in the ASIC. The sensor (fig 7a) a)), once integrated in the pill, gave a linear regression of 11.9 bits/C , with a resolution limited by the noise band of 0.4 C (Fig 7 a) b)). The diode was forward biased with a constant current (15 A) with the n-channel clamped to the ground, while p-channel was floating. Since the bias current supply circuit was clamped to the negative V rail, any change in the supply
Seminar Report
voltage potential would cause the temp. channel to drift. Thus, it was seen that o/p signal changed by 1.45 mV/mV change in supply expressed in mV, corresponding to a drift of 41.7 mV/h in the pill from a supply voltage change of 14.5 mV/h.
B. pH Channel Performance:
The linear performance from pH 1 to 13 corresponded to sensitivity of 41.7mV/pH unit at 23C. The pH ISFET sensor operated in a constant current mode (15 A), with drain voltage clamped to positive supply rail & the source voltage floating with the gate potential. The Ag/AgCl reference electrode, representing the potential in which the floating gate was referred to, was connected to ground. The sensor performance, once integrated in the pill (fig 7 b)a)), corresponded to 14.85 bits/pH which give a resolution of 0.07 pH/ data point. The sensor exhibits a larger responsivity in alkaline solutions. The sensor life time of 20h was limited by Ag\Agcl reference electrode made from electroplated silver. The ph sensor exhibited a signal drift of 6 mV /h (0.14ph), o f which 2.5mV/h was estimated to be due to the dissolution of Agcl from the reference electrode. The temperature sensitivity of the ph sensor was measured as 16.8mV/c. The changing of the ph of the solution at 40c from ph 6.8 to 2.3 and 11.6 demonstrated that the two channels were completely independent of each other and there was no signal interference from the temperature channel (fig 7. b (b))
20
Seminar Report
OTHER APPLICATIONS
The generic nature of microelectronic pill makes it adaptable for use in corrosive environments related to environmental & industrial applications, such as the evaluation of water quality, pollution detection, fermentation process control & inspection of the pipelines. The integration of radiation sensors & the application of indirect imaging technologies such as ultrasound & impedance tomography, will improve the detection of tissue abnormalities & radiation treatment associated with cancer & chronic inflammation.
21
Seminar Report
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Further developments focus on the photo pattern able gel electrolyte and oxygen and cat ion selective membranes. Also in the future, these measurements will be used to perform physiological analysis of the GI tract. For e.g., Temperature sensors can be used to measure the body core temperature, also locate any changes corresponding to ulcers or tissue inflammation; pH sensors may be used for determination of presence of pathological conditions associated with abnormal ph levels etc.
22
Seminar Report
FUTURE CHALLENGES
In the future, one objective would be to produce a device, analogous to a micro total analysis system (TAS) or lab on a chip sensor which is not only capable of collecting & processing data, but which can transmit it from a remote location. The overall concept would be to produce an array of sensor devices distributed throughout the body or environment, capable of transmitting high-quality information in real time.
23
Seminar Report
CONCLUSION
We have therefore described about the multichannel sensor, which has been implemented in remote biomedical using micro technology, the micro electronic pills, which is designed to perform real time measurements in the GI tract providing the best in vitro wireless transmitter, multi channel recordings of analytical parameters.
24
Seminar Report
REFERENCES
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, 2004, MARCH, VOL. 51, No.3. http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/color/lithogr.htm http://www.lakeshore.comp/temp/sen/sd670_po.html
http://www.globalspec.com/specification/spechpal? name=IonSelectiveElectrodes&comp=309 http://www.sentron.nl/nieuw/index.php?id=86 http://www.biosystems.com/appnotes/howoxyge.htm http://computing_dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/applicatio_specific %20integrated%20circuit
25
Seminar Report
26

Micro Electronic Pill

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Micro Electronic Pill

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Micro Electronic Pill