|
|
LATEST NEWS
The Three-way R&D Collaboration agreement between Bradley University, Validus LLC., and Endotronix Inc.
As many as 60 million Americans are diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure. Without proper care, individuals are at risk for heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. The monitoring system being commercialized by Endotronix will provide more precise and regular measurement and help reduce risk of cardiovascular complications.
The solution being developed by Bradley, Validus, and Endotronix will enable
physicians to implant a wireless microelectromechanical system (MEMS) passive
sensor that will monitor the body's blood pressure in real-time. The sensor will
then wirelessly transmit information to a remote handheld device that will power
the sensor, retrieve data, and send the data to a computer for further
examination. The benefits of having a remote system comparable to hospital
computers at home will reduce costs and potentially save lives. The
commercialization of the remote system relies heavily on the development work
being performed under the collaborative agreement between the three
Professor Prasad Shastry of
CEO David Paul of Validus Technologies stated that, "This collaboration agreement fits perfectly into our strategy. We develop new products with emerging technologies and the implantable medical device domain not only challenges Validus to develop new and innovative technologies, but also enables our engineering team to expand their creativity with partners like Bradley and Endotronix. The trio will develop new and exciting wireless device technologies, [for use] in and around the body."
Dr. Harry Rowland of Endotronix stated that, "This collaborative agreement
between Validus, Bradley, and Endotronix is a testament to the vibrant
entrepreneurial spirit of
Validus, Endotronix, and Bradley have also made plans to collaborate with
PEORIA — One day a sensor slightly larger than a grain of rice could be
implanted in a major artery of a cardiac patient and provide accurate,
up-to-date blood pressure readings from inside the individual's body. And if
this particular medical device ever becomes a reality, it will owe its creation
to the work of two Peoria-based tech companies and Bradley University.
The three parties - Validus Technologies, Endotronix Inc. and Bradley - have
been collaborating since April in the hope of bringing a wireless blood pressure
monitoring device to market. Employing radio frequency technology, the tiny chip
would measure a patient's blood pressure and transmit that information to a
handheld device that would also power the sensor. Inserted during a surgery, the
permanent chip would give continual feedback to patient or doctor long after a
hospital stay.
Besides checking blood pressure, the sensor may one day be used to read glucose
or oxygen levels in the blood, body temperature and possibly other vital signs.
The device would be a first of its kind, its inventors say, and the project
would have never left the ground if not for the collaborative effort between
Bradley and the young tech startups.
"It is very unique what we are doing here," said Harry Rowland, a co-founder of
Endotronix and vice president of engineering. "The wireless technology that we
are developing is really going to be used as a platform for other applications."
Rowland said because the project dabbles in several fields of science, each
player brings their own set of skills and resources to the table. Bradley opened
its engineer laboratories for product testing. Endotronix offered its know-how
of medical markets and technology.
Validus provides experience with wireless systems and sensors. "It only
makes sense for us to work together," said David Paul, CEO of Validus. "We are
learning from each other." The collaboration also is unique in that it features
two small and relatively new businesses working with Bradley, which has
traditionally forged partnerships with large, well-known corporations such as
Caterpillar Inc. Paul said the collaborative agreement, which shares the
intellectual property rights of the development among the partners, has
encouraged sharing ideas and expertise instead of fostering a rivalry.
The companies are not the only ones benefitting from the project. The
undertaking has become a learning tool of sorts for Bradley professors and
students. Prasad Shastry, a professor of microwave and wireless engineering at
Bradley's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said three of his
students are involved with the project, and one of his former students is now
employed by Validus. "This way, students are getting exposed to how things are
done in the industry they are studying," said Shastry.
Right now, the project is in its early stages with a prototype chip on the way.
Laboratory testing should be done in the coming months, Rowland said, and if
successful, the project will begin animal testing next year before moving to
clinical trials in humans. The designers hope to have a product ready for the
market by 2012 or 2013.
Frank Radosevich II can be reached at 686-3142 or
fradosevich@pjstar.com.
Click here for the original article at the Peoria Journal Star
Paper accepted at IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium 2009
A paper has been accepted at IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques-Symposium International Microwave Symposium 2009, to be held at Boston in June. Title of the paper is "Design and Measurements of Implantable chip radiator and external receptor for wireless blood pressure monitoring system". The Authors of this paper are Divya S Gamini a senior grad student and Dr. Prasad N Shastry, Professor and graduate advisor at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Abstract –
This paper presents the design guidelines, simulation and measured results of implantable spiral chip inductor/radiator, passive sensor and external planar multi-turn loop antenna for a wireless blood pressure monitoring system operating in the range 190-203 MHz. A new approach to the design of planar multi-turn loop antenna has been presented. Also included are the measured transmission characteristics of the RF signal through air as well as air and phantom tissue. The measurements demonstrate that the RF signal can penetrate the human tissue with acceptable attenuation.
Paper accepted at IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference 2009
A paper has been accepted at 10th annual IEEE Microwave Technology conference 2009, to be held at Clearwater, Florida in April. Title of the paper is Planar ultra wide band conical skirt monopole antenna". The Authors of this paper are Raghu Kancharla a senior grad student, Ross Stange a senior, and Dr. Prasad N Shastry, Professor and graduate advisor at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Abstract
- In this paper, design, analysis and measured results of a novel Planar Ultra-wideband (UWB) conical skirt tapered monopole antenna are presented. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna (VSWR<2) ranges from 3 to 11 GHz. The antenna has an omni directional pattern in the azimuth plane. The proposed antenna is intended for use in UWB devices.
Bradley University College of Engineering and Technology John Andrews Faculty award for excellence in service 2009
Dr. Prasad N shastry has received the Bradley University college of Engineering and Technology John Andrews faculty award for excellence in service for the year 2009. The Faculty awards are given every year in three categories- Research and Scholarship, Service to University and community, Teaching. All the faculty members of college of Engineering and Technology are rated based on their annual reports. A committee consisting of the Dean, Associate provost and few others considers these annual reports and other performances to decide these faculty awards. As you may all know Dr. Prasad Shastry had received the faculty award for excellence in research and scholarship for the year 2007.
Latest software donations from Agilent technologies Inc.
Agilent has donated 10 licenses each for new software to be used by the students of Microwave engineering at Bradley University. The new softwares include Golden Gate, IC-CAP, System Vue and Genesys.
Golden Gate: Agilent's GoldenGate software is an advanced simulation and analysis solution for integrated RF circuit design. Its unique simulation algorithms are optimized for the challenging demands of today's complex RF circuit design, enabling full characterization of complete transceivers prior to tape-out. To ensure device manufacturability and reduce design spins, GoldenGate takes advantage of both frequency-domain and time-domain simulation capabilities to perform necessary analyses on today's RF devices. Developed for the specific needs of RFIC/Wireless designers, GoldenGate is fully integrated into the Cadence Analog Design Environment (ADE).
IC-CAP: The Integrated Circuit Characterization and Analysis Program (IC-CAP) is a device modeling software product that provides powerful device characterization and analysis capabilities for a broad range of today's semiconductor modeling processes. IC-CAP offers device modeling engineers and circuit designers the most advanced and customizable software environment for all modeling needs including instrument control, data acquisition, data visualization, simulation, optimization and statistical analysis.
SystemVue 2008.12 is the first release of a new design environment focused on next-generation physical layer (PHY) communications systems design. It combines several new features into a single core environment.
Genesys: The Agilent Genesys product line offers RF Board engineers a rich mix of RF system, circuit and EM simulation technologies at a fraction of the cost of other RF design tools and can pay for itself in a few board turns.
Genesys reduces costs for traditional RF & microwave planar design by