SBIR Phase I: Novel Low-Profile Miniature Wireless Pressure Sensor

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目致力于开发一种新型的小型无线压力传感系统，该系统是为需要小型、低成本、低调（扁平）传感器的工业和医疗应用量身定制的。这些微型无线传感器将在一个小系统中包含所有系统组件（传感器，电子器件，电感线圈）。这种无线传感器的制造过程也被设计得比现有的传感器更简单，更容易制造。该传感器最重要的医学应用目标是神经压力监测，即用于创伤性脑损伤（TBI）患者的颅内压传感器以及用于脑积水患者的分流压力监测仪。这项技术将提供安全、长期、快速、详细、实时、连续、全面的颅内压测量，并支持家庭健康监测的趋势，有可能彻底改变患者的治疗方式。所提出的微型无线系统的优点是：(a)低轮廓（平面）-非常适合微创放置在神经压力监测应用中，(b)微型无线系统将所有系统组件集成在一个小封装中，(c)低成本，坚固耐用，可制造，(d)易于定制各种压力监测应用。这个小企业创新研究提案的潜在商业价值将在几个领域。最终目标是将所提出的用于工业和医疗应用的无线压力监测系统商业化。商业应用包括任何需要无线压力传感的领域；例如，航空航天，汽车和工业应用。该传感器的更大市场是用于医疗应用。医疗市场是神经压力监测产品，即用于创伤性脑损伤（TBI）患者的颅内压传感器以及用于脑积水患者的分流压力监测仪。约有140万人因头部受伤而接受治疗，其中超过25万人为中度或重度受伤。在美国，每年约有7万人死于脑外伤，另有8万人患有严重的长期残疾。脑积水是最常见的出生缺陷之一，每1000个婴儿中就有1个受到影响，许多成年人也是如此。每年约有70,000名诊断为脑积水的患者出院。每年有近36000例分流相关手术，相当于1亿美元的医疗费用。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the development of a novel low-profile miniature wireless pressure sensing system, customized for industrial and medical applications where a small-sized, low cost, low-profile (flat) sensor is required. These miniature wireless sensors will contain all system components (sensor, electronics, inductor coil) in one small system. The fabrication process for this wireless sensor is also designed to be simpler and easier to manufacture than existing sensors. The most important medical application being targeted for the proposed sensors is for neurological pressure monitoring, namely intracranial pressure sensors for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as shunt pressure monitors for patients with hydrocephalus. This technology will provide safe, chronic, fast, detailed, real time, continuous, comprehensive, intracranial pressure measurements, and supports the trend towards home health monitoring, with the potential to revolutionize the way patients are treated. The advantages of the proposed miniature wireless systems are: (a) low profile (flat) - ideal for minimally invasive placement in neurological pressure monitoring applications, (b) miniature wireless system which integrates all system components in one small package, (c) low cost, robust, and manufacturable, (d) easily customized for a variety of pressure monitoring applicationsThe potential commercial value of this Small Business Innovation Research proposal will be in several areas. The final goal is the commercialization of the proposed wireless pressure monitoring systems for use in industrial and medical applications. Commercial applications include any area that is in need of wireless pressure sensing; for example, aerospace, automotive and industrial applications. The larger market for the proposed sensors is for medical applications. The medical markets are neurological pressure monitoring products, namely intracranial pressure sensors for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as shunt pressure monitors for patients with hydrocephalus. Approximately 1.4 million people are treated for head injuries, with over a quarter million being moderate or severe injuries. TBI accounts for approximately 70,000 deaths each year in America, with an additional 80,000 patients having severe long-term disabilities. Hydrocephalus is among the most common birth defects, affecting 1 in 1000 babies, as well as many adults. Approximately 70,000 patients are discharged from hospitals with the diagnosis of hydrocephalus each year. Nearly 36,000 shunt-related procedures a year translates to $100's million dollars worth of medical expense.