Bounds in the Sensitivity of BioMEMS Devices for Cell Detection

This paper presents an ongoing effort to characterize performance and reliability of micro electromechanical systems used for biomedical diagnostics (BioMEMS). In order to study the interactions of human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells with BioMEMS devices, cultures were performed on silicon (Si) surfaces as well as silicon surfaces coated with 50 nm of titanium (Ti). Cell spreading on the surfaces was observed over time for up to 2 hours. It was seen that titanium coated silicon surfaces have the potential to provide a better interface for BioMEMS devices, due to enhanced adherence and spreading of the cells on these surfaces. Atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers were used as cell detection sensors. These cantilevers were coated with 50nm of titanium metal to provide a cell friendly surface. Theoretical models were then developed for the prediction of the vibrational responses of the AFM cantilevers before and after cell attachment. The models were used to relate the experimentally observed changes in frequency to the number of cells that are attached on the cantilever. The bounds in the possible frequency changes were determined within a theoretical framework. From experimentally calculated values for the mass of cells, random number simulations were carried out to determine the probability of cell attachment as a function of the change in resonance frequency of the cantilever sensor. The implications of the results are then discussed for the future reliability modeling of the sensor.     

Experimental evaluation of eye-blink parameters as a drowsiness measure

Drowsiness and increased tendency to fall asleep during daytime is still a generally underestimated problem. An increased tendency to fall asleep limits the efficiency at work and substantially increases the risk of accidents. Reduced alertness is difficult to assess, particularly under real life settings. Most of the available measuring procedures are laboratory-oriented and their applicability under field conditions is limited; their validity and sensitivity are often a matter of controversy. The spontaneous eye blink is considered to be a suitable ocular indicator for fatigue diagnostics. To evaluate eye blink parameters as a drowsiness indicator, a contact-free method for the measurement of spontaneous eye blinks was developed. An infrared sensor clipped to an eyeglass frame records eyelid movements continuously. In a series of sessions with 60 healthy adult participants, the validity of spontaneous blink parameters was investigated. The subjective state was determined by means of questionnaires immediately before the recording of eye blinks. The results show that several parameters of the spontaneous eye blink can be used as indicators in fatigue diagnostics. The parameters blink duration and reopening time in particular change reliably with increasing drowsiness. Furthermore, the proportion of long closure duration blinks proves to be an informative parameter. The results demonstrate that the measurement of eye blink parameters provides reliable information about drowsiness/sleepiness, which may also be applied to the continuous monitoring of the tendency to fall asleep. Electronic Publication     

光纤化学传感器—计算机联用实时在位测定氧氟沙星片体外溶出度

目的：探索一种连续在位测定固体制剂溶出度的新方法和新理论。方法：应用芘丁酸光纤化学传感器和计算机联用在线技术及中国药典（1995版）规定的紫外分光光度法（UV）分别测定氧氟沙星片剂的体外溶出度。结果：在药典规定的测定浓度范围内有良好的线性,相关系数0．9980。方法的日内、日间精密度（RSD）分别为1．18％和1．56％,当信噪比为3时检测限为0．56μg/ml。用中国药典（1995版）规定的紫外分光光度法作对照并进行评价,P＞0．05,显示两种方法所得结果无显著性差异。结论：本法改变传统的取样分析模式,实现了响应快速、准确、灵敏的过程分析。     

不同温度对压电传感器基因杂交效应的影响

目的：探讨温度对压电传感器基因杂交效应的影响。方法：在压电传感器阵列上固定20碱基的疏基DNA探针,而后分别在15℃、20℃、25℃、30℃下与同长度的互补靶序列进行杂交,计算机采集并分析传感器频率数据,比较各温度下杂交达到平衡所需时间,杂交前后频率差,并计算杂交动力学参数。结果：随温度增加,杂交时间有缩短趋势,杂交前后的频率差值逐渐减小。结合常数变化不明显,解离常数增大,使平衡常数显著增大。结论：在石英晶体传感器阵列上,基因杂交量随温度增高而减小。     

生物物质的介电测量技术

本文根据传输线法介电测量原理建立起100KHz～500MHz频率范围的生物物质介电测量系统,该系统由网络分析仪、同轴线腔式传感器及测温控温装置等组成,并由计算机实现自动采样与分析。对测量误差的来源作了详细分析,一定修正和补偿条件下,本文制做的腔式传感器适用于整个频率范围。对人全血和人脑组织等高含水量物质的介电常数测量误差小于3％,电导率误差小于2％。     

微压传感式毛细血管测压仪

使用自制的微压传感式设备在显微镜下测量甲襞毛细血管压，传感器能精确测出毛细血管血流受阻时的压力，并可自动调零、自动显示和打印。临床使用证明其数据可靠，精确度高且无创，在使用中配以电子半微量天平，保证了仪器的精度、且操作简易，适于临床，优于国外使用的有创性微管插入测压法。     

探针浓度对压电传感器基因杂交效应的影响

目的 探讨探针浓度对压电传感器基因杂交效应的影响。方法 9种浓度的探针与同一浓度的靶序列在压电传感器阵列上进行杂交,计算机采集并分析传感器频率数据,比较各探针浓度下固定前后频率差,杂交达到平衡所需时间,杂交前后频率差,同时,根据较低浓度数据得出的杂交动力学参数。计算各浓度下的频率变化理论值。结果 随探针浓度增加,固定引起的频率变化值逐渐增加,杂交时间有缩短趋势,杂交前后的频率差值在探针浓度较低（1nmol/L-0.5μmol/L)时逐渐增大,而探;针浓度较高（1.0-3.5μmol/L)时反而减小,高浓度时杂交前后频率变化理论值与实际值存在明显差异。结论 在石英晶体传感器阵列上,基因杂交效率随探针浓度增加而增大,但探针浓度过高反而抑制杂交,其原因可能主要在于探针之间的空间构象关系和静电排斥。     

压电基因传感器阵列的初步构建

目的　初步构建适于临床基因检测的新方法即压电基因传感器阵列。方法　制作 2× 5型基因传感器阵列 ,在阵列各检测池的银膜上通过巯基修饰法固定合成大肠杆菌肠毒素基因探针 ,而后与各靶序列进行杂交 ,以自制集成电路及电脑软件对频率数据进行采集与分析。结果　 12h内 ,气相对照检测池频率变化± 2Hz ,液相对照检测池频率变化± 4Hz ;基因探针固定后频率下降 ( 4 8± 5 )Hz ;与完全配对的靶序列杂交 ,0 .5h达到稳定状态 ,并使频率下降 ( 4 3± 5 )Hz ;与有 1～ 2个碱基错配的序列杂交 ,频率下降仅分别为 ( 2 1± 5 )、( 7± 5 )Hz ,与 3个碱基错配的序列及不相关序列杂交 ,频率无明显变化。结论　初步构建的基因传感器阵列有很好的稳定性和特异性 ,敏感性尚待进行一步提高。     

A new respiratory rate monitor: development and initial clinical experience

The need for continous, noninvasive, and reliable respiratory rate monitoring during recovery from general anesthesia has long been recognized. Alternative principles can be grouped into those detecting the respiratory effort, and those detecting the actual result, i.e. the respiratory gas flow. The second category is of greatest interest for patient monitoring. In this paper, we report the development and initial clinical experience with a new acoustic air-flow sensor. By differential, multipoint detection of the air-flow in the mouth and nose region, the sensor can easily discriminate against different kinds of interference, including motion arterfacts. The sensor is nonexpensive, rugged, simple to apply, and inherently safe. An instrument with continous display of respiratory rate, and an audiovisual apnea alarm has been designed and built.The complete system has been tested on patients during recovery after general anesthesia. In 16 patients, the respiratory rate displayed by the instrument has been correlated against that visually observed. A good correlation was obtained. Minor discrepancies can be explained from the fact that visual observation corresponds to the respiratory effort, whereas the sensor detects the actual air flow. In 12 patients, 24 hour simultaneous recordings were made of respiratory rate with the new sensor, with simultaneous recording of the oxygen saturation and the heart rate with a pulse oximeter. It was found that the new sensor reliabley recorded respiratory depression and apnea. Such events may in some patients be as frequent as one incident per hour. One case of Ondine's curse provided clear evidence that pulse oximetry has a low sensitivity to respiratory disorders.