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New multimodal data obtained in-vivo from a single ultra-miniature transducer

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Abstract

Recent advances in multimodal sensing technology and sensor miniaturization technologies are paving the way for a new era in physiological measurement. Traditional approaches have integrated several transducers on a single silicon chip or packaged several sensing elements within a biocompatible catheter. Thermal and electrical cross-talk between sensors, time-lag between parallel measurements, lower yields associated with the increased complexity, and restrictions on the minimum size are challenges presented by these approaches. We present an alternative method which enables simultaneous measurement of temperature, pressure and heart rate to be obtained from a single ultra-miniature solid-state transducer. For the first time multimodal data were obtained from the sensor located within the abdominal aortas of five rats. The catheter-tip sensor interfaces with a fully implanted and inductively powered telemetry device capable of operating for the lifetime of the animal. Results of this study demonstrate good agreement between the core-temperature measurement from the catheter-tip sensor and the reference sensor with mean difference between the two sensors of 0.03 °C ± 0.02 °C (n = 5, 7 days). Real-time data obtained in the undisturbed rat, revealed fluctuations associated with the rest-activity cycle, in temperature, mean arterial pressure and heart rate. The stress response was shown to elicit an elevation in the core temperature of 1.5 °C. This was heralded by an elevation in mean arterial pressure of 35 mmHg and heart rate of 160 bpm. Obtaining multiple parameters from a single transducer goes a considerable way towards overcoming challenges of the prior art.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Stephanie Lindsay for her technical assistance.

Compliance with ethical standards

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Funding

This work was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Sensors were provided by Millar Inc.

Conflict of interest

Simon C. Malpas, Daniel McCormick, Sarah-Jane Guild and David M. Budgett are employees of Millar Ltd.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Auckland at which the studies were conducted. All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Therese M. Clark, Simon C. Malpas, Daniel McCormick & David M. Budgett

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Sarah-Jane Guild

  3. Millar Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand

    Simon C. Malpas, Daniel McCormick, Sarah-Jane Guild & David M. Budgett

Authors
  1. Therese M. Clark
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  2. Simon C. Malpas
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  3. Daniel McCormick
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  4. Sarah-Jane Guild
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  5. David M. Budgett
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Correspondence to Therese M. Clark.

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Clark, T.M., Malpas, S.C., McCormick, D. et al. New multimodal data obtained in-vivo from a single ultra-miniature transducer. Biomed Microdevices 17, 72 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-015-9984-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-015-9984-3

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