Flinders Biomedical Engineering Biomedical Device Development

Biomedical Device Development - Typical Projects (Project List)

These projects illustrate a sample of biomedical device development by the Research and Development Group for both research and clinical applications. Contact R&D Group for more information on these or other products.


Algae fluorometer	Negative pressure tank	Magnetic stirrer

Organ bath	Heat ramp & pressure probe	Adjustable Height Trolley

Solar Powered Datalogger	Na K "economy" Colorimeter	DC Tissue Stretcher

Oesophageal manometry	Tissue Stretchers	Microscope CO₂ Incubator

DNA Sequencer	Lymphoedema Tonometers	Rodent Exercise Pool

Finger Tap	Stereotaxic Instrument	Lymphoedema Tonometers

Head Amp	PEET	Epilepsy Keypad

Electropalatography	Microscope CO₂ Incubator	Tissue Stretcher

Torsional Tonometer	Gut strain gauge	Tissue Stretcher

	Top
Adjustable Height Trolley BME1473 Adjustable height trolley allows a perometer to be adjusted for horizontal measurements of arms and legs with the patient seated. Perometers are used for volumetric limb measurements.
Algae fluorometer BME1487 Detection of alge and general water quality was detected by measuring fluorescence by avalanche photo diode and digitally processing the signal. Fluorescence of a ruthenium compound deposited onto glass is used to measure oxygen saturation of the water sample.
DNA Sequencer BME1400 This is a temperature controlled air bath that holds large vertical electrophoresis plates at an even temperature to avoid distortion of the DNA "tracks" that occur with uneven heating over an electrophoresis plate. Vacuum relays switch the high voltage supply for operator safety and fans ensure good temperature distribution.
	Top
Electropalatography BME1436 Electropalatography (electrical palate recording of the palate) is an established technique for recording and analysing speech patterns. An oral palate is manufactured to fit a patient and fitted with 64 tiny electrodes for analysing speech patterns. This technique requires a custom made acrylic dental palate to be fitted with the tiny silver electrodes, wires, a coating and a connector. As the subject speaks, the timing and location of tongue contact with the palate is detected and the resulting signals can be interpreted through analysis software on a PC.
	Top
Epilepsy Response Keyboard BME1459 Purpose built keypad for human EEG studies to be undertaken by the EEG Research Unit at FMC. It has 11 keyboard keys and 2 fingertap pads. The fast response of the keypad with minimal known latency allows accurate correlation of the responses with EEG signals by the Presentation Stimulus Delivery program (Neurobehavioural Systems)
	Top
Finger Tap Counter BME1370 The finger tap counter is designed to measure the rate at which a person can alternately tap their index and middle fingers on either hand, or both hands simultaneously. For each hand the patient has two finger pads on which to tap. The operator, who is in front of the patient, has access to the front panel displays and controls, which are not visible to the patient. Measurement is done by counting the number of taps over a period of time, which can range from one second to ninety nine seconds in one second increments.
Gut strain gauge assembly BME1432 Dual strain gauges are assembled for measuring gut strain. They are connected back-to-back in the "half bridge" configuration and are protected by a conformal silicon envelope.
	Top
Head Amplifiers BME1449, BME1421 & BME1420 Miniature physiological amplifiers suitable for small animals are completely manufactured in-house. They are used for combinations of EEG, EMG and ion selective (pH) electrodes. Metal gooseneck shrouding protects the signal cables. A slip ring system is used to couple the signals to the recording equipment located outside the Faraday cage, while allowing the animals to freely move around.
Heat Ramp and Pressure Probe Comprising Heat Ramp BME 1490 and Pressure Probe BME1491, designed to thermally and mechanically stimulate sensory nerves present in viable skin samples to 50°C and 300mN. The sensor outputs are logged on a Maclab system.
	Top
Magnetic stirrer BME1477 This device moves a magnet back & forth across a 96-microliter sample holder to provide mixing action for magnetic beads (5-10 micron) suspended in the fluid. The speed of movement and the distance from the sample holder to the magnet are adjustable.
Microscope stage CO₂ incubator BME1384 Temperature controller for a carbon-dioxide incubator surround for microscope stage. Originally this was designed for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) work to give a controlled temperature carbon-dioxide rich environment around a microscope stage. The hood is fabricated from 6mm acrylic sheet to fit the microscope with minimal footprint. To ensure that the microscope image is shake-free, great care is taken to reduce motor vibration, physically separate it from the micrsoscope and to minimise gas flow turbulence.
	Top
Na K "economy" Colorimeter BME1373 A prototype sodium and potassium colorimeter, designed to be used in the field in underdeveloped countries. It is low cost, portable and able to operate off a single 12V car battery supply. This microcontroller based system will calculate the concentrations of the two electrolytes in blood serum samples by observing the change in optical absorbance during an enzymatic reaction in a temperature controlled environment. Standards of known concentration will be used for calibration purposes. The sample carousel holds six samples and two calibration standards that take up to 12 minutes to analyse.
Negative pressure tank, lower body BME1488 Enclosure for studying baro-receptos in lower limbs. Polycarbonate tank with waist sealing yoke depressurises lower body to 50 mmHg. Safety pressure release switches in easy reach of subject. Device is intended for use on human subjects under strict medical supervision.
	Top
Oesophogeal Manometry BME1412 Oesophageal manometry is the recording of muscle pressures within the oesophagus. A thin multilumen catheter is positioned in the oesophagus. The catheter has a number of openings in the distal end that sense the changing pressure with oesophageal contraction. A low flow pump is required to maintain the patency of the openings in the tubing.
Organ bath BME1484 A heated organ bath with a capacity of 1.5 ml. The heater is a 13 ohm Minco thermo foil heater mounted in the base of the bath. A Shimaden SR91 Digital Temperacture controller is used to sense the fluid temperature via a T-type thermocouple. The bath also incorporates fluid inlet and outlet pipes, an aeration pipe and two platinum electrodes mounted in the base.
Physiological Electronic Equipment Tester (PEET) BME1404 PEET is a signal generator for testing physiological equipment (ECG, EEG & EMG) by providing a variety of physiological waveforms and also sine, square and triangular waves. It drives 16-single ended channels or 8-differential channels, either sequentially or in parallel. Physiological waveforms are recorded in an analog storage device and are clocked out when selected. Waveform levels are adjustable from 500 millivolts pk-pk down to 10 microvolts pk-pk.
	Top
Rodent Exercise Pool BME1365 Exercise pool to test rat activity. Features adjustable water flow up to 2m/s and gantry to hold harness.
Solar Powered Datalogger BME1460 Solar powered measurement of dissolved oxygen for environmental monitoring. Sharp spiky bits stop seagulls from sitting. The 30 watt solar panel charges a 24 amp-hour gel-cel battery in a pelican proof enclosure.
Stereotaxic Instrument Stereotaxy is a method used in neurosurgery and neurological research for locating points within the brain using an external, three-dimensional frame of reference usually based on the Cartesion coordinate system. The instrument allows for extremely fine and precise movement with no vibration.
	Top
Tissue Stretchers Tissue stretchers are used to measure gut motility. BME1357 An 8 channel device where a segment of small intestine, 7-10cm long, is cut into a flat sheet and pinned along one edge. The other edge is connected using a number of hooks attached to force transducers to the linear actuators. The eight channel unit consists of a maximum of eight identical modules mounted in a KM6-II universal 19” subrack. Similarly, the three channel unit consists of a maximum of three identical rack mounted modules. Each module consists of a MC68HC711E9 processor which is programmed with code written using Hi-Tech C Cross Compiler. The processor controls all facets of the tissue stretching for that particular module and allows interconnection between modules. Each module is connected to and controls a bipolar linear actuator and a force transducer (strain gauge). BME1445 Tissue stretcher with DC motor. Produces an analog output of distance and strain that piece of tissue experiences during a predefined pattern of tissue stretching and relaxation. It complements BME 1357 with a DC motor replacing the stepper motor used and with a revised electronic system design. This has to be used in some situations where electrical interference from stepper motor controllers is a problem.
	Top
Tonometers Tonometers are used to measure the effectiveness of lymphoedema treatment. BME1435 Lymphoedema skin recovery tonometer. This device measures time taken for skin to recover after depression, based on reflective sensor. Electronically simulating a traditional manual method, the skin is depressed a standard distance and the time taken to spring back to its original position is recorded. The low mass of the measuring head minimises disturbances to the tissue from application pressure. BME1428 A lymphoedema tonometer using a weight and a mechanical dial gauge. BME1396 Lymphoedema torque applicator. A probe depresses tissue to a set depth or force, then rotates and measures linear and rotational force response over a user selected period of time. Strain gauge assemblies in the probe suspension measure the forces that are then digitised and then logged on a PC. BME1383 This is a battery operated hand held tonometer to measure skin tension after 4mm depression.

Updated: July 14, 2006