The use of micro-electro mechanical systems in vascular monitoring: implications for clinical use

ABSTRACT

Introduction: BioMEMS relates to the implementation of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), in the biological and medical sphere. BioMEMS sensors are being utilized for many clinical applications, including a wireless urinary pressure system, right heart pressure sensor, and measurements on shearing force on the vascular system An important application of BioMEMS is on Heart failure (HF), a common disease, with a prevalence of 10% or more in persons 70 years of age or older, associated with high morbidity and mortality. HF affects over 5 million people and contributes to over 200,000 deaths a year in the United States alone.

Areas covered: The purpose of this paper is to provide a short overview on the successful implementation of BioMEMS sensors in heart failure and vascular medicine.

Expert commentary: BioMEMS devices have overcome current limitations in pharmacotherapies for resistant hypertension by electrical modulation of the baroreceeptors. This represents a step towards the development of biomedical micro-devices for those conditions in which pharmacotherapies result poorly effective or elicit unacceptable toxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Micro-electro-mechanical systems
• vascular monitoring
• heart failure
• piezoresistive pressure sensors
• capacitive pressure sensors
• catheter-tip-sensor
• wireless implantable sensors

Declaration of interest

Y Rosen is the CEO of Superior Nano Biosystems LLC, a company developing innovative BioMEMS devices in the area of nano/microfluidics. There are no working or financial relations to the BioMEMS examples above. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.