Research Terms
These intelligent devices with integrated wireless drug delivery circuits and multiple on-chip antennas can change the treatment of diseases by facilitating the controlled release of therapeutic agents into specific tissues and the bloodstream. Drug delivery devices capable of precise, targeted control of levels of drugs are particularly useful in the treatment of many conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pain, and infectious diseases. Available drug delivery devices use low frequency bands and large antennas that include the need to be tethered to stationary equipment and constant human intervention. University of Florida researchers have developed devices with integrated wireless drug delivery circuits and multiple on-chip antennas using frequency bands that allow for miniaturized, mobile solutions. Thus, the delivery of drugs becomes more feasible, because the device can be reduced to an implantable size if desired. This integrated drug delivery circuit allows drugs to be administered according to a schedule that corresponds to a patient’s rhythms in order to maximize effectiveness and minimize the side effects of the therapy.
Wireless control device for drug delivery applications
This wireless controller for electrochemically triggered drug delivery comprises electroactive polymer-based biomaterials. It includes an electroactive polymer cell, a wireless polymer conduction controller, and another wireless module that communicates with the controller device. A circuit or device integrates the electrochemical cell and wireless polymer conduction controller. The device executes essential operations such as controlling the wireless module and temperature sensor. The wireless module communicates with the device, receiving device information, device status, and temperature data. Using this data, the wireless module determines the duration and quantity of the drug that needs to be released.
This mosquito trap incorporates software and computing processors that enable detection and counting of captured insects and also establishes a communication network between traps, providing remote reporting and access to the real-time data. Mosquitoes are notorious carriers of many diseases which kill over 1 million people worldwide every year. As such, the global market for mosquito control efforts is projected to exceed $350 million by 2021. Whether for targeting the application of insecticide by mosquito control district teams, for entomological research or for disease research programs, effective mosquito monitoring involves recording accurate censuses of flying insect populations through the deployment and subsequent inspection of traps. The monitoring and maintenance of these traps is both costly and labor intensive, especially when the project includes many traps deployed in remote locations. Available mosquito trap designs do not support potential smart features such as controllable gas attractant release or identification and selective capture of a particular sex or species.
Researchers at the University of Florida have designed a smart mosquito trap capable of recording and reporting captured insect population data over a wired or wireless network to provide researchers and technicians remote accessibility. The traps are highly configurable and can integrate a range of visual, audio, or proximity sensors to enable advanced detection and identification functionality, enabling more efficient disease research and insect control.
Smart mosquito trap that counts captured insect populations and transmits the data across a trap-to-trap network to increase mosquito monitoring efficiency
These mosquito traps augment traditional CDC trap designs with smart capabilities to improve mosquito monitoring for disease research and insect population control efforts. Flying insects drawn into the traps pass through a narrow, extended path, allowing various sensors to detect the captured insects by recognizing audio or visual patterns or analyzing wing-beat frequencies. A processor keeps count of the population in the basket. The computing devices integrated into the traps can establish a wired or wireless communications network between the traps, providing researchers and technicians with remote access to device data and remote control over device functionalities.
This portable monitoring system senses the temperature of individual containers of perishable items, such as blood and food, during storage and transportation then transmits the data wirelessly to a specified database application. Blood banks and suppliers of other temperature-sensitive materials must ensure products are safe and usable after transportation or long-time storage. FDA guidelines require strict temperature control of blood. However, difficulties arise when attempting to determine information about conditions at an individual level. Industries that work with perishable items do not regularly make use of available single-container monitoring devices because available individual monitoring systems are typically large in size and highly complex when used to interface with wireless networks.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed an FDA approved monitoring system that observes and records the temperature of perishable items before use. This technology will also generate a dynamic profile of both an individual container and its contents, sounding an alarm when temperature values are irregular.
FDA approved wireless monitoring system for monitoring the temperature of perishable items
Sensor nodes placed onto individual items wirelessly transmit real-time temperature data to a transceiver located on the container. The system’s central processor produces a dynamic temperature profile from user-defined parameters. An alarm will sound in the event temperatures of individual items or the container reach values outside of the defined parameters. A circuit board within the primary transceiver device stores temperature data received from surface sensors, making temperature data history reports available when requested or pre-scheduled by users.
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