The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates multidisciplinary approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales.

Head of Group

Dr Jang Ah Kim

B414A Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus

 

 

What we do

The Micro-Nano Innovation Lab ("mini lab") investigates multidisciplinary approaches to develop new intelligent sensing and robotic strategies in micro/nano scales. We study nanotechnology, light-matter interactions, micro-particle dynamics, microscale fluid dynamics, and bioengineering to reach our goal. The research involves the design and manufacture of micro/nano systems for diagnostics (e.g. infections, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases) and microscopic therapies/surgeries (e.g. localised drug delivery, novel minimally invasive procedures).

Why it is important?

Timely identification of illnesses, less intrusive interventions, and precise/personalised treatments in challenging areas within our bodies, like narrow blood vessels, are essential technologies for improved healthcare management. The foundation for empowering these technologies lies in the development of devices capable of sensitively detecting disruptions in microenvironments that impact normal physiology and of precisely addressing these issues via targeted drug delivery, surgery, etc. at the cellular and molecular levels (micro/nano scales). Understanding the pathophysiology and engineering of the designs and functionalities of such devices accordingly is, thus, vital to enhancing current medical technology. Also, this has the potential to drive the development of advanced medical micro-robots with integrated sensing and therapeutic capabilities, offering new opportunities for future advancements in healthcare.

How can it benefit patients?

Early detection of diseases followed by minimally invasive, targeted and personalised therapy can have evident advantages for patients in terms of prognosis, health management, and economic implications. First, it can reduce excessive physical and biochemical alterations to the microenvironments, e.g., scarring after resection, antimicrobial resistance after antibiotics administration, etc., offering a better prognosis with fewer side effects. Micro/nanodevices can also be engineered to be implantable, enabling long-term health monitoring and treatment. Finally, the localised and precise manner of the technology allows efficient planning of the optimal procedures and accurate dosage, resulting in reduced cost.

Meet the team

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Kim:2016:10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.102,
author = {Kim, JA and Park, K and Kim, C and Kulkarni, A and Kim, T},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.102},
journal = {Optik},
pages = {11823--11827},
title = {Optical contact force monitoring sensor for cardiac ablation catheters},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.102},
volume = {127},
year = {2016}
}

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB - © 2016 Modern lifestyles can lead to various lifestyle diseases that have become the most threatening health issues to humans. In particular, heart disease is the leading global cause of death. To diagnose heart disease, cardiac catheterization is frequently conducted. The contact force between the tip of the catheter and tissue is very critical because it determines the success or failure of the procedure. In this work, an optical sensor composed of transparent, flexible, and stretchable PDMS layers forming an air cavity was developed and evaluated. The reflectance of the sensor varied with external applied force depending upon the gap between elastomeric layers placed on the catheter tip. The fabricated sensor showed very low minimum resolution (<0.1 gF), which is desired for the application. A wider dynamic range than that of the present sensor (0–0.6 gF), which is inadequate for the practical application, can be achieved by optimizing the thickness of the flexible layers.
AU - Kim,JA
AU - Park,K
AU - Kim,C
AU - Kulkarni,A
AU - Kim,T
DO - 10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.102
EP - 11827
PY - 2016///
SN - 0030-4026
SP - 11823
TI - Optical contact force monitoring sensor for cardiac ablation catheters
T2 - Optik
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.09.102
VL - 127
ER -

Contact Us

General enquiries

Facility enquiries


The Hamlyn Centre
Bessemer Building
South Kensington Campus
Imperial College
London, SW7 2AZ
Map location