Force-measuring Silicon Microprobe

A team from Cornell has created, and is developing, a self-advancing microprobe that can measure the stiffness of material it penetrates, for use in reproductive medicine and diagnostics.

• Patent:  US 8197418
• Ramkumar A. et al, "Micro-Dissecting Dual-Probe Testicular Tubule Assay", Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems Conference (TRANSDUCERS 2007), pp 1959-1962
• Ramkumar A. et al, "Ultrasonic Microprobe Based Tubular Size Assay", IEEE International Ultrasonic Symposium, 28th-31st October, 2007 (in print)

 

Background on the testicular sperm extraction procedure:

P. N. Schlegel (1999) Testicular sperm extraction: microdissection improves sperm yield with minimal tissue excision. Human Reproduction 14(1) 131-135.

 

Related publications and patents by Lal and Ramkumar:

• Chen, X, et al (2006) Ultrasonically Actuated Silicon Microprobes for Cardiac Signal Recording. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 53(8) 1665-71
• Son, I., Lal, A. (2002) Remotely Actuated Magnetic Actuator For Microsurgery With Piezoresistive Feedback. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual International IEEE-EMBS Special Topic Conference on Microtechnologies in Medicine & Biology, Madison, WI.
• Chen, X, Lal, A. (2001) Integrated Pressure and Flow Sensor in Silicon-based Ultrasonic Surgical Actuator," IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Society Symposium, Atlanta.
• Chen, X., Lal, A., (2001) Micromachined Ultrasonic Ophthalmic Microsurgical tool with integrated Pressure sensor. Digest of Technical publications, International Conference on Solid State Sensors and Actuators, Munich.
• Son, I. et al (2001) A multifunctional silicon-based microscale surgical system. Sensors and Actuators A. 91(3) 351-356.
• Son, I., Lal, A. (2000) Thin-film Composites for Microsurgery. World Conference on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Chicago.
• Lal, A., White, R. M. (1996) Silicon micro-fabricated horns for power ultrasonics. Sensors and Actuators, vol. A54, pp. 542-546.
• Amit Lal. (1996) "Micromachined Silicon Ultrasonic Longitudinal Mode Actuators: Theory and Applications to Surgery, Pumping, and Atomization," Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley. pp. 1-175.

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