Design, Fabrication and Performance Assessment of Flexible, Microneedle-Based Electrodes For ECG Signal Monitoring.

Microneedle-based electrodes have attracted significant attention for the monitoring of physiological signals, including ECG, EMG, and E OG, as they have the potential to eliminate the skin preparation and stability issues associated with conventional wet gel electrodes. This paper describes the development of a polymeric flexible microneedle electrode (FMNE) that does not require skin abrasion and can be used for long-term ECG monitoring. Fabricated using a combination of epoxy resin microneedles bonded to a flexible substrate, the performance of the FMNE was compared to that of a conventional wet-gel electrode by simultaneously capturing the ECG signal using both electrodes, and estimating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of each.

A Comparison of Flow- and Pressure-Controlled Infusion Strategies for Microneedle-based Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Microneedle-based transdermal drug delivery is considered an attractive alternative to conventional injections using hypodermic needles due to its minimally invasive and painless nature; this has the potential to improve patient adherence to medication regimens. Hollow microneedles (MNs) are sharp, sub-millimeter protrusions with a channel that serves as a fluidic interface with the skin. This technology could be coupled with micro-pumps, embedded sensors, actuators and electronics to create Micro Transdermal Interface Platforms - smart, wearable infusion systems capable of delivering precise microdoses over a prolonged period.

Towards Micropump- and Microneedle-based Drug Delivery using Micro Transdermal Interface Platforms (MicroTIPs).

Micro Transdermal Interface Platforms (MicroTIPs) will combine minimally invasive microneedle arrays with highly miniaturized sensors, actuators, control electronics, wireless communications and artificial intelligence. These patch-like devices will be capable of autonomous physiological monitoring and transdermal drug delivery, resulting in increased patient adherence and devolved healthcare. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of controlled transdermal drug delivery using a combination of 500 μm tall silicon microneedles, a commercial micropump, pressure and flow sensors, and bespoke electronics.