2004 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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University of Limerick
Khalil Arshak
Ingestible sensors for the real time measurement of intestinal activity

Conceptual illustration of the orally ingestible nano-technology capsule system

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a worldwide phenomenon that is most dominant in western cultures. Trends in lifestyles and dietary intake suggest that its incidence is likely to grow. Current sufferers already represent over 20% of the general population. The total costs due to IBS are estimated to exceed �210 million annually in Ireland alone (through sick leave, medical resources, etc.). A comprehensive diagnostic methodology is required to enable this medical condition to be better understood before a more potent treatment can be developed. The purpose of this project is to address this need.

Advanced orally ingestible nano-technology capsules are being developed along with a customised low-power wireless interface system based on proven technologies, to realise non-invasive real-time measurements of bowel activity through the use of a wireless receiver worn on the person. The concept is illustrated in the figure.

The system will have the unique feature of recording measurements in great detail (distributed position and transit of content patterns) through continuous ambulant monitoring, without interfering with physiological activity. The research will yield the foundations of a superior medical diagnostic solution for the in-situ measurement of bowel movements in patients with Functional Intestinal Disorders (FID), which will result in a novel and informative system with a global medical market. The short-term goal is to develop a prototype that can be used to measure and analyse simulated bowel movements in pre-clinical trials for validation of the core sensor technology and its associated electronics hardware. The medium-term goal is to advance this prototype so that it conforms to regulatory requirements to facilitate clinical trials and further evaluations. The long-term goal is to expand on the developments to produce a product that can be reliably used in the medical industry.

This work is being conducted to address the short-term goal in collaboration with Mr David Waldron (Mid-Western Health Board) and is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland with funds from the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000�2006, and EU Structural Funds that are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The project reference number is CFTD/2003/425 (MIAPS � Measurement of Intestinal Activity in an Ambulant Physiological Setting).

Professor Khalil Arshak, Electronics & Computer Engineering Department, College of Informatics and Electronics, University of Limerick;
Tel: +353-61-202267; Fax: +353-61-338176; E-mail: [email protected]