Classification of human movement patterns from a triaxial accelerometer for home telecare. The purpose of the proposed ambulatory monitoring system is to ensure that a community-dwelling elderly person receives automatic, timely aid in the event of an adverse situation while alone at home, such as a fall or stroke. This project is aimed at the priority area 'ageing well, ageing productively'. Providing rapid assistance after a fall will prevent much of the morbidity, distress and socio-economic ....Classification of human movement patterns from a triaxial accelerometer for home telecare. The purpose of the proposed ambulatory monitoring system is to ensure that a community-dwelling elderly person receives automatic, timely aid in the event of an adverse situation while alone at home, such as a fall or stroke. This project is aimed at the priority area 'ageing well, ageing productively'. Providing rapid assistance after a fall will prevent much of the morbidity, distress and socio-economic cost that are associated with falls. Specifically, this project brings new advanced digital signal processing algorithms to bear on the difficult signal enhancement and classification problems associated with the information stream received from the triaxial accelerometer worn by the elderly client.Read moreRead less
Better emitters, enhanced optics, superior detectors: advancing terahertz science and technology for applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and national security. We will start with a new fundamental study of the interaction of light and matter to explicate the phenomena of the emission, transmission and detection of terahertz electromagnetic radiation. Using our increased understanding of terahertz science, we will then engineer better terahertz sources, optics, and sensors. Better ter ....Better emitters, enhanced optics, superior detectors: advancing terahertz science and technology for applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and national security. We will start with a new fundamental study of the interaction of light and matter to explicate the phenomena of the emission, transmission and detection of terahertz electromagnetic radiation. Using our increased understanding of terahertz science, we will then engineer better terahertz sources, optics, and sensors. Better terahertz technology will open up new applications in medical diagnosis, especially dermatology; industrial productivity, such as quality control; and the detection of contraband, including illicit drugs and explosives. In maintaining good health, transforming industries and safeguarding Australia, advanced terahertz systems will bring the nation health, economic and security benefits.Read moreRead less
Advanced materials and structures for terahertz science and technology. Anthrax, explosives, water, cancer all have characteristic signatures in the terahertz (THz) part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Security, defence, agriculture, medicine are some of the fields where THz science and technology are booming. THz developments offer enhanced national security, prosperity and quality of life. The lack of strong sources of THz radiation is the main factor hampering wider application of THz metho ....Advanced materials and structures for terahertz science and technology. Anthrax, explosives, water, cancer all have characteristic signatures in the terahertz (THz) part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Security, defence, agriculture, medicine are some of the fields where THz science and technology are booming. THz developments offer enhanced national security, prosperity and quality of life. The lack of strong sources of THz radiation is the main factor hampering wider application of THz methods. In this project two university research teams come together to develop more efficient THz emitters. The Darmstadt team will prepare novel materials and structures and the Wollongong team will evaluate them and provide feedback for the next iteration.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Terahertz Emitters. Between microwaves and visible light lies the terahertz gap - the least explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yet the THz region is precisely where many materials exhibit characteristic signatures that allow them to be detected and identified. For example, anthrax, explosives, water, DNA, plastics, and carcinomas all have distinctive THz signatures. THz methods are revolutionizing medicine, agriculture, industry, and national security. Wider appl ....High Efficiency Terahertz Emitters. Between microwaves and visible light lies the terahertz gap - the least explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yet the THz region is precisely where many materials exhibit characteristic signatures that allow them to be detected and identified. For example, anthrax, explosives, water, DNA, plastics, and carcinomas all have distinctive THz signatures. THz methods are revolutionizing medicine, agriculture, industry, and national security. Wider application is hampered by the lack of powerful sources of THz radiation. We aim to develop more efficient emitters of THz radiation. The national economy, security, and well-being will benefit.Read moreRead less
Development of electrical probes and advanced classification algorithms for early detection of cancer. The curable precursor of cervical cancer is cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Various cancer probes will be constructed for the identification of CIN based on electrical measurements on tissue. Through studies of the cellular structure and the junction between cells, a theoretical model of the electrode/mucus/tissue system will be developed at and below the surface of the tissue under ....Development of electrical probes and advanced classification algorithms for early detection of cancer. The curable precursor of cervical cancer is cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). Various cancer probes will be constructed for the identification of CIN based on electrical measurements on tissue. Through studies of the cellular structure and the junction between cells, a theoretical model of the electrode/mucus/tissue system will be developed at and below the surface of the tissue under examination. Theoretical modelling, probe development and detection algorithms will be used to identify CIN in real-time with concurrently high sensitivity and specificity. Effective electrical probes for early detection of cancer (cervical, lung and breast) will be of enormous national and international benefit.Read moreRead less
Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to ....Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to specific physiological interactions of paramount importance in, for instance, understanding cancer pathways and developing strategies for targeted drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668541
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
Infrastructure for design and testing of implantable and non-invasive intelligent medical devices. This application requests infrastructure funding to ensure the capability of the UTS and UNSW biomedical engineering teams to develop tomorrow's biomedical devices. It will enable research in the field of intelligent medical devices, either non-invasive devices (diabetes monitoring, brain-computer interfaces, home telecare) or those which are fully implanted (heart pumps, bionic eyes). Such biomedi ....Infrastructure for design and testing of implantable and non-invasive intelligent medical devices. This application requests infrastructure funding to ensure the capability of the UTS and UNSW biomedical engineering teams to develop tomorrow's biomedical devices. It will enable research in the field of intelligent medical devices, either non-invasive devices (diabetes monitoring, brain-computer interfaces, home telecare) or those which are fully implanted (heart pumps, bionic eyes). Such biomedical devices will save lives and improve the quality of life of many people. The commercial benefit to Australia flows from the international export of such devices. Based on this approach there will be substantial savings in health care costs, with patients able to resume a better quality of life at home, rather than in institutional care.Read moreRead less
Novel Early Warning System for Hypoglycaemia. An innovative technique will be developed for early detection of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia), a life-threatening complication affecting millions of people with Type 1 diabetes worldwide. Real-time analysis of the effectiveness of skin impedance, ECG (in particular heart rate and QT interval), and EEG (alpha wave) will be combined with robust adaptive neural networks to provide a novel theoretical and practical basis for developing a non-i ....Novel Early Warning System for Hypoglycaemia. An innovative technique will be developed for early detection of low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia), a life-threatening complication affecting millions of people with Type 1 diabetes worldwide. Real-time analysis of the effectiveness of skin impedance, ECG (in particular heart rate and QT interval), and EEG (alpha wave) will be combined with robust adaptive neural networks to provide a novel theoretical and practical basis for developing a non-invasive hypoglycaemia monitor. This device has the potential to save lives, improve quality of life for people with diabetes and their carers, and put Australia at the forefront in this $US5 billion pa industry.Read moreRead less
Innovative hands-free technology to give the severely disabled greater mobility control. Half of the serious neurological injuries in Australia result in tetraplegia. Combined with other disabilities that involve severe mobility impairments the cost to the community economically, psychologically and socially is huge. This new Australian technology will facilitate effective sharing of control between a disabled person and a computer control system, taking advantage of their unique strengths and e ....Innovative hands-free technology to give the severely disabled greater mobility control. Half of the serious neurological injuries in Australia result in tetraplegia. Combined with other disabilities that involve severe mobility impairments the cost to the community economically, psychologically and socially is huge. This new Australian technology will facilitate effective sharing of control between a disabled person and a computer control system, taking advantage of their unique strengths and enabling each to aid the other in areas of weakness. The social and personal benefits are potentially very large. Scope also exists to significantly reduce healthcare costs and to develop a new industry in hands-free technology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560716
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$864,610.00
Summary
A National T-ray Facility. T-rays are between microwaves and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum. Recently, advances in femtosecond lasers enabled access to T-ray frequencies, producing an important new imaging modality for non-invasive sensing of materials and structures. Internationally, T-rays represent a rich new science leading to advanced forms of biophotonics, biomedical imaging and spectroscopy. Non-invasive T-ray diagnostics of nano- and bio-materials are being hotly pursued. The o ....A National T-ray Facility. T-rays are between microwaves and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum. Recently, advances in femtosecond lasers enabled access to T-ray frequencies, producing an important new imaging modality for non-invasive sensing of materials and structures. Internationally, T-rays represent a rich new science leading to advanced forms of biophotonics, biomedical imaging and spectroscopy. Non-invasive T-ray diagnostics of nano- and bio-materials are being hotly pursued. The outcome will be a strategically important Australian T-ray facility that will provide immediate and transparent nationwide access. Historically, industry is transformed every time a new part of the electromagnetic spectrum becomes accessible - T-rays are the next frontier.Read moreRead less