Bio-MEMS based sensor for acute and chronic pain management: An online measurement strategy for using biomedicai MEMS sensor in the assessment of pain intensity and study of inflammation

In this paper, we have proposed the use of BIO-MEMS based sensor for cost-effective, online assessment of pain intensity and study of inflammation through the levels of inflammation regulatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2, Cycle Oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), Leukotriene (LTA4 and LTB₄) and Trponin - C. A microcantilever based biosensor is used, the surface of which is separated into various channels on which the antigens for the respective enzymes are coated as an immobilized layer. These enzymes found in the blood stream of the human body reacts with these antigens producing a biochemical reaction, thereby straining the micro-cantilever beam whose strain can be measured either by means of an on-chip potentiometric circuit fabricated in SOC and CMOS technology to follow the voltage changes in the MOSFET or optically by the wavelength shift of a transmitted laser from a laser source after reflection from the microcantilever beam, sensed suitable by a photodetector. The intensity of acute or chronic pain can thus be inferred, which helps the anaesthesiologists and Intensivists for accurate diagnosis and related treatment for complete relief from pain.