Systems-on-chip for medical sensor devices
An electronic device that’s comfortably connected to the human body needs to be as compact as possible. That’s why imec’s assists you in the development of biomedical systems-on-chip that strive for an unparalleled integration of essential functions, while maintaining medical-grade fidelity.
Are you developing connected health solutions? Then you know that they place high demands on their inner electronics. Specifically, you need a medical ASIC that enables ...
- versatile and low-noise sensor readout
- easy integration into a very small form factor
- ultra-low power operation, for multi-day monitoring on a single battery
Imec assists you in developing biomedical sensor systems-on-chip (SoC) that are uniquely suited for a wide range of connected health devices, thanks to their unique circuit solutions, high level of integration and co-design with algorithms.
Versatile biomedical data acquisition
Imec develops medical ASICs that are especially designed to address signal quality challenges in connected health applications. Their multimodal readout circuits are able to record:
- electrocardiogram (ECG)
- electroencephalogram (EEG)
- photoplethysmogram (PPG)
- galvanic skin response (GSR)
- electromyogram (EMG)
- functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
- bio-impedance
- electrical impedance
- ...
On top of that, imec is actively working on novel solutions for in-body applications, including electrochemical sensing and volume-constrained wireless powering.
High integration enables compact medical sensor devices
On one single chip, imec’s medical ASICs incorporate:
- analog front-ends
- biomedical digital signal processing
- feature extraction
- power management
- secure wireless communication
This exceptional integration of functions means that imec’s SoC is the ideal core for a low-power and high-performing medical wearable, implantable or ingestible in small form factor.
Download the flyer on the MUSEIC V3, imec's all-in-one chip solution for battery-powered wireless healthcare applications.
On top of that, imec’s medical ASICs are often co-designed with basic algorithms. This enables medical sensor devices that can process data and generate insights without the need to connect to the cloud.
Want to join our research? Need an experienced partner to speed up your development?
Publications
Xu et al. "Active electrodes for wearable EEG acquisition: review and electronics design methodology", IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, (2017)
External linkXu et al. "Low Power Active Electrode ICs for Wearable EEG Acquisition", Analog Circuits and Signal Processing book series, (2018)
External linkXu et al. "A 665μW silicon photomultiplier-based NIRS/EEG/EIT monitoring ASIC for wearable functional brain imaging", IEEE ISSCC, (2018)
External linkKonijnenburg et al. "A battery-powered efficient multi-sensor acquisition system with simultaneous ECG, BIO-Z, GSR, and PPG", IEEE ISSCC, (2016)
External linkKonijnenburg et al. "A Multi(bio)sensor Acquisition System With Integrated Processor, Power Management, 8×8 LED Drivers, and Simultaneously Synchronized ECG, BIO-Z, GSR, and Two PPG Readouts", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, (2016)
External linkKonijnenburg et al. "A 769μW Battery-Powered Single-Chip SoC With BLE for Multi-Modal Vital Sign Health Patches", IEEE ISSCC, (2019)
External linkHa et al. "A Bio-Impedance Readout IC With Digital-Assisted Baseline Cancellation for 2-Electrode Measurement.", IEEE ISSCC, (2019)
External linkMohan et al. "A 0.6V 0.015mm2 time-based biomedical readout for ambulatory applications in 40nm CMOS", IEEE ISSCC, (2016)
External linkVan Helleputte et al. "Advances in Biomedical Sensor Systems for Wearable Health", Hybrid ADCs, Smart Sensors for the IoT, and Sub-1V & Advanced Node Analog Circuit Desig, (2018)
External linkZulquarnain et al. "Design trade-offs in amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin film transistor based bio-signal sensing front-ends", IOP Science, (2019)
External linkSome examples of what we have done
Towards scalable single-molecule biosensing using carbon nanotube FETs
Imec achieves real-time biomolecule detection using a wafer-scale bioFET approach, marking a promising step towards high-throughput sensing for genomics and proteomics.
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Programmable droplet processor
Imec’s programmable droplet processor allows steering millions of droplets at pixel level, enabling fully automated enrichment, purification, and separation workflows through programmable droplet interactions.
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Imec builds nanopore platform for real-world assay innovations
Imec has made significant progress on its solid-state nanopore system that will enable life science companies to test and develop assays for single-molecule sensing. It is a cost-effective (mass-manufacturable), high-throughput solution.
Read more