Materials and designs for 3D conformal electronics with capabilities in cardiac mapping and stimulation

Developments in materials and mechanics for flexible electronics create opportunities for building novel electronic devices that physically interface with the human body, its organs and various tissues. Among the wide variety of application scenarios, integration with the heart represents a case that is both promising and challenging. Conformal electronic systems for monitoring physiological activity and for delivering therapies are critically important for both basic and clinical cardiology. The complex 3D geometry and time-dynamic deformations of the heart, however, create difficulties in establishing intimate, non-constraining interfaces between medical electronics and cardiac structures. Here we present advanced materials, mechanical designs and fabrication approaches that yield classes of 3D conformal electronic platforms with novel capabilities in cardiac physiological mapping and stimulation. Designs for both individual sensors/actuators components and overall device platforms are involved. The materials selections for sensors/actuators components include conductive composite for tactile sensors, silicon nanomembranes for strain gauges, iridium oxide for pH sensors, gallium nitride and gallium arsenide for optoelectronics, metal thin films for temperature sensing, and nanotextured electrode coatings for characterizing electrical activities. Careful mechanical design and fractal concepts enable device characteristics that are compatible with the intrinsic cardiac physiology. Novel device platforms, including multifunctional balloon catheters and 3D multifunctional integumentary membranes, are developed to allow integration of these components in systems that yield critical functionalities for biomedical applications. Animal experiments demonstrate the operational capabilities. The results suggest routes for fabricating advanced electronic materials and devices with 3D formats and create methodological possibilities for both basic physiological research and clinical medicine.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Materials Science & Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Xu, Lizhi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rogers, John A.
• Zuo, Jian-Min
• Li, Xiuling
• Dillon, Shen J.

• Electronic materials
• Micro and nano fabrication
• Flexible and stretchable electronics
• Bio-medical applications

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2014 Lizhi Xu

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72990

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72990