Toward Smart Microsystems for Effective Recovery of Brain Functions

Speaker:   Prof. Mohamad Sawan

Time:       13:30-15:00, Nov. 13

Location:  SIST 1A 200

Host:       Prof. Yajun Ha

Abstract:

Wearable and implantable Biosystems intended for the diagnostic and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are promising alternatives to study neural activities underlying cognitive functions and pathologies, and eventually to recover lost neural vital functions. Biosensors and corresponding signal/image processing are a large variety of emerging technologies. However, treatment remains much less developed including drugs, and surgery. This talk covers circuit and system techniques intended to implement smart medical devices, which are System-on-Chip based medical devices dealing with multidimensional design challenges such as power management, low-power high-data rate wireless communication, and reliable harvesting energy methods. Application-specific system architectures, and dedicated building blocks (RF front-end, various load interfaces, active rectifiers, etc.) and corresponding experimental results will be demonstrated. Case studies of neurorecording intended for learning about the intracortical vision mechanism, and for spike onset detection of epileptic seizure foci localization and treatment, as well as microstimulation in the primary visual cortex intended to recover vision for the blind will be reported. In addition, lab-on-chip based neurotransmitters detection, manipulation and characterization intended to locate dysfunctions at the neural cells’interconnection levels will be summarized. These devices require wireless power management, packaging, and are built around miniaturized platforms, including capacitive sensing arrays. On the other hand, new generation of devices intended to enhance bladder functions (voiding and/or continence) will be covered. In addition to the estimation of bladder volume/pressure from afferent neural activity, impact of sacral-nerve stimulation will be demonstrated, and an electronic artificial urinary sphincter to manage voiding will be presented.

Bio:

Mohamad Sawan is Chair Professor in Westlake University, Hangzhou, China, and Emeritus Professor in University of Montreal, Canada. He is founder and director of the Cutting-Edge Net of Biomedical Research And INnovation (CenBRAIN) in Westlake University. He received the Ph.D. degree Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. He is Co-Founder, Associate Editor and was Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems (2016-2019). He is founder of the International IEEE-NEWCAS Conference and of the Polystim Neurotech Laboratory, and Co-Founder of the International IEEE-BioCAS Conference. He was awarded the Canada Research Chair in Smart Medical Devices (2001-2015), and was leading the Microsystems Strategic Alliance of Quebec, Canada (1999-2018). Dr. Sawan published more than 800 peer reviewed papers, two books, 10 book chapters, and 12 patents. He received several awards, among them the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the Shanghai City Mayor Award for International Collaboration, the Qianjiang Friendship Ambassador Award, and the medal of merit from the President of Lebanon. Dr. Sawan is Fellow of the IEEE, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of the Engineering Institutes of Canada, and “Officer” of the National Order of Quebec.

SIST-Seminar 20001