Portable Biosensors and Point-of-Care Systems describes the principles, design and applications of a new generation of analytical and diagnostic biomedical devices, characterized by their very small size, ease of use, multi-analytical capabilities and speed to provide handheld and mobile point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. The book is divided in four Parts. Part I is an in-depth analysis of the various technologies upon which portable diagnostic devices and biosensors are built. In Part II, advances in the design and optimization of special components of biosensor systems and handheld devices are presented. In Part III, a wide scope of applications of portable biosensors and handheld POC devices is described, ranging from the support of primary healthcare to food and environmental safety screening. Diverse topics are covered, including counterterrorism, travel medicine and drug development. Finally, Part IV of the book is dedicated to the presentation of commercially available products including a review of the products of point-of-care in-vitro-diagnostics companies, a review of technologies which have achieved a high Technology Readiness Level, and a special market case study of POC infusion systems combined with intelligent patient monitoring. This book is essential reading for researchers and experts in the healthcare diagnostic and analytical sector, and for electronics and material engineers working on portable sensors.

Nanotechnology for Oral Drug Delivery: From Concept to Applications discusses the current challenges of oral drug delivery, broadly revising the different physicochemical barriers faced by nanotechnolgy-based oral drug delivery systems, and highlighting the challenges of improving intestinal permeability and drug absorption. Oral delivery is the most widely used form of drug administration due to ease of ingestion, cost effectiveness, and versatility, by allowing for the accommodation of different types of drugs, having the highest patient compliance. In this book, a comprehensive overview of the most promising and up-to-date engineered and surface functionalized drug carrier systems, as well as opportunities for the development of novel and robust delivery platforms for oral drug administration are discussed. The relevance of controlling the physicochemical properties of the developed particle formulations, from size and shape to drug release profile are broadly reviewed. Advances in both in vitro and in vivo scenarios are discussed, focusing on the possibilities to study the biological-material interface. The industrial perspective on the production of nanotechnology-based oral drug delivery systems is also covered. Nanotechnology for Oral Drug Delivery: From Concept to Applications is essential reading for researchers, professors, advanced students and industry professionals working in the development, manufacturing and/or commercialization of nanotechnology-based systems for oral drug delivery, targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, materials science and biomaterials, in vitro and in vivo testing of potential oral drug delivery technologies.

This book covers novel and innovative technologies used in development, modeling, chemical/physical investigation and biomedical (in-vitro and in-vivo) trials of nanomaterials and nanocomposites. Novel methods for nanoparticle development and manufacturing are presented, as well as their safety and promising applications. In addition, the book highlights new frontiers in the use of metal / metal oxide nanoparticles, hierarchical nanostructures and organic coatings as sensors for detecting gases, inorganic and organic materials, including biosensors for bacteria and cancers. Organic nanoparticle composites for medical applications (tissue engineering, tissue replacement, regeneration, etc.), including hydroxyapatite NPs, are also covered, together with related in-vitro and preclinical investigations. In closing, the book shares recent findings on orthopedic and dental implant coatings using nanoparticles, their biological efficacy and safety.

This book integrates bioengineering for solving health issues. It shows how the use of applied mechanics and strength of materials using 3D printing models, digital correlation techniques and computed tomography images, provides solutions to biology, medicine and mechanical engineering. The book provides clear processes and illustrations, several worked examples, and many projects. It helps scientists to analyze different modes of applying mechanical and biomedical concepts, physical principles to develop devices, sensors, prosthesis, orthotic systems, new materials and techniques that may improve the health system. It can be used in courses such as biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation and mechanical engineering, also in rehabilitation or sports medicine.

This book first provides readers with an introduction to the underlying physics and state-of-the-art application of photon counting detectors for X-ray imaging. The authors explain that a photon-counting imaging detector can realize quantitative analysis because the detector can derive X-ray attenuation information based on the analysis of intensity changes of individual X-ray. To realize this analysis, it is important to consider the physics of an object and detector material. In this book, the authors introduce a novel analytical procedure to create quantitative X-ray images for medical diagnosis.

Composite materials are formed when the combination of separate materials acquire new properties distinct from its components. They have a range of applications in fields such as mechanical and electrical engineering, food science and biomedicine and represent a fast-growing area of research. Composite Materials: Applications in Engineering, Biomedicine and Food Science provides an overview of current technologies and applications related to composite materials in these fields. Organized by discipline, the text encompasses a wide variety of composite materials, including polymer, ceramic, biomaterial, hydroxyapatite, nanofiber and green composites. Early chapters detail the enhanced mechanical, magnetic, dielectric properties of electrical and thermal conductive composite materials, which are essential in daily science. Subsequent chapters focus on filler or reinforcement materials, including carbon materials, hybrid materials and nanomaterials. Particular emphasis is placed on nanocomposite materials, as these have increasingly diverse field applications. Various manufacturing methods, such as the synthesis method and top-down/bottom-up manufacturing, are also discussed. Coverage of the recent progress, challenges and opportunities surrounding composite materials make this text a one-stop reference for engineers, scientists and researchers working in this exciting field.

Nanotechnology has been established in membrane technology for decades. In this book, comprehensive coverage is given to nanotechnology applications in synthetic membrane processes, which are used in different fields such as water treatment, separation of gases, the food industry, military use, drug delivery, air filtration, and green chemistry. Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, and dendrimers are contributing to the development of more efficient and cost-effective water filtration processes. Gas separation and carbon capture can be significantly improved in flue gas applications. Nanoporous membrane systems engineered to mimic natural filtration systems are being actively developed for use in smart implantable drug delivery systems, bio artificial organs, and other novel nano-enabled medical devices. The microscopic structure of nanoporous ceramic membranes, mainly focusing on zeolite materials, as well as the energy-saving effect of membrane separation, contribute to various chemical synthesis processes. In the food industry, nanotechnology has the potential to create new tools for pathogen detection and packaging. For each application, nanotechnology is mostly used to make composite membranes, and the book provides a detailed look at the mechanisms by which the composite membrane works in each application area.

This book presents recent outcomes of the collaborative "Tricorder" project, which brings together partners from industry, research institutes and hospitals to deliver an easy contactless alternative for electrocardiograms (ECG). Featuring contributions investigating the possible applications of laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) signals for the remote measurement of vital parameters of the heart, the book provides insights into the vision and the history of the "Tricorder" project and the basic differences between the vibrocardiograms and electrocardiograms. It also discusses topics such as signal processing, heartbeat measurement techniques, respiration frequency and oxygen saturation determination, with a particular focus on the diagnostic value of the method presented, e.g., diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and estimation of the oxygen saturation in premature infants. Further, the authors review the advantages and drawbacks of the new method and the specific fields of application. This book will appeal to researchers and industry leaders interested in laser remote sensing for medical applications as well as medical professionals curious about new healthcare technologies.

This book gathers selected, extended and revised contributions to the 16th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, and the 4th Conference on Imaging and Visualization (CMBBE 2019), held on August 14-16, 2019, in New York City, USA. It reports on cutting-edge models and algorithms for studying various tissues and organs in normal and pathological conditions; innovative imaging and visualization techniques; and the latest diagnostic tools. Further topics addressed include: numerical methods, machine learning approaches, FEM models, and high-resolution imaging and real-time visualization methods applied for biomedical purposes. Given the scope of its coverage, the book provides graduate students and researchers with a timely and insightful snapshot of the latest research and current challenges in biomedical engineering, computational biomechanics and biological imaging, as well as a source of inspiration for future research and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

This book provides wide-ranging coverage of current developments in biomedical sensing based on photonic techniques. Biomedical sensing is a dynamic topic that promises to deliver much in the future evolution of medical diagnostics, delivering advanced tools for fundamental research in biology at the micrometre and nanometre scales. The book explores a variety of alternative physical and biological methodologies that have become available for application, such as plasmonic sensors and photonic crystal biosensors. At the same time, it addresses issues that potentially limit the capability of biomedical optical sensing techniques, while reviewing the state-of-the-art in biomedical optical sensing for the future work that will lead to near-universal applications of such techniques. Edited and written by leading experts in this domain, this book is ideal as a comprehensive manual for researchers and graduate students.

This textbook serves as an introduction to nonlinear dynamics and fractals for physiological modeling. Examples and demonstrations from current research in cardiopulmonary engineering and neuro-systems engineering are provided, as well as lab and computer exercises that encourage readers to apply the course material. This is an ideal textbook for graduate students in biomedical engineering departments, researchers who analyze physiological data, and researchers interested in physiological modeling.

Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. is an Araliaceae Panax plant. Along with mink and antler, ginseng is one of the three treasures of Northeast of China, and is a valuable medicine and health care product. The "King of Herbs" is known around the globe; however, a comprehensive source of information on its use is needed. This book is based on a study of 45 samples of ginseng collected from Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, Liaoning Province and Korea. These samples, which included 3, 4 and 5-year-old ginseng, were analyzed for various constituents, such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides, providing extensive scientific data. This book not only focuses on the methods of analyzing the nutritional content and functional factors in ginseng, but also presents the findings of these analyses. Uncovering the mysteries of ginseng, offering scientific-technological insights and comparing domestic and foreign ginseng, it is a valuable reference resource for researchers and consumers alike.

This book highlights leading-edge research in multi-disciplinary areas in Physics, Engineering, Medicine, and Health care, from the 6th IRC Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (IRC-SET 2020) held in July 2020 at Singapore. The papers were shortlisted after extensive rounds of reviews by a panel of esteemed individuals who are pioneers in their domains. The book also contains excerpts of the speeches by eminent personalities who graced the occasion, thereby providing written documentation of the event.

This book gathers contributions by researchers from several countries on all major areas of robotic research, development and innovation, as well as new applications and current trends. The topics covered include: novel designs and applications of robotic systems, intelligent cooperating and service robots, advanced robot control, human-robot interfaces, robot vision systems, mobile robots, humanoid and walking robots, bio-inspired and swarm robotic systems, aerial, underwater and spatial robots, robots for ambient assisted living, medical robots and bionic prostheses, cognitive robots, cloud robotics, ethical and social issues in robotics, etc. Given its scope, the book offers a source of information and inspiration for researchers seeking to improve their work and gather new ideas for future developments. The contents reflect the outcomes of the activities of RAAD (International Conference on Robotics in Alpe-Adria-Danube Region) in 2020.

Metabolomics for Biomedical Research brings together recent progress on study design, analytics, biostatistics and bioinformatics for the success of metabolomics research. Metabolomics represents a very interdisciplinary research prominent in the functional analyses of living systems; hence, this book focuses on translation and medical aspects. The book discusses topics such as biomarkers and their requirements to be used in medical research, with the parameters and approaches on how to validate their quality; and animal models and other approaches, as stem cells and organoid culture. Additionally, it explains how metabolomics may be applied in prediction of individual response to drug or disease progression. This book is a valuable source for researchers on systems biology and other members of biomedical field interested in metabolism-oriented studies for medical research.

The original role of RP was to confirm the shape and feel of concept design, but innovations in RP now allow for the development of sophisticated medical devices such as catheters, stents, drug delivery systems, syringes and cardio-vascular devices, and more. RP has moved beyond medical devices, as surgeons now regularly use RP models to brainstorm strategies for surgeries. This book presents new uses for rapid prototyping in state-of-the-art medical applications.

This book reviews the current knowledge on tunable hydrogels, including the range of different materials and applications, as well as the existing challenges and limitations in the field. It covers various aspects of the material design, particularly highlighting biological responsiveness, degradability and responsiveness to external stimuli. In this book, readers will discover original research data and state-of-the-art reviews in the area of hydrogel technology, with a specific focus on biotechnology and medicine. Written by leading experts, the contributions outline strategies for designing tunable hydrogels and offer a detailed evaluation of the physical and synthetic methods currently employed to achieve specific hydrogel properties and responsiveness. This highly informative book provides important theoretical and practical insights for scholars and researchers working with hydrogels for biomedical and biotechnological applications.

Control Applications for Biomedical Engineering Systems presents different control engineering and modeling applications in the biomedical field. It is intended for senior undergraduate or graduate students in both control engineering and biomedical engineering programs. For control engineering students, it presents the application of various techniques already learned in theoretical lectures in the biomedical arena. For biomedical engineering students, it presents solutions to various problems in the field using methods commonly used by control engineers.

This volume presents a timely recognition, warning and mapping of the fast approaching wave, or "bio-tsunami", of global socio-technical transformation, built by a much wider spectrum of converging powers, including biotechnology, new agriculture, novel foods, health, quality of life, environment, energy, sustainability, education, knowledge management, and design of smart applications. The book contains eight sections corresponding to different clusters of bioeconomic and socio-technical change, as identified by the editors' "Scanning the Horizon" foresight research; it also offers an integrated view of the future bioeconomy landscape though the convergence of several technologies that affect everyday life. The clusters offer methodologies for forecasting the future bioeconomy, and how these predictions can affect target-setting and the orientation of policies and actions to manage cultural and societal change, and achieve sustainable development in less developed areas. The book will be of interest to researchers, producers, logistics experts, policy makers, regulators, business and financial institutions, and biotechnologists (e.g. geneticists, food experts, etc.).

This book highlights the latest advances in bioMEMS for biosensing applications. It comprehensively reviews different detection methods, including colorimetric, fluorescence, luminescence, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, biochemiluminescence, and electrochemiluminescence, and presents various bioMEMS for each, together with recent examples. The book also offers an overview of the history of BioMEMS and the design and manufacture of the first bioMEMS-based devices.

Biomedical signal processing in the medical field has helped optimize patient care and diagnosis within medical facilities. As technology in this area continues to advance, it has become imperative to evaluate other ways these computation techniques could be implemented. Computational Tools and Techniques for Biomedical Signal Processing investigates high-performance computing techniques being utilized in hospital information systems. Featuring comprehensive coverage on various theoretical perspectives, best practices, and emergent research in the field, this book is ideally suited for computer scientists, information technologists, biomedical engineers, data-processing specialists, and medical physicists interested in signal processing within medical systems and facilities.

Globalization and industrialization involve a number of reactions, products, extractions, and separations that require the use of organic solvents. These solvents are responsible for a number of ecological concerns, including atmospheric and land toxicity. Conventional organic solvents are regarded as volatile organic compounds; some are even limited due to their potential for ozone layer depletion. While supercritical liquids exhibit physical properties that could make them ideal substitutes for these volatile compounds, there is particular interest in the use of carbon dioxide as a solvent of crude material. In particular, carbon dioxide has apparent 'green' properties, like its noncombustible nature, the fact that it is generally nonpoisonous, and its relative inertness. Thus, the use of supercritical carbon dioxide can provide practical improvements to the sustainability of industrial products and processes. This book provides in-depth literature in the area of industrial green processes, focusing on the separation, purification, and extraction of compounds utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent.