Development of Low Cost Rapid Detection Microwave Biosensors for Efficient Diagnosis

of Health Risks in Rural Zones of India

Pilot proposal submitted toMinistry of Human Resource Development

Under the Scheme on“National Mission on Education through Information and Technology”

Dr. K. S. DayaMicrowave Physics Laboratory

Department of physics & Computer ScienceDayalbagh Educational Institute

Dayalbagh, Agra –282 110

Technology advancements in the field of healthcare and biological sciences has overwhelmingly influenced our lifestyle and lifespan.

Advanced technologies today seem incomplete due to the complexity of the biological systems and for its drawbacks in providing easy and fast information as it require highly priced consumables, considerable time and skilled manpower, none of which are easily available. Hence…understanding the health risks and the health status of individuals in the rural India has not been viable till date.Over half the population of India lives in rural or geographically challenging locations, thus any statistics available on the health is incomplete.

Motivation

Objective for the Pilot Phase

Technological advancement in different fields have greatly affected the lifestyle of people globally and rural zones have been no exception to these oblivious changes which are posing grave health hazards to the old and young of the rural community.

Until the 1970s, it was widely believed that the prevalence of diabetes in India was low compared to the western world. But recent statistics now show that India has the world's largest diabetic population.

Today, India has 25 million diabetic patients, more than any other country, and the number is expected to rise to 35 million by 2010 and to 57 million by 2025!

Development of NON-INVASIVE PLANAR BLOOD GLUCOMETER.

And another major health safety concern is …

Ensuring the supply of safe drinking water in India is a constitutional

mandate, with the Article 47

‘Both surface water and ground water should be regularly monitored for quality’

- National Water Policy (2002) of India

Objective for the Pilot Phase

Since the First Five-Year Plan in 1951, investments made in water and sanitation have been estimated at

Rs 1105 billion. Yet, it has been estimated that

• around 37.7 million Indians are affected by water-borne diseases annually,

• 1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhea alone• 73 million working days are lost due to water-borne diseases each year. • The resulting economic burden is estimated at US$ 600 million a year.

Clearly, the health benefits in terms of reduction in water-borne diseases have not been commensurate with the

investments made.

Objective for the Pilot Phase

The “Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission” (RGNDWM) was launched in 2006 to undertake the assessment of all drinking water sources……..

However, as on date less than 50% of all the rural water sources have only been analysed, due to factors such as the lack of skilled man power and inadequately equipped laboratories. Weak links in the supply chain for transporting the reagents and chemicals to remote locations“THUS MONITORING IS THE WEAKEST LINK IN THE SYSTEM THAT WORKS TO

PROVIDE SAFE WATER IN RURAL INDIA.” ( Source :- CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL.97, NO.3, 10 AUGUST 2009)

Objective for the Pilot Phase

Objective for the Pilot Phase

To demonstrate a NON-INVASIVE PLANAR MICROWAVE SENSOR for BLOOD GLUCOSE DETECTION

To demonstrate RAPID DETECTION MICROWAVE SENSOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN DRINKING WATER

Rapid Detection Microwave Bio-sensorsNon Invasive Blood Glucometer

Low cost, NO-PRICK and easy to use solution for continuous self monitoring of blood glucose .

Thus there is an immediate need for a easy and safe solution which will overcome:-

The psychological hassle to a prick.Blood related safety concerns (infections)Requirement of skilled manpower.Requirements of consumables of conventional ready to use invasive gluco-meters.

And …Provides with an indigenous and user friendly self monitoring systems to the under privileged and elderly

Working Principle

• Microwave sensors are based on the interaction between microwaves and matter. When the electric field passes through the dielectric medium, electric field affects medium parameter called permittivity (dielectric constant)

• Measuring the dielectric properties of a material can indirectly measure other properties that have a correlation to the material

• Dielectric constant of blood increases with increase in glucose level in blood

Proof of Principle

Microstrip line type sensor

Sensitivity : 8.71 mg/dl per MHz % Error : 15%

Pressure Sensitive

Radiative Structures

Drawbacks of Microstripline sensors

Sensitivity depends on perturbation introduced to the radiative fields.

Design for overcoming the drawbacks

Requirements

• Non radiative structure• Low loss guiding medium• Pressure independent

SLOT LINE STRUCTURE

Simulation Results

Frequency shift and Glucose level in blood

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 1800

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Shift in Frequency (MHz)

Blo

od G

luco

se L

evel

(mg/

dl)

Percentage ErrorFor slot spiral (Simulated) 1.19%

For microstrip spiral 15%

Sensitivity of GlucometerFor slot spiral (simulated) 2.25mg/dl per MHz

For microstrip spiral 8.71 mg/dl per MHz

Comparison of Microstrip and Slot line Sensors

ADVANTAGES

• Microwave sensors are very sensitive to change in dielectric constant and most of the bacteria commonly found in water are high dielectric proteins

• Microwave sensor does not require any reagents or chemical, thus an indigenous solution without interdependencies

• Unlike biological methods, results are immediate

• Easy to use • No technical expertise required• Can be a completely portable systems• No reagents or chemical required, thus

eliminating the need of supply chain for transporting chemicals to remote locations

• Gives autonomy to the user resulting in better health safety concern

Other Benefits

TIMELINE & DELIVERABLES

Time Line Deliverable Milestones0th month Project kick off3rd Month Designing of resonator 6th Month Identifcation of

suitable dielectric material and simulation of glucometer sensors

9th Month Spiking studies for the presence of bacteria.

1st Miles stone

12th Month Live testing of gluco sensors.

2nd Mile stone.

Non-Recurring INR 1.28 Crore

Recurring INR 0.441 Crore

Total INR 1.73 Crore

PROPOSED BUDGET

THANK YOU !!