BioMEMS applications in medicine

Biomedical microsystems (BioMEMS) integrate microscale sensors and actuators, microfluidics, micro-optics, and structural elements with computation, communications, and controls for application to medicine for the improvement of human health. Derived from the microfabrication technology used to make integrated circuits, BioMEMS is expected to revolutionize the way medicine is practiced and delivered. This paper presents an introductory overview of three new areas of BioMEMS in medicine: 1) surgical microsystems (intelligent micro-invasive surgical tools); 2) diagnostic microsystems (biochips and related microinstrumentation); and 3) therapeutic microsystems (health care management systems). Some representative examples based on the work carried out at the University of Minnesota are presented including: 1) MEMS in precision surgery-ophthalmology; 2) MEMS in biomolecular recognition; and 3) MEMS in autonomous therapy management systems - micropumps for drug delivery. Selected human clinical trials of the application of BioMEMS are presented.