EM4Health 2025 Abstracts

Area 1 - EM4Health

Full Papers

Paper Nr:	1
Title:	Development of Optrodes and Instrumentation for Wireless Optogenetic Application
Authors:	H. E. Oshiro, R. A. P. Andrade, J. N. S. Junior, M. Luppe, E. Colombari, M. C. Dias and J. P. Carmo
Abstract:	Optogenetics combines optical and genetic techniques to control and monitor neuronal activities. Recent efforts focus on developing portable and wireless electronics for optical activation and biopotential acquisition. These advancements aim to offer greater mobility and freedom for studying animals, contrasting with the large equipment commonly found in laboratories for laser activation, signal amplification, and data acquisition. This study presents the development of a wireless optrode system for optogenetics, integrating optical stimulation and biopotential acquisition in a compact, portable format.
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Paper Nr:	2
Title:	A Low-Noise Amplifier in Submicron CMOS for Neural Recording on Optogenetics Applications
Authors:	H. E. Oshiro, R. A. P. Andrade, J. N. S. Junior, M. Luppe, E. Colombari, M. C. Dias and J. P. Carmo
Abstract:	Optogenetics combines optical and genetic techniques to control and monitor neuronal activities. Recent efforts seek the development of portable and even wireless electronics for optical activation and acquisition of biopotentials, aiming to offer greater mobility and freedom to study animals, in contrast to the large equipment commonly found in laboratories that perform the activation of lasers, signal amplifiers and acquisition. In this context, this paper reports on the design and simulation of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to acquire neural signals on optogenetics applications. The simulations showed that with the nominal voltage supply of 1.8V this LNA is able to amplify neuronal signals in the range of 0.3Hz up to 172kHz with a gain of 39.3dB, while rejecting DC offsets generated at the interface between the electrodes. The simulations also showed that with variations of 20% with relation to the nominal voltage supply, the worse cases of the lower and higher cut-off frequencies were 0.3Hz (increased) and 51.3kHz (decreased), respectively. Moreover, under these stressing conditions the gain had a variation between 36.8dB for the worst scenario and 40dB for the best scenario. These results are more than enough to meet the bandwidth requirements on optogenetics and it can be concluded that the specifications of the LNA are not affected by the useful life of batteries under the aforementioned voltage variation range. The power consumption of the system is around 64μW from a 1.8V voltage supply. This LNA was designed in the 6 metals/1 poly 0.18m CMOS process from UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation) and occupies an area of 0.092mm2.
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Paper Nr:	3
Title:	Millimeter-Wave Systems for Real-Time Intraoperative Brain Tumor Resection Assistance
Authors:	H. Lopes, P. M. Mendes and H. Dinis
Abstract:	Brain cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer due to limited treatment options and challenges in tumor differentiation during surgery. Current surgical assistance tools, such as intraoperative imaging systems and advanced visualization techniques, often face limitations in cost, accessibility, and precision. Microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) technologies have emerged as promising alternatives for real-time, non-invasive differentiation of healthy and cancerous brain tissues, leveraging their sensitivity to dielectric property variations. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art microwave and mmWave systems developed for medical diagnostics, focusing on brain tumor detection. It highlights their underlying principles, performance, and limitations while discussing their potential to address the drawbacks of existing tools. By analyzing recent advancements, the review identifies key areas for future development, proposing characteristics of an ideal system to support real-time surgical decision-making. Additionally, the paper proposes a system designed to measure the dielectric properties of the brain tissue, aiming to enhance real-time surgical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
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Paper Nr:	4
Title:	Low-Cost Photoacoustic System for Biomedical Applications
Authors:	João Ferreira, Vânia Pinto, Tiago Matos, Susana O. Catarino, Graça Minas and Paulo Sousa
Abstract:	Recently, the field of photoacoustic (PA) imaging has garnered significant attention due to its ability to provide high-resolution images and real-time monitoring of biological tissues. However, PA systems have relied on expensive and complex laser sources and detection mechanisms, limiting their accessibility for widespread use in both clinical and research settings. So, this work aims to address these limitations by presenting the development of an alternative low-cost photoacoustic system, with an estimated cost of less than 700€, based on a Q-switched solid-state Nd:Ce:YAG nanosecond laser and a highly sensitive system for acoustic detection. PA data acquisition and image reconstruction were implemented and validated with pencil lead phantoms. The developed system shows a high potential to provide a low-cost tool that can be used in several biomedical applications.
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