Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.10
Micro-stent for reduced section arteries. Courtesy of Nanoscribe GmbH (
www.nano-
procedures provided by the use of stent designs based on auxetic geometries (please
see Sects.
7.3
and
7.4
)
, should be taken into account in future research.
Several biodevices based on the use of metamaterials for promoting special
features, as those mentioned in Sect.
7.3
(not only stents but also minimally invasive
implantable annuloplasty rings, devices for treating septal defects also minimally
invasive, planar auxetic structures for cell growth oriented to limiting the appear-
ance of wrinkles after implantation, among others), would also benefi t from micro-
metric manufacture through direct laser writing.
The prototype included in Fig.
12.11
helps to validate the manufacture of 3D
hollow nano-fl uidic channels. Such nano-fl uidic channels can fi nd many relevant
applications in the fi eld of “lab-on-a-chip” systems and micro-devices for rapid
diagnosis. Compared with the “lab-on-a-chip” systems made by conventional UV
photolithography, they provide many advantages, that is, lower fl uid volumes (drugs
and expensive reactives) consumption, faster analysis and response times, simple
industrial scalability, better process control, etc.
They can potentially contribute to the development of “point-of-care” testing
devices, thus making possible in-time disease diagnosis in remote areas and even
without the need of highly qualifi ed medical personnel.
Regarding the manufacture of micro-/nano-cantilever structures and micro-/
nano-hollow channels present technology provides several advantages, when com-
pared with those attainable by chemical micromachining, by combining UV lithog-
raphy and etching processes. First of all precision is higher (around 10-20 times
Search WWH ::
Custom Search