Advisor(s)
S Abdollah Mirbozorgi
Committee Member(s)
Aleksandar Milenkovic
Karthikeyan Lingasubramanian
Leon Jololian
Nuria Vendrell Llopis
School
School of Engineering
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Computer Engineering
Date of Award
1-6-2025
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) has become a major health crisis, affecting up to 95% of the 38.4 million diabetes cases in the United States and costing approximately $327 billion annually. Current treatments mainly focus on symptom management rather than reversing the disease. However, clinical observations suggest a promising link between certain stomach surgeries, such as the removal of the upper stomach, and diabetes reversal within a year. This raises the possibility of anatomical changes influencing diabetes outcomes, though the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This dissertation is organized into three interconnected research segments, each contributing to a platform that deepens our understanding of diabetes progression from a peripheral nerve activity perspective. The first segment focuses on developing a wireless diabetes implant capable of recording and stimulating neural activity from multiple sites in the body, ideally in a continuous 24/7 capacity. This implant targets the vagus nerve to explore its role in diabetes reversal and glucose regulation. To ensure continuous operation without a battery, we designed a robust wireless power transfer (WPT) system based on a multi-coil array configuration. The second segment elaborates on this WPT system, adaptable to various body locations, ensuring reliable energy transfer to both superficial and deeply placed implants. Diabetes outcomes are also influenced by external factors such as food, exercise, and medication. To monitor these effects, it is essential to track physical activity in a natural, stress-free environment. Prior to human trials, the WPT technology was adapted for use in animal studies. The design was scaled down into a home-cage WPT link for wireless power transfer while allowing free movement within the cage. This led to the third segment: developing a Multi-Resonator Multi-Resonance Passive Sensing Link. This system uses a multi-coil array to monitor the location and posture of small animals, offering scalability, cost-efficiency, and continuous operation. All three segments are unified by the principles of electromagnetic induction and resonant coupling, using a shared multi-coil array configuration-based inductive link design. This cohesive platform offers a holistic approach to studying diabetes from a neural perspective and presents a significant step toward innovative, neural-based interventions for T2D.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Saha, Reepa, "Scalable Resonance-Based Multi-Coil Inductive Links For Wireless Power Transmission And Passive Sensing In Biomedical Applications" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7277.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7277
