Open Access
Automated forearm prosthesis controlling using fiber bragg grating sensor
(Sociedade Brasileira de Microondas e Optoeletrônica e Sociedade Brasileira de Eletromagnetismo, 2023) Valera Rialto Júnior, Péricles; Dureck, Eduardo Henrique; Kalinowski, Alessandra; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Cardozo da Silva, Jean Carlos; Lazzaretti, André Eugenio; Dreyer, Uilian José; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
This paper describes the automation of a forearm prosthesis using the signal collected by a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor. The FBG sensor is applied to one subject's forearm to measure the deformation as a result of the index and middle fingers when moved individually. It is possible to control a one joint model prosthesis allied to a compliant hand mechanism through signal analyses. Each finger movement has its features, such as its amplitude, which opens the possibility of using those to control different parts of the prosthesis, joint rotation by the middle finger, and compliant hand movement by the index finger. This paper presents results regarding prosthesis assembling, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) communication latency between prosthesis and computer and tests with pre-acquired and processed FBG signal data. The prosthesis wrist rotation movement is related to the middle finger signal, and its compliant mechanism actuation is due to index finger signal. The communication between prosthesis and the computer had a mean latency of 140 ms and a standard deviation of 18 ms. The results demonstrate the potential for using the sensor system and automated prosthesis in other applications involving real-time forearm sensing, multi-finger signal analysis, and prosthetic movement.
Open Access
Ultrahigh sensitive detection of tau protein as Alzheimer's biomarker via microfluidics and nanofunctionalized optical fiber sensors
(Wiley, 2022) Chiavaioli, Francesco; Santano Rivero, Desiree; Del Villar, Ignacio; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Zhang, Xuejun; Li, Kaiwei; Santamaría Martínez, Enrique; Fernández Irigoyen, Joaquín; Baldini, Francesco; Van den Hove, Daniel L. A.; Shi, Lei; Bi, Wei; Guo, Tuan; Giannetti, Ambra; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative illnesses displaying the highest death rate in the elderly. However, the existing AD diagnostic system remains elusive due to lack of a technology that may ensure enough sensitivity and reproducibility, detection accuracy, and specificity. Herein, a straightforward approach is reported to realize lab-on-fiber (LoF) technology for AD biomarker detection based on a D-shaped single-mode fiber combined with nanometer-scale metal-oxide film. The proposed sensing system, which permits the generation of lossy-mode resonance (LMR), remarkably increases the evanescent field of light guided through the fiber, and hence the fiber-surrounding medium interaction. Moreover, such optical sensors are highly repeatable in results and can safely be embedded into a compact and stable microfluidic system. Herein, the specific detection of Tau protein (as one of the classical AD biomarkers that is highly correlated with AD progression) in a complex biofluid with a detection limit of 10 12 M and over a wide concentration range (10 3 –10 μg mL 1 ) is successfully demonstrated. The proposed LoF biosensor is an appealing solution for rapid, sub-microliter dose and highly sensitive detection of analytes at low concentrations, hereby having the potential toward early screening and personalized medicine in AD.
Open Access
Monitoring of water freeze-thaw cycle by means of an etched single-mode - multimode - single-mode fiber-optic refractometer
(IEEE, 2023) Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Aginaga Etxamendi, Concepción Isabel; Díaz Lucas, Silvia; Urrutia Azcona, Aitor; Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
As an alternative to the different technologies that permit the detection of in-situ ice formation on different surfaces, this contribution proposes the design of an etched single-mode – multimode – single-mode (E-SMS) fiber-optic-based structure as a multimode interference refractometer. This sensor provides enhanced properties with respect to a basic SMS structure, including a higher sensitivity and periodical interferometry bands that can measure surrounding refractive indices with repeatability and robustness. Since ice and water refractive indices are sufficiently different, this structure has been used to detect the freezing - thawing process of water taking place inside a freezer between -20°C and +20°C. Also, this work intends to show a proof of concept of a simple technology that can be applied in different situations, such as in smart cities, avionics, structural health monitoring or even to avoid a cold chain breakage. Inside, novel developments to better understand the working operation of the E-SMS structure are shown, together with a study on how to correlate optical and thermal measurements from a refractive index point of view.
Open Access
Direct functionalization of TiO2/PSS sensing layer for an LMR-based optical fiber reusable biosensor
(IEEE, 2023) Santano Rivero, Desiree; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Del Villar, Ignacio; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA2033
Functionalization plays a crucial role in the development of biosensors. In this study, bioreceptors were directly immobilized onto the surface of a sensing layer after physical activation, avoiding the need for longer and more complex functionalization systems. This direct immobilization was applied to an optical sensing platform based on lossy mode resonances (LMRs) generated by a thin-film of titanium (IV) dioxide/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (TiO 2 /PSS). To generate the LMR, a 200-micron bare optical fiber was coated with TiO 2 /PSS using the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique. The PSS of the sensing layer was then physically activated using either UV-ozone or plasma to immobilize anti-rabbit IgG bioreceptors. This enabled specific and label-free detection of rabbit IgG concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 2 mg/ml. The results presented in this work include real-time detection of rabbit IgG, a comparison between the two activation techniques (UV-ozone and plasma), and an analysis of the biosensor’s reusability over four consecutive cycles, which demonstrates the promising potential of the TiO 2 /PSS sensing layer for biosensing applications.
Open Access
Application of active methodologies based on real cases - university-industry collaboration
(IEEE, 2024-08-01) Andueza Unanua, Ángel María; Urrutia Azcona, Aitor; Erro Betrán, María José; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Leandro González, Daniel; Elosúa Aguado, César; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Goicoechea Fernández, Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PINNE2022-UPNA
During the last academic years, the industrial electronics specialties of the Industrial Engineering Bachelor's Degrees of the Public University of Navarra (UPNA) suffered a gradual loss of students. In order to reverse this trend, a teaching innovation project was designed based on the planned use of active learning methodologies in collaboration with Navarra's leading companies in industrial electronics. The project aims to enhance student learning by making teaching more engaging and practical, as well as boost the social visibility of electronics by improving the perception among students of this strategic industrial sector in the region of Navarra.
Open Access
Optical system based on multiplexed FBGs to monitor hand movements
(IEEE, 2021) Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Díaz Lucas, Silvia; Castillo, Silvia; Dreyer, Uilian José; Martelli, Cicero; Cardozo da Silva, Jean Carlos; Uzqueda Esteban, Itziar; Gómez Fernández, Marisol; Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
This contribution reports the development and characterization of an optical system based on parallel Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) to monitor the movements of the wrist and fingers of a hand. The system consisted of a reflective configuration made of FBGs detecting the movements of the fingers and one more located on the wrist as a reference. All FBGs were multiplexed in order to collect the basic movements of the hand. Fibers were embedded in polydimethylsiloxane for protection and to give flexibility to the optical detection setup. Measurements of strain, angle and torsion were performed during the experiments, obtaining sensitivities up to 1.29 pm/ \mu \varepsilon in strain and 64.23 pm/° in angle. Also, a study on the influence of a single sensor on the performance of the whole system was analyzed for a complete study of this proof of concept. The obtained results present a simple system that can be used to monitor the positions of the hand or for the rehabilitation of patients suffering from neuromotor or post-stroke diseases.
Open Access
Biophotonic platform for detection of hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease via combined microfluidics and nanofunctionalized fiber sensors
(IEEE, 2023) Santano Rivero, Desiree; Lijiao, Zu; Jiwei, Xie; Peng, Liu; Zhang, Xuejun; Shi, Lei; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Giannetti, Ambra; Baldini, Francesco; Santamaría Martínez, Enrique; Fernández Irigoyen, Joaquín; Li, Kaiwei; Bi, Wei; Van den Hove, Daniel L. A.; Del Villar, Ignacio; Guo, Tuan; Chiavaioli, Francesco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
The emergence of Covid-19 pandemic has drawn large attention to vulnerable people affected by major diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the predominant type of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases [1]. A long-standing challenge is to attain early diagnosis of AD hallmarks (tau protein, ¿P; amyloid beta, A¿) by detecting them in biological fluids, thus avoiding the labor of specialized hospital personnel and the high cost of imaging examinations. Different biological fluids are being used to detect AD biomarkers, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum, blood-plasma [2]. Biomarker level in CSF has been shown to increase in the very early stages of the disease where its elevated value makes higher the risk of a quicker development of AD dementia. Traditional methods for biomarker detection are mostly based on ELISA or mass spectrometry, which possess well-known disadvantages in comparison with electrochemical or optical approaches [3,4].
Open Access
Thin film coated D-shaped fiber regenerable biosensor
(Optica, 2020) Santano Rivero, Desiree; Ciáurriz Gortari, Paula; Tellechea Malda, Edurne; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
We present a novel covalent functionalization of a D-shape fiber biosensor based on Lossy Mode Resonances. IgG/anti-IgG model is applied to prove the regeneration of the union and thus the re-usability of the sensor.
Open Access
Lossy mode resonance based microfluidic platform developed on planar waveguide for biosensing applications
(MDPI, 2022) Benítez Pérez, Melanys; Zubiate Orzanco, Pablo; Del Villar, Ignacio; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The development of resonance phenomena-based optical biosensors has gained relevance in recent years due to the excellent optical fiber properties and progress in the research on materials and techniques that allow resonance generation. However, for lossy mode resonance (LMR)-based sensors, the optical fiber presents disadvantages, such as the need for splicing the sensor head and the complex polarization control. To avoid these issues, planar waveguides such as coverslips are easier to handle, cost-effective, and more robust structures. In this work, a microfluidic LMR-based planar waveguide platform was proposed, and its use for biosensing applications was evaluated by detecting anti-immunoglobulin G (anti-IgG). In order to generate the wavelength resonance, the sensor surface was coated with a titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin-film. IgG antibodies were immobilized by covalent binding, and the detection assay was carried out by injecting anti-IgG in PBS buffer solutions from 5 to 20 μg/mL. The LMR wavelength shifted to higher values when increasing the analyte concentration, which means that the proposed system was able to detect the IgG/anti-IgG binding. The calibration curve was built from the experimental data obtained in three repetitions of the assay. In this way, a prototype of an LMR-based biosensing microfluidic platform developed on planar substrates was obtained for the first time
Open Access
IIoT low-cost Zigbee-based WSN implementation for enhanced production efficiency in a solar protection curtains manufacturing workshop
(MDPI, 2024) Klaina, Hicham; Picallo Guembe, Imanol; López Iturri, Peio; Biurrun, Aitor; Alejos, Ana V.; Azpilicueta Fernández de las Heras, Leyre; Socorro Leránoz, Abián Bentor; Falcone Lanas, Francisco; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren
Nowadays, the Industry 4.0 concept and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are considered essential for the implementation of automated manufacturing processes across various industrial settings. In this regard, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are crucial due to their inherent mobility, easy deployment and maintenance, scalability, and low power consumption, among other benefits. In this context, the presented paper proposes an optimized and low-cost WSN based on ZigBee communication technology for the monitoring of a real manufacturing facility. The company designs and manufactures solar protection curtains and aims to integrate the deployed WSN into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in order to optimize their production processes and enhance production efficiency and cost estimation capabilities. To achieve this, radio propagation measurements and 3D ray launching simulations were conducted to characterize the wireless channel behavior and facilitate the development of an optimized WSN system that can operate in the complex industrial environment presented and validated through on-site wireless channel measurements, as well as interference analysis. Then, a low-cost WSN was implemented and deployed to acquire real-time data from different machinery and workstations, which will be integrated into the ERP system. Multiple data streams have been collected and processed from the shop floor of the factory by means of the prototype wireless nodes implemented. This integration will enable the company to optimize its production processes, fabricate products more efficiently, and enhance its cost estimation capabilities. Moreover, the proposed system provides a scalable platform, enabling the integration of new sensors as well as information processing capabilities.