ANN ARBOR—A smart, hand-held, electronic nose can sniff out explosives and also detect markers in a person’s breath that would indicate tuberculosis. A solar-powered, implantable eye pressure sensor could improve the treatment of glaucoma patients. A cochlear implant built using microchip technology promises to dramatically improve the hearing that these devices offer the deaf.

Game-changing technologies such as these that could save and improve lives are becoming realities thanks to a decade of collaborative research in the Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems (WIMS), headquartered at the University of Michigan. Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University are also partners.

The WIMS center, established in 2000 by a 10-year grant from the National Science Foundation, celebrates its decennial on May 18 on U-M’s North Campus. With visitors from the NSF, center officials will look back at accomplishments and impacts, and forward to a future of continuing to innovate and grow the regional economy even as the center graduates from federal seed funding. The center will expand its industrial program, working with companies to turn their ideas into product prototypes by leveraging the Robert H. Lurie Nanofabrication Facility.

Technology developed through the WIMS center has spawned 11 startup companies that have created 130 jobs, while enhancing products at established firms has led to an additional 1,500 jobs, according to the center’s final report to NSF. A 2007 study commissioned by the NSF estimated the impact of the center on the state of Michigan at $256 million during its first seven years. Over the 10-year period, that impact is estimated at $400 million.

“In critical areas such as health care, environmental monitoring and national security, wireless integrated microsystems are expected to become pervasive during the next two decades,” said Ken Wise, center director and a professor in the U-M Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “We’re developing some of the leading technologies in the world.”

The electronic nose, eye pressure sensor and cochlear implant have been demonstrated and tested, or are about to be.

Electronic nose: U-M researchers have successfully tested a cell-phone-sized gas analyzer that can quickly and cheaply diagnose tuberculosis in the developing world based on markers in a patient’s breath. A slightly larger version has been built for a project funded by the Army Research Laboratory to robotically detect explosives in combat situations and will be showcased at the decennial on May 18.

Eye pressure sensor: The solar-powered eye pressure sensor utilizes a record-low-power microprocessor and could be inserted and removed with no sutures. A working version is expected to be available for testing in the fall. This device could make it much easier and more convenient for glaucoma patients to measure eye pressure, which must be closely regulated to avoid vision loss. Today, patients must travel to a doctor’s office for readings.

Cochlear implant: Cochlear implants work by bypassing damaged hair cells in the ear to directly stimulate the auditory nerve electronically. Traditionally, they?re built with bundles of wire electrodes. It’s hard to get these wires properly positioned, Wise says. And there’s room for no more than 20 or so. Researchers are using photolithographic techniques borrowed from integrated circuit making to fashion a thin-film array of as many as 100 electrodes to improve perceived pitch and frequency range. Some of these devices are now being tested.

“Our superb faculty and staff coupled with our leading-edge facilities give us capabilities in nanotechnology and wireless integrated microsystems that are unmatched anywhere,” said David Munson, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering. “The Lurie lab and the WIMS center are regional, national and global resources.”

Events relating to the decennial take place 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 18. From 8:20-9:05 a.m., Wise will discuss accomplishments and impacts. Other presentations will detail accomplishments in microsystems research, education and industrial collaboration. Tours of the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility will begin at 3 p.m. For a full agenda, email [email protected].

The talks will be in the General Motors Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Lurie Engineering Center at 1221 Beal in Ann Arbor on U-M’s North Campus. Directions and a map are online at http://uuis.umich.edu/cic/buildingproject/index.cfm?BuildingID=90.

The University of Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top engineering schools in the country. At $160 million annually, its engineering research budget is one of largest of any public university. Michigan Engineering is home to 11 academic departments and a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center. The College plays a leading role in the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute and hosts the world-class Lurie Nanofabrication Facility. Michigan Engineering’s premier scholarship, international scale and multidisciplinary scope combine to create The Michigan Difference. Find out more at www.engin.umich.edu.

Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems