Magneto-Resistive Angle Transducers
Scholar: Anoop C. S.

Designed and developed novel Magneto-Resistance based angle transducers. These transducers offer numerous advantages like compactness, high-sensitivity, and low-cost over the conventional angle sensing schemes, and provide a linear output with-respect-to sensing angle across the full-circle range. In addition, new compact angle sensors, based on variable reluctance technique and Hall Effect principle, are also developed. These angle sensors retains the best features of its underlying principles, and are highly suited for applications, where the rotational-target is a through-shaft having inaccessible ends.

Online tool for locating metal shrapnel during surgery
Scholar: Mithun M. S.

Shrapnel injury is a major cause of death in victims of bomb blast, land mines and gun fire. Presently doctors rely on imaging systems to locate them before surgery. But since these images do not convey any real-time information, the shrapnel in some cases, may become untraceable during surgery in spite of being visible in the image. So in such cases, to help the surgeon to locate the shrapnel during surgery, a sensing probe has been realized with the help of Inductive proximity sensors and GMR sensors. These sensors use a novel excitation and are sensitive to a depth of 15 mm from them. They detect metal shrapnel of different kinds.

Simulation Platform for Ophthalmic Anesthesia
Scholar: Biswarup Mukherjee

Presently developing a manikin based simulation system for regional ophthalmic anesthesia training. It consists of a 3D printed anatomically accurate extra ocular muscle and orbital structure and a specially designed syringe system. A capacitive proximity detection scheme detects proximity and touch of syringe needle to ocular structures. A magnet and Hall Effect sensor also measures the rate of injection of anesthesia and displays it on a LabVIEW based Virtual Instrument.

Arterial Compliance evaluation using Ultrasound Signals
Scholar: Ashish Kumar Sahani

Evaluation of arterial compliance is very significant in early detection of coronary heart disease. An imageless portable system for automated estimation of local arterial compliance, designed to be operated by a general medical practitioner with no prior knowledge of ultrasonography is one of main focusses of the research. An algorithm for automatic detection and tracking of the arterial wall locations has been developed to minimize the operator expertise required for measurement. The performance of the automated algorithm was thoroughly characterized using a simulation platform developed for the purpose. The proposed system could be used for developing an inexpensive cardiovascular screening device for large scale deployment in primary health care centers.

Signal Conditioning Circuits for Capacitive Sensors
Scholar: Prashanth Vooka

Developed a Capacitance-to-Digital converter (CDC) which accepts an output from a capacitive sensor, which is excited electrically by a sinusoidal source, and provides a direct digital output proportional to change in capacitance. The CDC can be used in applications such as humidity sensing, human touch sensing, flow measurement, ice detection, etc.

Apnea sensing using Photoplethymograph
Scholar: Gaurav Shukla

Photoplethysmography(PPG) is a non invasive optical method to measure the change in blood volume at different location in body like ear lobe, nostril, finger, hand etc. Using PPG various cardio-vascular parameters like blood oxygen saturation level, heart pulse rate, respiratory rate, bilirubin etc. can be evaluated. Using the PPG in new born infants and measuring the blood oxygen saturation level, heart pulse rate and respiratory rate the heart rate variation, apnea and respiratory sinus arrhythmia can be continuously monitored. This work focuses on signal processing algorithms to detect apnea from PPG signals.

Detection of bilirubin using photoplethysmographic technique.
Scholar: Albina Nirupa Julius

In this project a method to detect bilirubin based on a model for propagation of light through tissue is explored. An extremity of the neonate is excited by light at three wavelengths (selected to enhance the contrast in detection of bilirubin) and the transmitted light is detected and analyzed to determine not only bilirubin but also oxygenated hemoglobin HbO2 and deoxygenated hemoglobin Hb. The device will be based on the absorption properties of the light and uses photoplethysmographic technique.

Magnetic Plethysmography
Scholar: Anand Chandrasekhar

A method has been proposed to extract blood flow information by studying the magnetic fluctuations in an ambient field created in the pulse points. The research mainly focuses on trying to extract a clinically relevant parameter called Pulse Wave Velocity(PWV) using a non-invasive transducer. Using the recorded PWV,  a rough prediction on the cardiovascular fitness of the patient can be made.

Improved Human Proximity Capacitive Sensor
Scholar: Abhishek Ranjan

In any two electrodes based capacitive human proximity sensors it is important sometimes to sense the changes in all three capacitances formed with reference to ground, in order to obtain additional information on position relative to the electrode. A new Capacitance-to-Digital-Converter (CDC) capable to measure changes in all three capacitors using the same setup has been developed and test for reliability .

Imaging algorithm for computing axonal transport velocities
Scholar: Alka Nair

This research focuses on computing axonal transport velocities from spatio-temporal maps called kymographs. Kymographs are developed from invivo time lapse fluorescence microscopy movies. We use a probabilistic frame work with multiple features, followed by extraction of spatially continuous structures in a semi-automated manner, to compute velocities of neuronal transport.

Resistive Capacitive Position Sensing
Scholar: Supriya V. T.

Currently working in the area of resistive and capacitive sensors, developing a system  to sense linear position using a non- contact resistive position transducer.  A prototype signal conditioning circuit developed linearizes the output from this transducer and present work involves implementation of the scheme by suitably modifying a commercially available resistive potentiometer.

Monitoring of tissue health using Photoplethysmography
Scholar: Srinivasa Karthik

Reflectance based PPG can be used to obtain information on oxygenation , blood flow, changes in blood flow in a tissue. Reflectance probes offer wider flexibility in the range of anatomy that can be monitored, unlike traditional transmittance probes that can be used only at extremities. A versatile multi-channel hardware platform, supporting multiple dual-wavelength PPG probes was developed to enable quick characterization of different probe designs and concepts. This platform can be used to develop dedicated PPG devices in conjunction with an embedded controller or used as a comprehensive test platform while connected to a PC. Comprehensive virtual instrumentation has also been developed for system control, transducer excitation and automated signal processing and measurement. Current work is focused on the development of reflectance probes and measurement systems for use in post surgical scenarios.

Vascular compliance measurement using imageless ultrasound signal
Scholar: Malay Shah

This research focus on the integration of ECG sensor with  Arterial Compliance measurement probe. It also involves development of novel algorithms for signal quality estimation of ultrasound RF signals and  automatic arterial wall detection.

Computer-assisted retinal Image analysis techniques
Scholar: Garima Gupta

Research work is on Computer-assisted retinal Image analysis techniques which have the potential to bring the promise of preventive eye care for rapidly increasing at-risk Diabetic group. Currently,she is working on Red Lesion detection in diabetic retinal images with a future plan of extending her work to Blood vessel segmentation and detection of Neovascularization in Color Fundus Images.

Detection of bright lesions in retinal images
Scholar: Vaanathi Sundaresan

Currently working in the detection of bright lesions in retinal images for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) screening. Research is in the area of detection and quantification of drusen in Age Related macular Degeneration (ARMD).