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FINAL REPORT Submitted to GE Government Services, Inc. Houston, Texas 77058 February 10, 1992 ADVANCED SENSORS TECHNOLOGY SURVEY Approvals: Arthur E. Schulze Vice-president Lovelace Scientific Resources, Inc. Daniel W. Barineau Job Order Task Manager GE Government Services David R. Proctor 2 Job Order Task Manager NASA/ JSC 012 ADVANCED SENSORS TECHNOLOGY SURVEY TEAM MEMBERS LOVELACE SCIENTIFIC RESOURCES, INC. - x, Project Manager: Arthur E. Schulze, P.E. Contributors: Tommy G. Cooper, P.E. CCS, Inc. David J. Costello Optex, Inc. Jerry G. Davis LSR, Inc. Richard L. Horst, Ph.D. Man-Made Systems Corp. Charles S. Lessard, Ph.D. Texas A&M University H. Herbert Peel Southwest Research Institute Robert Tolliver LSR, Inc. GE GOVERNMENT SERVICES Task Manager: Daniel W. Barineau NASA/JOHNSON SPACE CENTER Task Manager: David R. Proctor TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE NO, TABLE OF CONTENTS . .1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . .1 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS . 13 1.0 INTRODUCTION . 15 1.1 OBJECTIVES . 15 1.2 METHODOLOGY. 15 1.3 SCOPE . 16 2.0 WHAT IS ADVANCED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY? . 17 2.1 DEFINITIONS . 17 2.2 DESCRIPTIONS . 19 2.3 TWO "SMART' SENSOR EXAMPLES . 21 3.0 NASA PROGRAM APPLICATIONS . 25 3.1 BACKGROUND . 25 3.2 "SMART' SENSOR USAGE IN THE BMAC PROGRAM . 26 3.2.1 Smart Electrophysiological Sensors . 26 3.2.2 Smart Physical Transducer Sensors . 27 3.2.3. Smart Chemically Active Sensors . 29 3.3 WIRELESS SENSOR AND CONTROL PACKAGES . 35 3.4 SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ISSUES . 36 3.4.1 Medical Information Bus . 39 3.4.2 Smart Sensor/MIB/SSF Relationships . 44 3.5 HUMANFACTORSISSUES . 44 3.5.1 Human Factors Guidelines and Standards . 45 3.5.2 User-System Interfaces and Input Devices . 46 3.5.3 Display Technology for Monitoring . 48 3.5.4 Closed-Loop Systems Applications . 50 3.6 IMPEDIMENTS TO SMART SENSOR DEVELOPMENT . 50 4.0 CURRENT AND FUTURE €IARDWARE/SOFTWARE . 53 4.1 GENERAL . 53 4.2 DATAPROCESSING . 53 4.2.1 Digital Signal Processing . 53 4.2.2 Portable Signal Conditioning Units . 55 i I 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) 1 SECTION PAGE NO. 4.3 DATAACQUISITION . 56 1 4.3.1 Ambulatory Monitoring . 56 4.3.2 Stationary Monitoring . 57 4.3.3 Biotelemetry Technology . 58 1 4.4 DATASTORAGE . 60 4.4.1 Smart Sensors and Biomedical Recording . 61 4.4.2 Solid-state Data Recorders . 61 1 4.4.3 Activity Loggers . 62 4.4.4 Smart Cards . 63 4.5 ADVANCED PHYSICAL SENSORS . 63 1 4.5.1 Micromachined Silicon Technology . 64 4.5.2 Pressure Sensors . 65 4.5.3 Accelerometers . 69 1 4.6 MISCELLANEOUS "SMART' TECHNOLOGIES . 71 4.6.1 A/D Converters . 72 4.6.2 Modelling/Artificial Intelligence . 72 1 4.6.3 Smart House . 73 4.6.4 Chemistry Analysis . 73 4.6.5 Multi-Feature Sensors . 74 1 5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 77 1 APPENDICES . 89 1 Appendix A--References . 91 Appendix B--Executive Summary, Sensors 2000! Program . 103 Appendix C--Sensor Tutorials . 111 1 Electrodes . 112 Electromechanical (Sounds) . 117 Phonocardiography . 121 1 Auscultatory Measurement of Blood Pressure . 123 Phot oplet hy smogr aphy . 126 Chemical Sensor Technology . 129 1 Piezoresistive Silicon Pressure Sensors . 138 Appendix D--Device Data Sheets and Brochures . 139 1 1 ii 1 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I 2 I PROJECT OBJECTIVES I To assess the state-of-the-art in advanced or "smart" sensors technology for NASA Life Sciences research applications with an emphasis on those sensors with potential applica- tions on the SSF 1 0 Conduct literature reviews on relevant advanced sensor technology I 0 Interview various scientists and engineers in industry, academia, and government who are knowledgeable on this topic 1 0 Provide viewpoints and opinions regarding the potential applications of this technology on the SSF I 0 Provide summary charts of relevant technologies and centers where these technologies are being developed I 1 1 I I I I I I I I 1 3 I PROJECT METHODOLOGY 0 A team of experienced biomedical technologists in both industry and academia was selected to provide comprehensive coverage of the I topics 0 Each expert covered his area of expertise using literature reviews, inter- I views, and personal opinions 0 The written reports were combined, compiled, and edited for submittal as a 1 final report I I 4 BACKGROUND I 0 Various biomedical sensors, with considerable overlap in function, have been used by NASA in the past I 0 Each sensor has had its special-purpose processor circuitry attached which prompted an unnecessary proliferation of hardware configurations I 0 Life Sciences research-intensive installations, such as Spacelab, have demonstrated the need for systems planning to simplify future I sensor deployment activities I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 0 The SSF represents an opportunity to integrate a new systems approach to I multiple sensors and to their signal processing interfaces 0 "Smart" sensor technology holds a promise for solving life science research 1 instrument deployment problems on spacecraft of the future I ORIGINAL PAGE BLACK AND:WHITE PHOTOGRAPH I 5 WHAT IS A "SMART"SENSOR? A "smart"sensor is a device which contains, within the.same enclosure, both sensing and signal processing functions and, perhaps, also contains controls and actuators. Sensor-incorporated functions include: 0 Environmental Compensation 0 Signal Conversion 0 Diagnostics 0 Communications 6 GENERALIZED BLOCK DIAGRAM OF A "SMART SENSOR Analog - Serial - Parallel I w I Transducer 1 Hlsolatione I 5. Transducer 2 !h 1 Transducer 3 ~lsolation~ 3 External I I 1 I L 1 1 I - 1 I I I I 1 COWNICATION & POWFR BUS 1 1 7 SYSTEM ADVANTAGES DERIVED FROM USE OF "SMART"SENSORS 0 Improved performance, accuracy, and reliability 0 Minimized setup and calibration time by the user 0 Distributed signal processing and system intelligence 0 Reduced transducer inventory due to the multifunctionality and adaptability provided by programmability 0 Reduced central processor workload 0 Reduced communication network traffic 0 Improved operational reliability through self testing and fault isolation 0 Increased compatibility with new object-oriented programming methods Features; 0 Enhanced interchangeability of sensors 0 Programmability of signal processing parameters 0 Re-configurable for various input measurements 0 Re-configurable outputs for interface with various subsequent devices 0 Built-in self-calibration and self-diagnosis 0 Real-time data reduction, sampling, and computation of derived measures 1 8 I TYPES OF "SMART" SENSORS WITH SSF APPLICABILITY I 0 Electrophysiological Sensors - Biopotential Sensors 1 - Impedance Sensors - Biomagnetic Sensors I 0 Physical Sensors - Temperature I - Pressure - Acceleration - Flow 1 - Sounds I 0 Chemical/Bioanalytical Sensors - PH - Blood Analytes 1 - Urine Analytes - Hydroponic/Bioprocessing Analytes - Water Quality Analytes 1 - Air Quality Analytes 1 I I I I I I 1 I 9 sa" av) I 10 I MAJOR SOURCES OF "SMART"SENSOR SYSTEM INFORMATION I 0 SMART HOUSE Program 1 0 National Laboratories (Sandia, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore) 0 Sensors 2000! Program I 0 Patient Monitor/Ambulatory Monitor Industry 1 0 Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory 0 Geophysical Exploration Industry I I 1 I 1 I I I 1 I I I I 11 CONCLUSIONS 0 Smart sensor technology development has outpaced smart sensor utilization 0 Silicon sensor technology is ideal for the development of integrated smart sensors due to the processing techniques which are shared with microelectronics circuitry 0 Major commercial applications of smart sensors over traditional sensors involve requirements for: - long-term performance without maintenance - greater accuracy Smart sensors providing self-test, calibration, control, communication, and decision-making capabilities are going to be prevalent in the 1990s Whether a device is a smart sensor or an instrument depends more upon its role within a system, its dependence on other physical devices, the level of integration within the sensor package, and its mode of communications with the user 0 A systems design approach (involving communications, software, display, human factors, etc.) must be used to maximize the effectiveness of smart sensors 0.Digitally programmable signal processing in external signal conditioners is a good first step toward the integration of advanced sensors into future Life Sciences research instrumentation 0 Increased data rates and intensive experiment control requirements associated with SSF place increased demands on the human interface required for control of advanced sensors and their data Smart sensors have numerous ideal applications on SSF and future space biomedical research programs Direct digital signal processing holds a promise for increased system flexibility in the far-term period I 12 1 RECOMMENDATIONS I 0 Develop an expertise in "universal" programmable signal conditioners 1 0 Develop smart sensor platform concepts to provide a wide range of measurement and control functions, depending upon the sensor installed 1 0 Adopt a systems approach to biomedical data acquisition that incorporates the features of the Medical Information Bus (MIB) I 0 Follow the development of commercial-off-the-shelf versions of ambulatory monitors for early adoption of cost-effective smart sensors I 0 Utilize RF and IR telemetry to monitor and control instrumentation containing smart sensors 1 0 Assess the impact of smart sensors on the feasibility of expanding inflight biomedical data analysis 1 0 Consider the use of "smart" cards for numerous purposes on SSF I 0 Develop a microminiature sensor capability to support future Life Sciences research which will expand at the cellular level, where the emphasis shifts