Master's thesis presentation Shabir Afshar

Supervisor: Maria Asplund
Examiner: Per Lundgren
Opponent: Hedvig Sundelin

Abstract: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a crucial procedure for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. This master's thesis focuses on the development of a self-powered pressure sensor for wireless pressure monitoring inside the skull. The sensor design is based on triboelectric technology, aiming to overcome the limitations of conventional ICP sensors such as power supply requirements, complex fabrication, and mechanical inflexibility.

The primary goal of this study is to explore the potential of triboelectric pressure sensors for monitoring ICP. Additionally, a test rig and brain phantom are constructed to simulate pressure variations in the actual brain.

Triboelectric sensors convert mechanical pressure into electrical signals through electrostatic induction. The investigation begins with a literature review on ICP and pressure sensors.
Simulations of the modelled sensor using COMSOL software demonstrate the relationship between the output signal and pressure variations. The results provide valuable insights into the implementation and feasibility of triboelectric pressure sensors for ICP monitoring. On the other hand, the construction of a brain phantom was successfully achieved by casting silicone rubber into a 3D-printed mold.

Finally, this thesis presents extensive research on the development and evaluation of triboelectric sensing mechanisms for ICP monitoring. The findings contribute to the advancement of less invasive pressure sensors, holding potential significance in the field of neurology and healthcare.