NIBEC NEWSVol 1 No 1 December 1999
NIBEC NEWS
FORWARD FROM THE DIRECTOR
MATERIALS AND BIOLOGY MERGE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
NEW MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY OPENS IN BELFAST: NIBEC TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
NEW IMPLANT SENSOR GRANT
ULTRA THIN DIAMOND OVERCOATS FOR MAGNETIC DISC DRIVES
LECTURE TOURS/CONFERENCES
CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING LAUNCH
NEW RESEARCH GROUP FORMED
NORTHERN IRELAND CENTRE FOR ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
NEW HARD DISC INTERFACE CSS TEST SYSTEM
NIBEC XMAS LUNCH
NIBEC SEMINARS AND VISITORS
"The breadth and depth of information presented in this short news bulletin clearly reflects the maturity of the research base within NIBEC The ability to mix fundamental research, technology transfer and industrial based research with informed teaching further demonstrates the totality of the work undertaken by the various research groupings. This year has seen further major successes particularly in the area of new grants from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), IRTU, the Medical Research Council (MRC), both first time funding sources in the field of Engineering whilst at the same time ensuring ongoing support from an increased EPSRC base.
The Centre's relationship with outside organisations is also extending and it should also be remembered that the basis of BEST and NICAM are underpinned from this resource. Our patent position continues to grow and I would draw your attention in the newsheet to the opening of the Meridian Medical Technologies by George Mitchell in September 1999 representing all that is best in technology transfer as an exemplar relationship between academia and industry.
NIBEC's success is based on people, the innovative research and the dedication of staff enable NIBEC to present the best of Northern Ireland's science and technology in a world wide forum. Fundamental research and innovation will remain at the core of our activities but increasingly technology transfer through patent processes will provide a platform for a developing manufacturing base in Northern Ireland in Bioengineering. During the next year it is also our intention with University support to create the first of the NIBEC incubator companies and I have no doubt with our track record that these too will be highly successful.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year and I look forward to a highly successful Year 2000.
Professor John Anderson
Head of School and Director of NIBEC
MATERIALS AND BIOLOGY MERGE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
NIBEC (School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) hosted this years Microscopy Society of Ireland Symposium (MSI 99) the second time the event has been held at Jordanstown. Organised by Dr Jim McLaughlin and his organising committee, the 3-day event attracted over seventy delegates, with papers submitted from India, Austria, Italy and throughout the UK and Ireland. Twenty speakers and twenty-six poster presentations were programmed covering topics from thin film materials to biological microscopy techniques. Guest speakers included the president of the Royal Society of Microscopy, Professor Gordon Lorimer from UMIST who presented his pioneering work on energy dispersive microscopy of thin foils; and Professor Sean Gorman from QUB who reviewed the current role of biomaterials in medical devices. The conference medieval dinner was held in Carrickfergus Castle which gave our guests the chance to sample our local hospitality. Two Seagate materials prizes for the best poster and best paper went to Mr A Prochaska of QUB and Mr Adrian Boyd of UUJ. Also the MSI biology prize was won by Mr K Howell of UCD and Ms J Thompson of UCD for the best poster and best paper in the biology section.
NEW MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY OPENS IN BELFAST: NIBEC TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Senator George Mitchell praises cardiac care focus at official opening of Meridian Medical Technologies
Revolutionary coronary emergency products which could help save the lives of thousands of heart disease sufferers world-wide every year have been developed by US-owned Meridian Medical Technologies in Belfast, Senator George Mitchell said today. Senator George Mitchell was speaking at the official opening of the company’s new 28,000 sq ft purpose –built European headquarters, which has been backed by the Industrial Development Board, at Sydenham Business Park in East Belfast.
The company has pioneered two innovative products for coronary care – Cardio Beeper, a pocket sized heart monitor in a wallet, which recently gained a Millennium Product Award, and PRIME ECG, a unique heart mapping system. Senator Mitchell said: "The Cardio Beeper positions Meridian Medical at the leading edge of telemedicine, an exciting technology developing rapidly from the convergence of telecommunications and medicine.
Meridian has already developed revolutionary heart mapping system, PRIME ECG, and with the new Cardio Beeper product the company is particularly well placed to support initiatives in Europe and the US to counter coronary diseases which remain a huge problem and kill many thousands of people every year. The Cardio Beeper is also a further development of Northern Ireland’s longstanding international reputation as a pioneer of coronary care technology and is a particularly fine example of the close and mutually beneficial co-operation that exists here between the universities, health professionals and local companies. This superb new facility is a further indication of the strengthening business links between the US and Northern Ireland, a process influenced significantly by the commitment of President Clinton to the peace process. US companies now recognise the tremendous opportunities here from the exceptionally high quality education system, the extent of technical expertise and the very supportive business infrastructure", he added.
Mr James Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Medical Technologies Inc said: "The Prime ECG and Cardio Beeper are among a number of leading edge products being developed by researchers in Northern Ireland. We’ve been favourably impressed by quality and commitment of people here and by the enthusiasm for our work shown by university experts and leading doctors. We’ve been able to draw upon a vast resource of expertise and goodwill in the development of our products", he added. Commenting on the Cardio Beeper, Mr Andy O’Hara, Managing Director of Meridian Medical Technologies Northern Ireland said: "It’s a normal, leather wallet that can be used for cards and cash but also included tiny electrodes and a transmitter. A cardiac patient, worried about their condition, can send a reading to medical staff at a coronary care unit simply by placing the wallet against their chest, dialling up the unit and placing the telephone mouthpiece against the wallet. We have already sold more than 11,000 Cardio Beepers and expect that telemedicine products will contribute around 56 per cent of our business over the next 12 months", he added.
Mr Bruce Robinson, IDB Chief Executive, said: "This investment by Meridian Medical Technologies is a particularly significant development in health technologies, one of our target sectors. It is a superb example of how companies, both externally and locally-owned, are drawing on the outstanding research expertise and state-of-the-art facilities at our universities to develop leading-edge products. Meridian has already pioneered a revolutionary heart mapping system with the Northern Ireland Bio-Engineering Centre at the University of Ulster. The fast developing relationship between the universities and local companies is promoting the development of knowledge-led industries which was one of the pivotal recommendations of the Strategy 2010 Economic Review", he added.
Meridian Medical Technologies currently employs 35 people at Sydenham and plans to recruit a further 35 by 2001. The investment by Meridian Medical was first announced in March 1998.
NEW IMPLANT SENSOR GRANT (DR E MCADAMS; DR J MCLAUGHLIN; M HYLAND)
Esprit Project N° 33485
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Duration: 01/09/1998 - 31/08/2001 (£128,678)
The MICRO-CARD project proposes the
realisation of a demonstrator consisting of a thin multisensor
silicon needle for simultaneous measurement of transmural changes
in the myocardial tissue impedance, extracellular K+
concentration and pH, induced by acute myocardial ischemia. The
demonstrator has practical importance in medicine, as it monitors
basic parameters to detect myocardial damage (ischemia) during
cardiac surgery, when the heart is artificially arrested and,
consequently, it results impossible to perform the
electrocardiogram (ECG). In fact myocardial ischemia generates
fast modifications in tissue impedance, in extracellular
potassium concentration and pH, which are monitorable in arrested
hearts.
Two ISFET (ion sensitive field effect
transistors) detect change of pH and ion potassium concentration,
while change in myocardial tissue impedance are measured by Pt
metallization. The signals are processed by integrated circuitry
and transmitted through RF to a PC-based acquisition system. The
acquisition system is characterized by a flexible and
user-friendly interface.
Medical aspects of the MICRO-CARD
project are delineated by the severe relationship between the
incidence of postoperative mortality in patients sustaining
cardiac surgery and the efficiency of myocardial saving systems
applied during the critical phase of extracorporeal circulation.
The industrial application lies in the technical benefits of the
micro needle to the on-line myocardial ischemia monitoring during
cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation, considering the
fact that there are approximately 350-400 cardiac surgicals per
million inhabitants performed each year. The members of the
consortium, leaded by Centre Nacional de Microelectrònica (CNM),
are: CNM (Spain), responsible for the assignments linked to
silicon technology; SSSA (Italy), responsible for the data
acquisition, processing system and packaging; HVH (Spain),
responsible for the clinical tests; AMCA (Netherlands), NIBEC
(UK) and D+T (Spain) are also involved.
ULTRA THIN DIAMOND OVERCOATS FOR MAGNETIC DISC DRIVES
At the University of Ulster at Jordanstown the Thin Film Devices Group, led by Dr. James McLaughlin and Dr. Paul Maguire are developing new thin films coatings for the magnetic disc drive industry. Nanoscale diamond-like carbon (DLC) films with high uniformity are being researched and these films have the ability to dramatically increase data storage capacity. In principle the lower the pick-up head can fly to the disc, the higher the data storage capacity. DLC films aid this mechanism, mainly due to the wear protection provided by such a coating.
It is expected that eventually these 2-5nm films could allow the head to run directly on the disc, due to lower wear rates, lower co-efficient friction and the ultra hard properties provided by DLC. The coating will also act as a much needed corrosion protection layer, particularly as the industry turn to the use of high iron content GMR heads. Research at UUJ is concentrating on the first layer of growth during the plasma deposition process of DLC. New work about to start will study filtered cathodic arc deposition techniques with the goal of producing films with hardness values of 80GPa approaching that of diamond, thus allowing even thinner forms of DLC to be grown.
This work, funded by ESPRC, IRTU and Seagate Technology is gaining much interest in the Magnetic Storage industry. Locally, Seagate NI have invested strongly in two major projects, including a newly announced £1.7m joint project with QUB which will start in February 2000.
PECVD DLC System at NIBEC
" NEWS CLIPS"
Institute of Physics Lecture Tour
29 November – 1 December
Dr Eric McAdams was invited by the Institute of Physics to give a lecture tour in the Universities of Galway, Limerick and Dublin City University. Dr McAdams’ talk on "Physics of Medical Electrodes from Pseudo Science to Pseudo Capacitance" was well attended at the various venues by both students and staff.
University of Marseilles Invited Lecture
13-17 December
Dr Eric McAdams was also an invited lecturer at the University of Marseilles. Along with research student Celine Escoffier, they lectured on "Electrostimulation". The students were edified and entertained by ‘stimulating’ (excuse the pun!) demonstrations and videos, as well as the odd lecture.
Royal Academy of Engineering Conference
November
Dr Pagona Papakonstantinou, a newly appointed lecturer at NIBEC, received a travel grant from the Royal Academcy of Engineering to attend the international conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials held in Sane Jose. At the conference she gave a talk on the "nanomechanical properties of soft magnetic materials". The work was well received and attracted a lot of interest.
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USA Invited Lectures
4th – 11th December
Dr Jim McLaughlin gave a presentation on a-C:H for magnetic storage devices at a seminar in Berkley University, California. He followed this by a conference presentation at the Institute of Physics TSID99 meeting at Santa Clara University, California.
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CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING LAUNCH
The University of Ulster’s Centre for Communications Engineering was established with the support of Nortel Networks and was formally opened on November 11, 1999. The Centre incorporates many strands of electronic communications research and is the focus for the teaching of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
The Centre for Communications Engineering is currently made up of 5 members of academic staff from the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and the Northern Ireland Bio-Engineering Centre (viz Dr Noel Evans; Dr William Scanlon; Mr Brian Burns; Ms Xin Hong and Mr Francesco Villanese) and 5 postgraduate research students (viz Mr James McKee; Mr Sam Burgess; Mr Jose Santos; Mr Gabriel Chui and Mr Stelios Troulis).
" NEWS CLIPS"
Bioceramics, Biopolymers & Biomechanics Group
News Up-date
Since its recent establishment the Bioceramics, Biopolymers & Biomechanics Group has been active in a wide range research in biomaterials and biomechanics. The operational strategy of the group is based on attaining an international in these key research areas. To this end, the group objectives are:
Current Research Projects:
Recent Highlights:
Adrian Boyd has taken up a post as a Research Assistant in the group commencing December 1999.
Terence Devlin joined the group in October 1999 as a DENI funded postgraduate student. Terence recently came second in the NI regional heat of the IMechE final year project competition for work carried out in the BBBG in the area of ceramic/polymer biocomposites.
Two papers were presented by Brian Meenan and Cathy McClorey at 12th International Symposium on Ceramics in Medicine (Bioceramics 12) which took place in Nara City, Japan in October 1999. Adrian Boyd was awarded the best student presentation prize in the materials section of the Microscopical Society of Ireland (MSI) conference held at UUJ in September 1999.
Brian Meenan has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, CChem) and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (RAMI). He was also elected to the Council of the Bio-Engineering Section of RAMI.
Elaine Love recently undertook a period of training at the IRC in Biomedical Materials at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London and at the Royal Institute of Orthopaedics in London.
Emma Carson is currently on a 4 month placement at AVX Coleraine as part of her DENI CAST Award programme.
" NEWS CLIPS"
NORTHERN IRELAND CENTRE FOR ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
News Up-date
NICAM, which is a collaboration between The Queen’s University of Belfast, The University of Ulster and Industry, has just been awarded a £90K grant from the European Regional Development Fund, through the IRTU Technology Development Programme.
This TDP grant is to help support the core costs associated with the Centre over the next two years, thus enabling the Centre to carry on its mission to contribute to the wealth creation process within Northern Ireland by utilising the expertise of the universities in advanced functional materials and surface science.
NEW HARD DISC INTERFACE CSS TEST SYSTEM
The Thin Films group in NIBEC acquires a Head – Disk Interface (HDI) tribology test system. The CETR Olympus system which will be commissioned soon is expected to be used extensively in assessing the performance of Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) and other thin film coatings on disks and heads.
As an initial step, the unit selected is in its basic form. However it has the capability of making most of the typical tribological tests required in the development of suitable coating system for disks and heads. The tets which the unit is capable of performing include basic contact start stop tests and absolute measurement and mapping of stiction and friction forces. There are a number of additional options which may be added as required to make the test unit more comprehensive.
Together with the other surface characterisation systems and units within NIBEC and the thin film expertise specially in DLC coatings, there is now the possibility of producing improved coatings on disk and magnetic sliders.
As this is the first issue, we apologise if any news items have not been covered. These will be published in next month’s issue.
Both staff and research students all enjoyed the annual Xmas lunch outing on 10 December, this year held at Antica Roma in Belfast’s Botanic Avenue. Our thanks go to Adrian Boyd who did a splendid job in making all the arrangements.
NIBEC seminars for the period November – December 1999
NIBEC hosted the Faculty Board meeting on 8 November, attended by the new VC, Professor G McKenna.
Visitors to NIBEC
