Postgraduate Opportunities

PhD study of high frequency microwave antenna structures for measurement of blood glucose

This research project addresses one of the fundamental areas of research for an extremely challenging medical device – non-invasive blood glucose monitor. The ultimate deliverable is a commercially viable product of which the antennae will be an integral part. The research activities will involve:

Literature review of high directivity, narrow band antennae structures
Review of regulatory requirements of medical devices and classification
Identification of patents in this field and potential IP landscape opportunities/work-around
Identification of possible practicable structures & methodologies for matching the structures to blood
Identification of substrate materials for addressing the need for disposable earclips/antennae
Identification of cable solution to connect ear piece to hand-held monitor
Design, simulation & optimisation of structures on various substrates
Fabrication, testing, optimisation
Industrialisation of ear clip design

This work will input to the development phase of the medical device comprising:

Initial laboratory based testing and characterisation of the proof of concept
Working with the team to develop the hardware specifications
Helping conduct In vitro validation of system with gold standard (HBA1C)
Feasibility study documentation
Instigation of ethical committee approval
Additional Patent filing & Design Rights filing
Further market scoping and competitor intelligence

PhD study of the treatment of bone cancer

This PhD involves focussing microwave energy into bone tissue using a number of antennas positioned around the circumference of the bone. Bean steering techniques are applied to allow the phase of the energy to be the same at the tumour in order to locally heat the tumour to a temperature that causes local cell death. The consultant, Dr Martin Booton, a very well respected RADAR design expert will be working closely with the successful student on this project and will be the external supervisor. This work will be multidisciplinary in nature and the student will be expected to interact closely with a surgical oncologist to ensure the system produces the required clinical outcomes.

KESS-funded MRes in Medical Microwave Systems (Temperature Sensing)

Bangor University - School of Electronic Engineering & Creo Medical Ltd

Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) are a portfolio of ESF (European Social Fund) supported projects linked to businesses based in the Convergence area of Wales.
In addition to carrying out research in collaboration with the company partner all KESS scholars also undertake research, business and innovation-skills training leading to a Postgraduate Skills Development Award.
Applications are invited for a 1 year masters placements (MRes) which is being offered by the School of Electronic Engineering (http://www.ee.bangor.ac.uk/) at Bangor University, in association with Ferlin Medical and Creo Medical Ltd.
The MRes includes a one-third taught element which is delivered by the School of Electronic Engineering at Bangor University which has a strong track record in analogue instrumentation and medical engineering research. The School did exceptionally well in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, coming joint second in the UK. ALL of the research papers submitted were judged to be of international quality (rated 2*, 3* or 4*) and 75% of those submitted were rated either world leading (4*) or internationally excellent quality (3*). Our research environment - also of considerable importance to postgraduate students - received a remarkably high rating as well. Successful completion of the taught element would then lead to the project as detailed below.

The studentship includes a tax-free maintenance grant of £9.5k, with full-time fees paid and additional allowances. A requirement of the studentship is a 30-day non-remunerated work placement with the company. More information on the studentships and application process can be found at www.higherskillswales.co.uk/kess

Project Title: Instrumentation Development for Measuring Temperature Prfiles During Microwave Ablation of Cancerous Tumours.

This work will involve the design and development of an array of miniature temperature sensors that can be distributed over the surface of a tumour ablation antenna, and associated analogue signal conditioning circuitry to enable the temperature profile along the shaft and at the radiating tip to be measured during a tumour treatment procedure.
The student will also be expected to use LabVIEW graphical programming environment (or similar) to enable the signals from the instrumentation to be captured and the temperature profile to be displayed in a user friendly manner. In-vitro tissue trials will be set up in the lab to demonstrate the temperature measurement system.
This project is focussed on analogue circuit design, but is also a multi-disciplinary project that will involve interaction with surgical oncologists, the Visualisation and Medical Graphics Group in Bangor, and external antenna designers. The primary application for the integrated temperature sensing array and associated treatment antennae is the treatment of brain tumours using millimetre wave energy.
The successful student will be supervised by Professor Chris Hancock and Dr Nuwan Dharmasiri from Creo Medical Limited. Professor Nigel John, from the Visualisation and Medical Graphics Group, will also be involved in this project.

The Candidate: The successful applicants will be expected to have at least a 2ii Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering or Medical Engineering and have an interest in analogue circuit design.

Eligibility: To be eligible to participate in the KESS programme, prospective students must be resident in the Convergence Area (West Wales and the Valleys) on application, and be able to work in the Convergence Area upon completion of the scholarship. The eligibility form is the first step in the application process and any applications which do not meet the above criteria will not be processed further.

Informal enquiries and requests about the projects descriptions may be directed to: Prof Chris Hancock, Director Creo Medical Ltd (c.hancock@bangor.ac.uk) or Prof Paul Spencer Head of school, Electronic Engineering (p.spencer@bangor.ac.uk).

How to apply: The first step in the application process will be to complete and submit an eligibility form which can be downloaded here.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 29th July 2011.and short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview, with an anticipated start date of no later than October 2011.

Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.

For further details and to apply please contact Prof. Chris Hancock: c.hancock@bangor.ac.uk

KESS-funded MRes Places in Medical Microwave Systems (Ablation Antennae)

Bangor University - School of Electronic Engineering & Creo Medical Ltd

The MRes includes a one-third taught element which is delivered by the School of Electronic Engineering at Bangor University which has a strong track record in analogue instrumentation and medical engineering research. The School did exceptionally well in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, coming joint second in the UK. ALL of the research papers submitted were judged to be of international quality (rated 2*, 3* or 4*) and 75% of those submitted were rated either world leading (4*) or internationally excellent quality (3*). Our research environment - also of considerable importance to postgraduate students - received a remarkably high rating as well. Successful completion of the taught element would then lead to the project as detailed below.

Project Title: New Antenna Structures for Controlled Delivery of Millimetre Wave Energy for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Brain Tumours

This work will involve design, electromagnetic field simulation and development of near field antenna structures for treating brain tumours.
The student will also be expected to use one of the industry standard electromagnetic field simulation suites CST Microwave Studio to carry out field simulations using representative tissue models. The student will have the opportunity to attend workshops and tutorial sessions given by CST. The structures will be tested in the Microwave Engineering lab using In-vitro tissue models and the results will be discussed with leading neurosurgeons.
This research very much a multi-disciplinary and will involve interaction with surgical oncologists (neurosurgeons), clinical and regulatory experts, the Visualisation and Medical Graphics Group in Bangor, and external antenna design consultants.
This project provides an opportunity for a student with a level of competence in microwave or communications engineering, together with an interest in medicine, to work in the exciting and fast growing field of microwave based medical systems.

The successful student will be supervised by Professor Chris Hancock and Dr Martin Booton from Creo Medical Limited. Professor Nigel John, from the Visualisation and Medical Graphics Group, will also be involved in this project.

The Candidate: The successful applicants will be expected to have at least a 2ii Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering or Medical Engineering and have an interest in analogue circuit design.

Informal enquiries:Prof Chris Hancock, Director Creo Medical Ltd (c.hancock@bangor.ac.uk) or Prof Paul Spencer Head of school, Electronic Engineering (p.spencer@bangor.ac.uk).

How to apply:The first step in the application process will be to complete and submit an eligibility form which can be downloaded here.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 29th July 2011.and short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview, with an anticipated start date of no later than October 2011.
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.