Simulation of Micro Machined Microstructures for Lung Cancer Detection

Lung Cancer is one of the chronic diseases which is characterized by decreased levels of immunity due to cell breakdown in the body. Medical diagnosis is a complex process with uncertainties and vagueness of symptoms which leads to difference in diagnosis. The present diagnostic tests for lung cancer include MRI, CT, bone scan and PET scan which are also expensive. BioMEMS sensors, directly translate the physical or chemical properties of bioparticles into a quantifiable mechanical displacement, which can be measured and used to deduce the presence of cancer cells. In this paper an attempt has been made to simulate various piezoelectric MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) microstructures for lung cancer detection. For lung cancer detection four of the most prominent bio markers have been considered in this work for detection. The principal on which lung cancer identification is based is on the interaction between the four antigens corresponding to the four biomarkers and the corresponding antibody. With the presence of lung cancer biomarkers, antigen-antibody binding occurs and this leads to a higher mass and hence a force on the surface of the sensor. This exertion of force on the piezoelectric sensor leads to generation of voltage which could be measured to point the presence or absence of the cancer cells. Voltage differences obtained before and after binding for lung cancer Biomarkers for the four types of microcantilevers is in the range of 0.144 to 0.68 nano volts.