As a Gamecock, my innovation has No Limits
Posted on: April 30, 2014; Updated on: April 30, 2014
By Glenn Hare, hareg@mailbox.sc.ued, 803-777-3685
There is a squeezing sensation in your chest; nausea and cold sweat soon follow. Is it a heart attack or last night's dinner? Should you call 911? One day, you may not need to. University of South Carolina professor Guoan Wang envisions a time when a health care professional can see your symptoms from a monitoring center and take appropriate action. An electrical engineer with several patients to his credit, he is conducting groundbreaking research in radio transmission. Guoan's focus is on improving high frequency radio signal transmission for use in the next generation of biosensors.
"By redefining how these machines transmit and receive signals, we hope to enhance their performance," says Guoan. "We are striving toward making them safer, smaller and more efficient."
Specifically, Guoan and his research team are investigating ways to recharge these and other devices wirelessly. "Currently we are integrating certain nano-films to various radio frequencies. Our goal is to be able to send RF signals to a sensor system, transform current to a direct current and power the system smartly," Guoan explains.
His research is supported in part by the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development Program.
Once developed, the applications are wide-ranging, adds Guoan. "Smart phones and tablets, as well as numerous industrial, commercial and military uses, are possible."
When applied to health care, these new devices could reduce emergency room visits, post-surgical procedures and hospital infections. For the chronically ill, the elderly, newborns or other high-risk patients, Guoan's research is vitally important and could save lives, and it could reduce health care costs for all of us.
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