Dual-modality ECT system for lab-on-chip tomography imaging

Lab-on-chip (LoC) imaging technologies, such as Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), are crucial for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of cell cultures and microfluidic processes. However, these methods face challenges due to the ill-posed inverse problem in image reconstruction, leading to low-resolution images and artefacts.

In addition, they have a limitation in detecting objects that are suspended in the sensing region. While machine learning-based reconstruction algorithms have been explored, their reliance on large datasets and limited generalizability restricts practical implementation. Despite ECT’s potential to monitor permittivity changes, dual-modality ECT systems for LoC tomography imaging remain underexplored.

This PhD project aims to explore the dual-modality ECT systems which integrate ultrasonic and capacitance measurement in a single sensor using a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT). In this project, candidate will (1) identify the corelation between capacitance measurements and ultrasonic vibrations of PMUT electrodes to extract measurements of both parameters in one measurement, (2) design, optimise and fabricate the dual-modality ECT-PMUT sensor array and (3) perform tomography imaging using the designed sensor array and develop image reconstruction algorithm to combines the capacitance and ultrasonic tomography images.

This PhD project is suitable for candidates with a variety of engineering backgrounds who are interested in miniature sensor design.