Innovative pressure sensor promises to transform laparoscopic surgery

Developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) the so-called eAir sensor is claimed to overcome many of the challenges associated with existing pressure sensors, which are typically made from stiff inflexible materials and often struggle to deliver consistent readings.

To develop the device, the NUS team drew inspiration from a phenomenon known as the 'lotus leaf effect' - a natural phenomenon whereby water droplets effortlessly roll off the leaf’s surface, made possible by its minuscule, water-repelling structures.

“The sensor, akin to a miniature ‘capacity meter’, can detect minute pressure changes - mirroring the sensitivity of a lotus leaf to the extremely light touch of a water droplet,” explained research leader Assoc Professor Benjamin Tee from the NUS College of Design and Engineering

Employing an innovative ‘air spring’ design, the sensor houses a trapped layer of air, forming an air-liquid interface upon contact with the sensor’s liquid. As external pressure increases, this air layer compresses. A surface treatment results in a frictionless movement of the interface within the sensor, triggering a change in electrical signals that accurately reflects the exerted pressure.