Dec 16 2009
Chips on String by Jason Kim
Question: How would you insert 5 square millimeter chip through a needle?
Answer: By stretching it into a thin string of 5 square millimeter chips.
Well, that is what I thought when I heard about SemiPack’s sub-micron multi-chip module assembly (www.semipack.com) at the BIOMEDevice conference held at San Jose Convention Center last week. It appears that SemiPack has developed a manufacturing process to grind a wafer down to thin sheet and by slicing this thin sheet into thin strips, they can create a string of chips. By applying this technique, they have recently developed 2 mm thin multi-layer silicon substrate for multi-chip module assembly for creating intravenous blood composition monitoring device.
Thus, it seems perceivable that we will be able to create active SOC laid out in a long strip to create monolithic BIOMED electronic string for minimally invasive and intravenous applications. Perhaps, we may soon be able to attach MEMS flagella to make it propel along Intravenous network to monitor and supplement biological host system (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=mboc4&part=A2879&rendertype=figure&id=A2879).
This may sound far out science fiction, but this trend seems inevitable. Dr. Deborah Schenberger explained during her presentation at the BIOMEDevice Forum that “Cardiovascular disease alone is claiming 850 thousand American lives each year.” This is driving the frantic race for innovation on healthcare industry from medical diagnostic device companies to personalized genomic pharmaceutical companies. For example, array of tiny needles on medical “Skin Patches” deliver slow-release medication through person’s skin (no more big scary syringes with long sharp needles) while Microfluidics could be placed deep within patient’s brain to allow precise delivery of designer drugs directly into their spinal cord. It seemed, the whole industry is turning biological in this conference.
So, is this the beginning of the end for semiconductor industry yielding its ways to biological industry? Not so, says the panelists of biomedical industry experts in Personalized Medicines. Dr. Thomas Quertermous at Stanford University School of Medicine explains that the collaboration of multidisciplinary industry is more crucial now than ever for improving the efficiencies and efficacies of current healthcare industry for exponential growth and success it deserves.
Personalized medicine means massive information gathering to find customized solutions for each individuals in their own unique environments. This requires all kinds of sensors and electronics – massive storage space for example to hold all these information captured from every facets of life. And ultimately, it necessitates the need for even more computing power to efficiently sort through these massive data within acceptable time, space, and energy. These calls for consolidation of all our engineering talents and scientific breakthroughs far beyond our current imagination.
Thus, it seems “Chips on String” would not be too far off from becoming the primary form of electronics.
Jason Kim.