Contributor

Prasanna Rangarajan, Bruce Gnade

Subject Area

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Electrical, Electronics Engineering

Abstract

The prevalence of kidney stones has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years, affecting both men and women across all age groups. This rise is largely attributed to lifestyle changes associated with technological advancements, such as more sedentary lifestyles, dietary shifts towards more processed foods, and an increased incidence of metabolic diseases like diabetes. Despite the growing prevalence of kidney stones, the methods for early detection have remained relatively unchanged. Current testing involves collecting urine samples over a 24-hour period and sending them to a lab for microscopic and dipstick analysis. This process provides a comprehensive overview of urine components but takes several days to complete and offers only a snapshot of the patient’s condition. The aim of this effort is to develop an affordable point-of-care (POC) urinalysis device leveraging advancements in sensing. This device, intended for home or outpatient clinic use, combines elements of traditional microscopy and nephelometry to assess the risk of recurrent kidney stones. Given that kidney stones are primarily composed of calcium oxalate (CaOx), this thesis details the design and development of a prototype nephelometer for determining the scattered light intensity of calcium oxalate crystals in urine samples. The proposed nephelometer offers a promising solution for timely and accurate assessment of kidney stone risk, paving the way for better management and prevention strategies.

Degree Date

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.E.E.

Department

Electrical Engineering

Advisor

Prasanna Rangarajan

Second Advisor

Bruce Gnade

Third Advisor

Volkan Otugen

Fourth Advisor

Carlos Davila

Fifth Advisor

Dinesh Rajan

Number of Pages

97

Format

pdf

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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