**5. Further research**

Magnetic sensors can be applied in several fields of Biology and Medicine. Practically all the devices mentioned in this chapter are still in the optimization phase or in clinical trials. So, the related research is still ongoing.

The hyperthermia treatment studies for malignant tumors merit, because of their enormous interest, to be discussed separately. This is research with a marked interdisciplinary character, since it presents challenges that specifically concern doctors, biologist, chemists, material´s engineers and, of course, physicists. Although nowadays, nanoparticles have been achieved that seem to work very well, there remain problems that are far from being solved.


Another area of research we are interested in is the application of magnetic sensors and actuators in remote monitoring of multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects young people and which , according to the last survival studies, not only shortens life approximately by 10 years but also produces important limitations and deficiencies affecting the wellbeing of the patient, over the course of its development.

During its progress, MS patients present a very varied symptomatology. So, in the first stages of the disease it is usually asymthomatic and without objective neurological deficiencies. It is only during the 5 first years that objective neurological manifestations begin to appear. As a general rule, after between 10 to 15 years of development, the deficiencies are very evident and begin to have clear repercussions on the physical and cognitive activities of the patients. Between the 15th and 20th years of development, the limitations increase by up to 33%, which means severe restrictions on mobility. In these advanced stages of the disease, the symptoms limit the patient's mobility very severely and drastically affect the quality of life and autonomy of these patients.

The goal of this research would be to exploit the possibilities offered by telemedicine and remote control for improving the assistance, monitoring and quality of life in MS patients, in the advanced stages and with very limited mobility.

It would be focused on three aspects:

	- Spasticity
	- Dysphagia
	- Pain

146 Magnetic Sensors – Principles and Applications

The problem of the toxicity of nanoparticles goes further than in vitro trials with cells, (it can be really complex) (Lewinsky, 2008). In fact this kind of material has other problems when used for long term devices. For example, once their behaviour with cells has been tested, it is essential to understand their survival in the body. Do the macrophages detect them too soon or on the contrary, do the nanoparticles tend to accumulate in some important organ such as the liver or brain? (Hoet et al., 2004). Nanoparticles are frequently coated with different organic or inorganic materials (as dextran (Lacava, 2001) or silica (Villanueva, 2010)). Sometimes this is done to make them biocompatible, sometimes to obtain an appropriate

Magnetic sensors can be applied in several fields of Biology and Medicine. Practically all the devices mentioned in this chapter are still in the optimization phase or in clinical trials. So,

The hyperthermia treatment studies for malignant tumors merit, because of their enormous interest, to be discussed separately. This is research with a marked interdisciplinary character, since it presents challenges that specifically concern doctors, biologist, chemists, material´s engineers and, of course, physicists. Although nowadays, nanoparticles have been achieved

 To determine if the origin of the damage produced to the tumor cells comes from the temperature increase or from the movement of the particles inside the cells themselves. To concentrate the particles in the nearby tumor area and avoiding most of them being

To control the temperature treatment inside a medium that the circulatory system keeps

To eliminate the particles from the patient´s body after the treatment and avoiding their

To concentrate the high frequency magnetic field in the tumor area, in order to avoid

Last but not least, to manufacture cheap nanoparticles so that if the treatment works,

Another area of research we are interested in is the application of magnetic sensors and actuators in remote monitoring of multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects young people and which , according to the last survival studies, not only shortens life approximately by 10 years but also produces important limitations and deficiencies affecting the wellbeing of the patient, over the course

During its progress, MS patients present a very varied symptomatology. So, in the first stages of the disease it is usually asymthomatic and without objective neurological deficiencies. It is only during the 5 first years that objective neurological manifestations begin to appear. As a general rule, after between 10 to 15 years of development, the deficiencies are very evident and begin to have clear repercussions on the physical and cognitive activities of the patients. Between the 15th and 20th years of development, the

that seem to work very well, there remain problems that are far from being solved.

eliminated by the reticulum-endothelial along the path to the tumor.

heating the particles that have been absorbed by other organs or tissues.

concentration in organs, such as the kidneys, liver, spleen, etc.

dispersion and sometimes to functionalize them.

**5. Further research** 

the related research is still ongoing.

constantly at 37oC.

of its development.

everybody can have access to it.

	- Decubitus ulcers
	- Urine infection
	- Respiratory infection (aspiration)
	- Position alteration (orthopaedic malformation)
	- Walk monitoring
	- Upper limbs monitoring
	- Mental function monitoring
	- Autonomic state monitoring

These neurological requirements scenarios could be analyzed at a distance by using the appropriate sensors (with calls and alerts), so that the neurologist would be able to treat the patient without the patient needing to be in presence of the physician and so avoiding complications that would decrease the quality of life.
