About

Professor Ellis Fan-Chuin Meng leads the Biomedical Microsystems Laboratory at the University of Southern California, which is organized within the Department of Biomedical Engineering and affiliated with the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering. His research group focuses on the development of biomedical microsystems, including drug delivery devices, MEMS neural interfaces, microfluidic systems, and packaging technologies. The lab welcomes students and researchers from diverse backgrounds such as applied physics, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and physics, with a preference for those who have prior MEMS or bioMEMS experience. Professor Meng actively mentors Ph.D. students, M.S. students, undergraduate researchers, and postdoctoral scholars, providing opportunities for cutting-edge research in biomedical microsystems. His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in biomedical microdevices, contributing to advancements in the field of biomedical engineering.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Biomedical engineering
• Materials science
• Nanotechnology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Human–computer interaction
• Engineering
• Medicine
• Systems engineering
• Neuroscience
• Computer vision
• Surgery
• Composite material
• Biology

Selected publications

• A wireless and passive multiplexable biomarker sensing system constructed entirely on a soft and flexible thin film

  Sensors and Actuators B Chemical · 2026-03-14

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• A Rolled Wireless Passive Inline Cross-Correlation Flow Sensor

  2026-01-25

  articleSenior author

  We present the lowest profile (<tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$&lt;25 \mu \mathrm{m}$</tex> thick) wireless inline thin film flow sensor having a rolled three-dimensional geometry for cross-correlation-based flow sensing of biological fluids. In multiphase flow, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid, there exist naturally present stochastic conductivity differences that can be utilized as flow tracers, and, by monitoring their transit time, flow rate can be computed. Our flow sensing approach leverages these differences and consists of a pair of thin film, passive sensing elements rolled and placed a known distance apart within a flow channel to monitor conductivity via interdigitated electrodes at those spatially separated sites. Each element includes a 15-turn coil for inductive coupling to external coils, thereby eliminating any active circuitry within the flow channel. Using this dual element rollable flow sensor in latex tubing, we demonstrated flow sensing of a simulated colloidal biological fluid.

  PublisherDOI

• Extending Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensing to Microfabricated Sensor Formats

  Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems · 2026-01-01

  articleSenior author

  Electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensing is a generalizable approach to monitoring a wide range of molecular targets. Selective, dynamically responsive, real-time measurements are possible in complex body fluids while using standard electrochemical methods for read out. To advance miniaturized, wearable EAB sensing formats, 17 candidate materials compatible with microfabrication into 2D and 3D microstructures were investigated as sensor substrates. Since the aptamer attachment chemistry requires a gold surface, adhesion of gold thin films was evaluated followed by compatibility with EAB surface functionalization chemistry and the electrochemical interrogation method. Sensing results for each material were benchmarked against the gold standard solid gold microwire sensor format. Finally, two microneedle-based EAB sensor formats were demonstrated at the benchtop and <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">in vivo</i>, by modifying commercially produced microneedles and developing a novel laser-machined polyether ether ketone (PEEK) microneedle array. Multiplexed sensing was enabled by selective functionalization of subgroups of needles within a single array.[2025-0204]

  PublisherDOI

• Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead in the Translation of Implantable Microscale Sensors and Actuators

  Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering · 2025-02-06 · 10 citations

  reviewOpen access

  Microscale sensors and actuators have been widely explored by the scientific community to augment the functionality of conventional medical implants. However, despite the many innovative concepts proposed, a negligible fraction has successfully made the leap from concept to clinical translation. This shortfall is primarily due to the considerable disparity between academic research prototypes and market-ready products. As such, it is critically important to examine the lessons learned in successful commercialization efforts to inform early-stage translational research efforts. Here, we review the regulatory prerequisites for market approval and provide a comprehensive analysis of commercially available microimplants from a device design perspective. Our objective is to illuminate both the technological advances underlying successfully commercialized devices and the key takeaways from the commercialization process, thereby facilitating a smoother pathway from academic research to clinical impact.

  PublisherDOI

• A Thin Film Coil with Integrated Electrochemical Sensor for Wireless and Passive Biomarker Sensing

  2025-01-19 · 2 citations

  articleSenior author

  Electrochemical sensors can provide real-time and accurate reading of biomarker concentration for physiological monitoring purposes but require rigid electrical components for signal processing and data transmission. Passive biomarker sensing eliminates the need for discrete electronics, thereby reducing footprint. We present here a new microfabricated thin-film sensor capable of passive, wireless electrochemical measurement of glucose, cortisol, and phenylalanine operating on the principle of reflected impedance. The design of the thin film sensor consists solely of a 16-turn coil, bridge capacitor, and an interdigitated electrode (IDE) pair, requiring no discrete components. This sensor achieved a 3.5× increase in sensitivity to ionic concentration and 5× reduced susceptibility to coil separation error compared to previous work. Also, three distinct electrochemical biomarker detection modes were realized.

  PublisherDOI

• Polyimide Coplanar Waveguides for Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy to Monitor Effects of Long-Term Fluid Exposure

  2025-06-29

  article

  Polyimide thin films are commonly used as encapsulation and insulation material in implantable medical devices. Fluid transport can result in unwanted electrical or ionic pathways, adversely affecting device function. However, it is unknown how fluid transport in or under polyimide films contributes to the composite broadband dielectric properties. Notably at microwave frequencies, dielectric loss contributed by the fluid is large due to the characteristic relaxation frequency of water (~20 GHz). We fabricated polyimide coplanar waveguides and immersed them in deionized water or phosphate-buffered saline and measured the frequency-dependent, broadband dielectric properties of the films subj ect to fluid exposure across 5 months. We observed changes in broadband permittivity (~3.1 to 3.25) and peak loss tangent (0.006 to 0.011), tracking the dispersive dielectric properties of water. We observed no film delamination in the span of the study. Ultimately, these results suggest that fluid transport has a considerable effect on film dielectric properties and integrity. Quantification of such effects are crucial for evaluating the long-term use of polyimide in wireless, implantable, biomedical micromechanical systems (MEMS) that may operate at microwave frequency ranges (e.g., 2.45 GHz).

  PublisherDOI

• A Wearable System for Wireless and Multiplexed Molecular Sensing Via Solid Microneedles

  2025-01-19 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  Using a microneedle array (MNA) format, the potential for continuous, real-time wearable intracutaneous monitoring of multiple molecules can be achieved via electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensors. Here we demonstrate multiplexed electrochemical detection of endogenous and exogenous molecules using the smallest wireless EAB/MNA system reported to date. The small form factor required for wearability was accomplished using laser-micromachined polyether ether ketone (PEEK) to form a multielectrode MNA having two sets of working electrodes responsive to different targets. Multiplexed MNAs responded selectively to phenylalanine and vancomycin, two model targets. Benchtop and in vivo demonstration in rat were achieved towards realizing a translatable wearable intracutaneous electrochemical sensing system.

  PublisherDOI

• Building and Sustaining Open-Source Medical Device Projects

  IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering · 2025-04-21

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The open-source development model has been successfully applied to consumer and enterprise software, and recently to consumer hardware. Medical devices may become a beneficiary of this trend, as open-source medical device development has the potential to reduce costs, democratize patient access, and provide continued support to abandoned devices from failed companies. Unlike the consumer device market, the medical device market is highly regulated and involves considerable manufacturer liability that may limit the use of open-source technology. This review of open-source medical device development explores the current state of development in research and clinical products and suggests best practices for creating sustainable and effective open-source medical devices.

  PublisherDOI

• An Open Source, Microfabricated, Self Closing Cuff Electrode with Conductive Polymer Coating for Improved Electrochemical Performance

  2025-06-29 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  We present the first open-source cuff electrode enhanced with conductive polymer coating for clinical bioelectronic medicine applications targeting the autonomic nervous system. A three-dimensional (3D) Parylene-based cuff for recording from or stimulating branched nerves (<1 mm ø) modified by electrodepositing poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was realized. To prepare devices for in vivo studies and realize a clinical cuff for the OpenN erve system [1], [2], a coating protocol was developed for 2D and 3D electrode surfaces, performed before or after thermoforming of the cuff structure, respectively. The long-term electrochemical performance and the topographical properties of the electrodes were assessed. This study represents a step forward in the development of a reliable, open-source cuff electrode for small-diameter peripheral nerves in clinical applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Excision of urethral caruncle using a sealing device (LigaSure™): A case report

  Urology Case Reports · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  We report a case of a 74-year-old postmenopausal woman with stage III cystocele and a non-circumferential urethral caruncle presenting with bulge, voiding difficulty, occasional bleeding, and meatal discomfort. She underwent anterior colporrhaphy followed by excision of the urethral caruncle using the LigaSure™ device. The procedure was completed within 1 min, with minimal blood loss and no suturing. Postoperative follow-ups showed good wound healing without recurrence or urethral stricture. This case suggests that LigaSure™ may enable rapid, sutureless excision in selected non-circumferential lesions.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• EFRI-BioFlex: Hybrid polymer-paper based multi-sensor implants for continuous remote monitoring

  NSF · $2.0M · 2013–2019

• Flexible neural probe arrays for large-scale cortical and subcortical recording

  NIH · $834k · 2016–2019

• Wirelessly-operated Implantable MEMS Micropumps for Drug Infusion in Mice

  NIH · $556k · 2012–2016

• PFI-TT: Sensor System for Early Warning of Hydrocephalus Shunt Failure

  NSF · $398k · 2018–2025

• NIH Grant R21EY018490

  NIH · $448k · 2010

Frequent coauthors

• Kee Scholten

  University of Southern California

  34 shared

• Mark S. Humayun

  Southern California Eye Institute

  31 shared

• Damien C. Rodger

  University of Southern California

  27 shared

• Roya Sheybani

  Cytovale (United States)

  25 shared

• Christian A. Gutierrez

  University of Illinois Chicago

  24 shared

• Saloomeh Saati

  University of Babylon

  21 shared

• Dong Song

  University of Southern California

  19 shared

• Po-Ying Li

  University of Southern California

  19 shared

Labs

• USC Biomedical Microsystems LaboratoryPI

  The lab is organized within the Department of Biomedical Engineering and is also affiliated with the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering.

Education

• Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering

  University of Southern California

  2005

• M.S., Biomedical Engineering

  University of Southern California

  2002

• B.S., Biomedical Engineering

  University of Southern California

  2000

Awards & honors

• Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Chair in Convergent Biosciences (…
• IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award in Sensors…
• Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2018)
• IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society IEEE EMBS T…
• Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) (2017)