Abstract: A biological material such as platelets is sealed inside a container with a dead space to accommodate a metabolic gas. The concentration of the gas in the dead space is monitored while the container remains sealed. In some embodiments, the container is permeable to the gas. In other embodiments, the biological material is the only growth medium in the container. The disposal of the biological material is in accordance with the monitored gas concentration. Preferably, the gas concentration is measured spectroscopically. A container for a biological material includes a main body that retains the biological material but that is permeable to a gas and a reservoir in fluid communication with the main body that is transparent to an optical wavelength that is absorbed by the gas.

Abstract: A relaxation oscillator and a method for offset cancellation in a relaxation oscillator. The relaxation oscillator comprises two comparator units, each comparator unit comprising a comparator element and a memory element; and a switch control generator coupled to each of the comparator units; wherein each comparator unit, in a reset state, stores an input-offset voltage on the memory element under the control of the switch control generator such that, in a comparison state, the input-offset voltage is applied to both inputs of the comparator for implementing an offset-free threshold.

Abstract: A detector and modulator of electromagnetic radiation is 3-dimensional structure made of substantially 2 dimensional high impedance metamaterial surfaces stacked one above the other with a dielectric layer in between and located above a conducting ground plane. Each 2 dimension surface may be formed by an open continuous conductive trace, such as metallic wire or a printed circuit line, which is cast or plated on or into a 2-D periodic arrangement of an element that belongs to the Hilbert space filling curves.

Abstract: A device which converts mechanical deformation in electrical current, these mechanical deformations are generated as a result of liquid pressure over a part of the device. This device is integrated within an implantable lead and inserted into the cardiovascular system of a patient. The purpose of the device is to charge a battery which stores energy for various uses of other implantable devices.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional MEMS accelerometer fabricated on a single planar substrate deploys three co-planar sensor elements. Each sensor element is a capacitive device deploying a static electrode plate and a parallel dynamic electrode plate supported by a torsion beam. The dynamic electrode plate also includes a proof mass portion that displaces the center of gravity to below the plane of the plate. Two of the sensor elements are identical and rotated by 90 degrees on the planar substrate. The third capacitive sensor has two pairs of adjacent capacitive plates, each one having a dynamic electrode plate is suspended by a torsion beam. The proof mass on each dynamic electrode plates however is offset laterally from the torsion axis in opposite directions from the other plates to cancel the their respective capacitance charges induced by in-plane acceleration. However, this arrangement also adds the capacitive change induced by acceleration orthogonal to the planar substrate.

Abstract: A method for converting a sensor capacitance under parasitic capacitance conditions and a capacitance-to-voltage (CV) converter circuit for converting a sensor capacitance under parasitic capacitance conditions are provided. The method comprises the step of using a two stage operational amplifier (op-amp) in non-unity-gain configuration, wherein the two stage op-amp is chosen to be unstable in unity-gain configuration for reducing power consumption.

Abstract: It has been found advantageous to deploy coiled antennas as transmitters and receivers for acquiring the dielectric spectrum of materials. This method of impendence spectroscopy has been used to determine the concentration of glucose and other small polar molecules in vitro, as well as in vivo by placement on the antennas so that transmission is through the tissue, as for example on opposite sides of an organ or body part. The optimum selection of antenna coils permits deeper penetration into tissue for glucose detection, improves the SNR as well as expands the spectral range for greater accuracy and precision, to enable continuous non-invasive monitoring for either improved patient or automated management of diabetes.

Abstract: A method and system for the evaluation of the probability for the presence of suspicious materials is presented. The proposed system will be able to continuously monitor a large area or a gate passage, without a specific need for a manual full-body search or manual inspection or the use of sniffers or sniffing dogs (although the system can be embedded within such a gate), and will allow to detect suspicious materials, not by identifying the specific material, but rather by at least one of the chemical and/or physical analysis of the commonality of all detected materials against the statistical accumulation database of all material properties that were presented to the system in the past.

Abstract: A composition of matter having multiple layers of different conductors separated by thin layers of dielectric materials has a high piezoelectric coefficient when the conductors are metals having a significant difference in work function and the dielectric materials have a low elastic modulus when the metal layers are connected to form a capacitive circuit. Alternatively, when the conductors are semi-conductors they should have a significant difference in Fermi levels.

Abstract: A composition of matter having multiple layers of different conductors separated by thin layers of dielectric materials has a high piezoelectric coefficient when the conductors are metals having a significant difference in work function and the dielectric materials have a low elastic modulus when the metal layers are connected to form a capacitive circuit. Alternatively, when the conductors are semi-conductors they should have a significant difference in Fermi levels.

Abstract: It has been found advantageous to deploy coiled antennas as transmitters and receivers for acquiring the dielectric spectrum of materials. This method of impendence spectroscopy has been used to determine the concentration of glucose and other small polar molecules in vitro, as well as in vivo by placement on the antennas so that transmission is through the tissue, as for example on opposite sides of an organ or body part. The optimum selection of antenna coils permits deeper penetration into tissue for glucose detection, improves the SNR as well as expands the spectral range for greater accuracy and precision, to enable continuous non-invasive monitoring for either improved patient or automated management of diabetes.

Abstract: A device which converts mechanical deformation in electrical current, these mechanical deformations are generated as a result of liquid pressure over a part of the device. This device is integrated within an implantable lead and inserted into the cardiovascular system of a patient. The purpose of the device is to charge a battery which stores energy for various uses of other implantable devices.

Abstract: A THz. spectrometer a includes an adjustable resonator situated between two parabolic mirrors at least one being movable with a stepper motor to create a resonance chamber. A terahertz source irradiated the chamber and a mixer which also receives a signal modulated by the sample in the resonance chamber.

Abstract: An accelerometer is fabricated as a MEMS device and includes an array of capacitive electrode plates mechanically coupled to a common proof mass. The proof mass is constrained to move or vibrate in the plane parallel to the first array of plates. The capacitance between the first array of plates is measured with respect to additional arrays of capacitive plates inter-digitated in a comb like pattern.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional MEMS accelerometer fabricated on a single planar substrate deploys three co-planar sensor elements. Each sensor element is a capacitive device deploying a static electrode plate and a parallel dynamic electrode plate supported by a torsion beam. The dynamic electrode plate also includes a proof mass portion that displaces the center of gravity to below the plane of the plate. Two of the sensor elements are identical and rotated by 90 degrees on the planar substrate. The third capacitive sensor has two pairs of adjacent capacitive plates, each one having a dynamic electrode plate is suspended by a torsion beam. The proof mass on each dynamic electrode plates however is offset laterally from the torsion axis in opposite directions from the other plates to cancel the their respective capacitance charges induced by in-plane acceleration. However, this arrangement also adds the capacitive change induced by acceleration orthogonal to the planar substrate.

Abstract: A catheter terminates at a tip that includes an array of pressure sensors. The sensors are responsive to detect and alert the user to variations of pressure that indicate the tip is either encountering an obstruction or constriction of smaller diameter than the catheter, as well as to guide the catheter through the conduit into which it is being inserted.

Abstract: An optical sensing catheter system for physiological measurements of vascular or arterial parameters at plurality of location deploys wavelength division multiplexing in a common optical fiber to communicate with each optical sensor. The sensors are preferably passive planar waveguide type devices disposed to interact with the environment external to the catheter or other medical device.

Abstract: Integrated hand and controls protection system for vehicles utilizing handlebars for steering, consisting of; hand/controls guards (guards), integral/stowable mirror assembly, damper mount, display guard and integral electrical accessory mounting provisions.

Abstract: A cardiac pacemaker device is in signal communication with a patient interface unit (PIU). The patient has the option of controlling various functions of the pacemaker via the PIU. In one embodiment, the pacemaker has an automatic means to detect a need for a change in pace rate, as well as initiate the calculated change. However, before or when initially increasing the pace rate the pacemaker device transmits an alert signal to the PIU. As the PIU alerts the patient that it believes they are engaging in exercise requiring a faster pacing rate, the patient can recognize a false signal and has the opportunity to transmit an override signal back to the pacemaker device (via the PIU), canceling the intended increase in pace. In other embodiments, the patient can use the PIU to notify the pacemaker that they are about to exercise, and optionally allow the pacemaker to work in automated mode or override the automated mode within reasonable limits to set a pacing rate commensurate with their physical activity.

Abstract: A photon receptor having a sensitivity threshold of a single photon is readily fabricated on a nanometric scale for compact and/or large-scale array devices. The fundamental receptor element is a quantum dot of a direct semiconductor, as for example in a semiconductor (such as GaAs) isolated from a parallel or adjacent gate electrodes by Nano-scale gap(s). Source and drain electrodes are separated from the photoelectric material by a smaller gap such that photoelectrons created when a photon impinges on the photoelectric material it will release a single electron under a bias (applied between the source and drain to the drain) to the drain electrode, rather than directly to the gate electrode. The drain electrode is connected to the gate electrode by a detection circuit configured to count each photoelectron that flows to the gate electrode.