Abstract: An apparatus for isolating rare cells from a blood sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reservoir for supplying the blood sample and a pump for receiving the blood sample. The apparatus also includes a microchip and a set of magnets. The microchip has a microchannel formed between the microchip and a glass slide. The microchannel is connected between the reservoir and the pump to allow the blood sample to flow from the reservoir to the pump. The set of magnets is located adjacent to the glass slide to form a magnetic gradient along the glass slide on which rare cells can be isolated from the blood sample.

Abstract: A handheld imaging probe for performing optical coherence tomography is disclosed. The handheld imaging probe includes a lens tube and a housing. The lens tube contains an objective lens and a polycarbonate sheet. The polycarbonate sheet provides a bio-safe contact with a tissue sample to be examined. The housing, which is connected to the lens tube, contains a micromirror for directing a laser beam to irradiate the tissue sample via the objective lens and the polycarbonate sheet.

Abstract: A method of uniformly transferring luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate, comprising: a) preparing a colloidal suspension of luminescent quantum dots in a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the density of the hydrophobic solvent is from 0.67 g/cm3 to 0.96 g/cm3; b) dispensing the suspension onto a convex aqueous surface; c) allowing the hydrophobic solvent to evaporate; d) contacting the film of luminescent quantum dots with a hydrophobic stamp; and e) depositing the film of luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate with the hydrophobic stamp is described herein. Further described is a method of preparing quantum dot based light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a micromirror is disclosed. A set of coarse features is formed in a low-temperature oxide (LTO) layer deposited on a front side of a wafer. A set of fine features is then formed in a photosensitive material layer deposited on top of the LTO layer. After removing a portion of the LTO layer to align the width of the coarse features with the width of the fine features, the first silicon dioxide layer and the first and second silicon device layers are etched to form stator comb fingers and rotor comb fingers accordingly. Finally, a portion of the substrate on a back side of the wafer is removed, and the silicon dioxide layers are removed from the front and back sides of the wafer to form a rotatable mirror.

Abstract: Aspects according to the present invention provide a method and implant suitable for implantation inside a human body that includes a power consuming means responsive to a physiological requirement of the human body, a power source and a power storage device. The power source comprises a piezoelectric assembly that is configured to generate an electrical current when flexed by the tissue of the body and communicate the generated current to the power storage device, which is electrically coupled to the power source and to the power consuming means.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a conductive sensor and a urinal having conductive sensor. Said conductive sensor is installed in the sewer pipe of the urinal or toilet, which comprises an insulating body and a detecting electrode used for detecting the electric conductivity of the liquid in the sewer pipe. Said conductive sensor also comprises a self-cleaning device used for cleaning the end of the detecting electrode. Said self-cleaning device comprises a housing, a piston unit and a brush head unit. A water inlet pipe connected with the tap water pipe and a water outlet pipe connected with the sewer pipe are installed to said housing. Said brush head unit comprises a brush head used for cleaning the end of the detecting electrode. Thus, the detected result of conductive sensor and the urinal having conductive sensor are more reliable and the device is easy to be maintained.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibration-actuated microsurgical system includes an optical force detection arrangement having an optical encoding device configured to modulate an intensity of light in response to a displacement of a portion of the microsurgical system. Light sensing circuitry is configured to detect a force applied to the microsurgical system (e.g., and thereby to a sample) based on the intensity of light sensed from the optical encoding device. This detected force is used in controlling the application of the microsurgical system.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micromirror is disclosed. Initially, a set of coarse features is formed in a low-temperature oxide (LTO) layer deposited on a front side of a wafer. A set of fine features is then formed in a photosensitive material layer deposited on top of the LTO layer, and the fine features are constrained laterally within the coarse features. Next, a portion of the LTO layer is removed to align the width of the coarse features with the width of the fine features. The first silicon dioxide layer and the first and second silicon device layers are subsequently etched to form stator comb fingers and rotor comb fingers. Finally, a rotatable mirror is formed by removing a portion of the substrate on a back side of the wafer, and the silicon dioxide layers from the front and back sides of the wafer.

Abstract: A method of uniformly transferring luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate, comprising: a) preparing a colloidal suspension of luminescent quantum dots in a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the density of the hydrophobic solvent is from 0.67 g/cm3 to 0.96 g/cm3; b) dispensing the suspension onto a convex aqueous surface; c) allowing the hydrophobic solvent to evaporate; d) contacting the film of luminescent quantum dots with a hydrophobic stamp; and e) depositing the film of luminescent quantum dots onto a substrate with the hydrophobic stamp is described herein. Further described is a method of preparing quantum dot based light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Provided are forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems and probes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microscanner having a micro mirror is disclosed. Initially, a two-axis self-aligned vertical comb-drive microscanner is fabricated from a bonded silicon-on-insulator-silicon (SOI) silicon wafer. By depositing a thin film of aluminum on the surface, a SOI silicon wafer can provide about 90% reflectivity at 633 nm. A 2.5 ?m misalignment tolerance can be achieved for the critical backside alignment step. As a result, confocal images with 1 ?m resolution can be acquired using a microscanner having SOI silicon wafer mirrors.

Abstract: An improved near-field scanning optical microscope probe is disclosed. The near-field scanning optical microscope probe includes a probe body and two electrodes extending from the probe body to form a probe tip. In addition, a light-emitting diode is disposed between the two electrodes at the probe tip to act as a light source for the near-field scanning optical microscope probe.

Abstract: An optical-encoded force sensor is disclosed. The optical-encoded force sensor includes a cantilever probe having a probe tip, a set of reflective phase gratings and multiple nano-photonic displacement sensors. The reflective phase gratings are mechanically coupled to the cantilever probe, and the nano-photonic displacement sensors are mechanically coupled to the reflective phase gratings. In response to a load being applied to the probe tip, the reflective phase gratings can be compressed such that a diffraction order of the reflective phase gratings changes according to the force of the applied load.

Abstract: An optical-encoded force sensor is disclosed. The optical-encoded force sensor includes a cantilever probe having a probe tip, a set of reflective phase gratings and multiple nano-photonic displacement sensors. The reflective phase gratings are mechanically coupled to the cantilever probe, and the nano-photonic displacement sensors are mechanically coupled to the reflective phase gratings. In response to a load being applied to the probe tip, the reflective phase gratings can be compressed such that a diffraction order of the reflective phase gratings changes according to the force of the applied load.

Abstract: An improved near-field scanning optical microscope probe is disclosed. The near-field scanning optical microscope probe includes a probe body and two electrodes extending from the probe body to form a probe tip. In addition, a light-emitting diode is disposed between the two electrodes at the probe tip to act as a light source for the near-field scanning optical microscope probe.

Abstract: A method in consolidation and drying of paper. A wet web is contacted with superheated steam, whose temperature is 200-600° C. for the purpose of reducing, by heat transfer from the superheated stream, the water content of the web by evaporation of a substantial part of the water in the same. The wet web is supported and transported by means of a heat-conductive, gas-impermeable belt whose width is equal to or exceeds the width of the web, and jets of the superheated steam are directed towards the side of the web facing away from the belt.