Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for imaging particles and/or cells using flow cytometry. In one aspect, a method includes transmitting a light beam at a fluidic channel carrying a fluid sample containing particles; optically encoding scattered or fluorescently-emitted light at a spatial optical filter, the spatial optical filter including a surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a pattern along a transverse direction opposite to particle flow and a longitudinal direction parallel to particle flow, such that different portions of a particle flowing over the pattern of the apertures pass different apertures at different times and scatter the light beam or emit fluorescent light at locations associated with the apertures; and producing image data associated with the particle flowing through the fluidic channel based on the encoded optical signal, in which the produced image data includes information of a physical characteristic of the particle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of enhanced sub-bandgap photon absorption and detection is described. This semiconductor device includes a p-n junction structure formed of a semiconductor material, wherein the p-n junction structure is configured such that at least one side of the p-n junction (p-side or n-side) is spatially confined in at least one dimension of the device (e.g., the direction perpendicular to the p-n junction interface). Moreover, at least one side of the p-n junction (p-side or n-side) is heavily doped. The semiconductor device also includes electrical contacts formed on a semiconductor substrate to apply an electrical bias to the p-n junction to activate the optical response at target optical wavelength corresponds to an energy substantially equal to or less than the energy band-gap of the first semiconductor material. In particular embodiments, the semiconductor material is silicon.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods facilitate analyzing, identifying and sorting particles in fluids, including cytometry devices and techniques. The described techniques can be used in a variety of applications such as in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements. One exemplary flow cytometry device includes a channel that is capable of conducting a fluid containing at least one particle and also capable of allowing light be transmitted to and from the channel. The flow cytometry device also includes a lens that is positioned between the channel and a color filter. The lens directs at least a portion of light transmitted from the channel to the color filter. The color filter includes a plurality of zones, where each zone is adapted to allow transmission of only a particular spectral range of light. The flow cytometry device further includes a detector configured to receive the light that is transmitted through the color filter.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided for wirelessly powering and controlling a lab-on-a-chip device. Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) signals can be produced at the lab-on-a-chip device in a wireless manner. In some configurations, integrated RF components and optoelectronic components of the lab-on-a-chip device are used to collaboratively produce the DC and AC signals. In other configurations only optoelectronic components on the lab-on-a-chip system can produce the DC and/or AC signals in response to incident light. By modulating the incident light, AC signals of various frequencies and waveforms can be generated. The DC and AC signals can be used by additional integrated electronic circuits and by a microfluidic chip lactated on the lab-on-a-chip device to control the behavior of the bioparticles in the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for enrichment and detection of molecules of a target biomarker. In one aspect, In one aspect, a biosensor device for enriching and detecting biomarker molecules include a substrate, and a microarray of hydrophilic islands disposed on the substrate. A sensing area on each of the microarray hydrophilic islands is structured to anchor bio-molecular probes of at least one type for detecting molecules of a target biomarker and to attract an array of nanodroplets of a biomarker solution that includes the target biomarker molecules. A hydrophobic surface disposed to surround the microarray of hydrophilic islands.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for detecting molecular interactions.

Abstract: A prosthetic retina for implantation in an eye having a defective retina is formed from an array of nanowires having a predetermined spatial distribution, density, size and shape implanted in close proximity to the retina. An electrical conductor is formed at a first end of all nanowires in the array of nanowires and placed in contact with a bias source which biases the array. A plurality of electrodes is located on a second end of each of one nanowire or a bundle of nanowires in the array. Each nanowire produces a photocurrent at a corresponding electrode in response to detection of light impinging on the array of nanowires and the photocurrent stimulates one or more neurons adapted for visual perception. In the preferred embodiment, the predetermined spatial distribution mimics a distribution of rods and cones in a normal eye.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing high conversion efficiency solar cells. In one aspect, an optical-to-electrical energy conversion device includes a substrate formed of a doped semiconductor material and having a first region and a second region, an array of multilayered nanoscale structures protruding from the first region of the substrate, in which the nanoscale structures are formed of a first co-doped semiconductor material covered by a layer of a second co-doped semiconductor material forming a core-shell structure, the layer covering at least a portion of the doped semiconductor material of the substrate in the second region, and an electrode formed on the layer-covered portion of the substrate in the second region, in which the multilayered nanoscale structures provide an optical active region capable of absorbing photons from light at one or more wavelengths to generate an electrical signal presented at the electrode.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for capturing, concentrating, and isolating molecules in a fluid.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for capturing, concentrating, isolating, and detecting molecules. In one aspect, a molecular probe device includes a molecular probe having a complimentary base pair region initially zipped and structured to include a binding agent to chemically attach the molecular probe to an outer surface of a magnetic bead, and a binding molecule to chemically attach the molecular probe to a substrate of a microfluidic device, in which the complimentary base pair region is configured to hybridize to a complementary nucleic acid sequence of a DNA or RNA molecule.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of enhanced sub-bandgap photon absorption and detection is described. This semiconductor device includes a p-n junction structure formed of a semiconductor material, wherein the p-n junction structure is configured such that at least one side of the p-n junction (p-side or n-side) is spatially confined in at least one dimension of the device (e.g., the direction perpendicular to the p-n junction interface). Moreover, at least one side of the p-n junction (p-side or n-side) is heavily doped. The semiconductor device also includes electrical contacts formed on a semiconductor substrate to apply an electrical bias to the p-n junction to activate the optical response at target optical wavelength corresponds to an energy substantially equal to or less than the energy band-gap of the first semiconductor material. In particular embodiments, the semiconductor material is silicon.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.

Abstract: An integrated nanowire device includes a first array of nanowires having a first set of characteristics and a second array of nanowires having a second set of characteristics. A processor is electrical communication with the first and second arrays of nanowires receives the first plurality of charges and generate a processor signal therefrom. The second array of nanowires may be configured to produce a stimulation current in response to the processor signal. The first or second array may be used to generate power for operation of the device, or the arrays may function as a stimulator, sensor combination to enable the device to self-regulate based on localized responses to stimulation. The device may be implanted for use as a neural stimulator.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.

Abstract: Techniques, devices and systems are disclosed for characterizing particles in a fluid sample by optical space-time coding. In one aspect, a microfluidic device for optical detection of particles includes a substrate, a microfluidic channel formed on the substrate and structured to carry a fluid sample containing particles, in which the microfluidic channel is structured to transmit a probe light, and a mask formed on one side of the microfluidic channel and structured to include a pattern of openings along the microfluidic channel, in which at least two of the openings have varying dimensions across the microfluidic channel, and in which the pattern of openings encodes a waveform on the probe light that transmits through the microfluidic channel to allow optical detection of a position of a particle in the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A 1D nanowire photodetector device includes a nanowire that is individually contacted by electrodes for applying a longitudinal electric field which drives the photocurrent. An intrinsic radial electric field to inhibits photo-carrier recombination, thus enhancing the photocurrent response. Circuits of 1D nanowire photodetectors include groups of photodetectors addressed by their individual 1D nanowire electrode contacts. Placement of 1D nanostructures is accomplished with registration onto a substrate. A substrate is patterned with a material, e.g., photoresist, and trenches are formed in the patterning material at predetermined locations for the placement of 1D nanostructures. The 1D nanostructures are aligned in a liquid suspension, and then transferred into the trenches from the liquid suspension. Removal of the patterning material places the 1D nanostructures in predetermined, registered positions on the substrate.

Abstract: The present Invention relates to a camera system suitable for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), among other applications. In at least one embodiment, the camera system includes an autonomous miniature camera, a light source assembly providing features such as steerable illumination and a variable radiation angle, and a control and processing unit for processing images acquired by the camera Io generate improved images having reduced blurring using a deblurring algorithm.

Abstract: A number of fluidic-photonic devices for allowing optical detection, systems employing such devices, and related methods of operation and fabrication of such devices are disclosed herein. In at least some embodiments, the devices can serve as flow cytometry devices and/or employ microfluidic channels. Also, in at least some embodiments, the devices are fluidic-photonic integrated circuit (FPIC) devices that employ both fluidic channels and one or more waveguides capable of receiving and/or delivering light, and that can be fabricated using polymeric materials. The fluidic-photonic devices in at least some embodiments are capable of functionality such as on-chip excitation, time-of-flight measurement, and can experience enhanced fluorescence detection sensitivity. In at least some embodiments, the devices employ detection waveguides that are joined by way of a waveguide demultiplexer.