Abstract: A method of measuring the instantaneous arterial blood pressure and compliance and the device thereof are disclosed. The method identifies a critical depth under the skin. At this critical position, the arterial mean blood pressure is equivalent to the mean blood pressure obtained on the skin. The variation in the arterial mean blood pressure is tracked and controlled to maintain the equivalence between the mean blood pressure measured on the skin and the arterial mean blood pressure. In this case, the compliance of the muscle tissues remains invariant. Therefore, the variation measured on the skin is simply the behavior of the blood vessel. Using the skin-artery correlation, the invention can obtain the instantaneous blood pressure after some computation and the dynamic compliance at the critical position.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a tunneling layer over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the tunneling layer has a first conduction band; a storage layer over the tunneling layer, wherein the storage layer has a second conduction band; a blocking layer over the storage layer, wherein the blocking layer has a third conduction band; a gate electrode over the blocking layer; and at least one of a first leakage-inhibition layer and a second leakage-inhibition layer. The first leakage-inhibition layer is between the tunneling layer and the storage layer, and has a fourth conduction band lower than the first conduction band. The second leakage-inhibition layer is between the blocking layer and the gate electrode, and has a fifth conduction band lower than the third conduction band.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel activating device and method consisting of at least two separate infrared-emitting bodies, each infrared-emitting body being engineered to have specific peak wavelength and spectral luminance in 3-20 um (micrometer) wavelength range, that provides an effective means for enhancing combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in internal combustion engines, resulting in better engine performance with increased power, improved fuel economy, and reduced emissions.

Abstract: This invention proposes a method for making very low threshold voltage (Vt) metal-gate/high-? CMOSFETs using novel self-aligned low-temperature ultra shallow junctions with gate-first process compatible with VLSI. At 1.2 nm equivalent-oxide thickness (EOT), good effective work-function of 5.3 and 4.1 eV, low Vt of +0.05 and 0.03 V, high mobility of 90 and 243 cm2/Vs, and small 85° C. bias-temperature-instability<32 mV (10 MV/cm, 1 hr) are measured for p- and n-MOS.

Abstract: This invention proposes a method for making low Vt light-reflective-layer/dual-metal-gates/high-? CMOSFETs with simple light-irradiation anneal and light-reflective-layer covered dual metal-gates with self-aligned and gate-first process compatible with current VLSI process. At 1.05 nm EOT, good ?m-eff of 5.04 and 4.24 eV, low Vt of ?0.16 and 0.13 V, high mobility of 85 and 209 cm2/Vs, and small 85° C. BTI?40 mV (10 MV/cm, 1 hr) were measured for p- and n-MOSFETs. Using novel very high-? TiLaO gate dielectric, low Vt of ?0.07 and 0.12 V and high mobility of 82 and 203 cm2/Vs were achieved even at small EOT of 0.63 nm.

Abstract: A flash memory cell includes a substrate and a gate structure formed on the substrate. The gate structure includes a tunneling layer over the substrate, a storage layer over the tunneling layer, a blocking layer over the storage layer, and a gate electrode over the dielectric. The storage layer preferably has a conduction band lower than a conduction band of silicon. The blocking layer is preferably formed of a high-k dielectric material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method using infrared to enhance selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx, consisting of at least an infrared-emitting body, said infrared-emitting body being engineered to have specific spectral luminance covering a part or the whole of 3-14 ?m wavelength range, that provides an effective means for improving NOx conversion in the SCR aftertreatment system of diesel engines.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel activating device and method consisting of at least two separate infrared-emitting bodies, each infrared-emitting body being engineered to have specific peak wavelength and spectral luminance in 3-20 um (micrometer) wavelength range, that provides an effective means for enhancing combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in internal combustion engines, resulting in better engine performance with increased power, improved fuel economy, and reduced emissions.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a new asymmetric-lightly-doped drain (LDD) metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor that is fully embedded in a CMOS logic. The radio frequency (RF) power performance of both conventional and asymmetric MOS transistor is measured and compared. The output power can be improved by 38% at peak power-added efficiency (PAE). The PAE is also improved by 16% at 10-dBm output power and 2.4 GHz. These significant improvements of RF power performance by this new MOS transistor make the RF-CMOS system-on-chip design a step further. Index Terms—Lightly-doped-drain (LDD), metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, radio frequency (RF) power transistor.

Abstract: A method of measuring the instantaneous arterial blood pressure and compliance and the device thereof are disclosed. The method identifies a critical depth under the skin. At this critical position, the arterial mean blood pressure is equivalent to the mean blood pressure obtained on the skin. The variation in the arterial mean blood pressure is tracked and controlled to maintain the equivalence between the mean blood pressure measured on the skin and the arterial mean blood pressure. In this case, the compliance of the muscle tissues remains invariant. Therefore, the variation measured on the skin is simply the behavior of the blood vessel. Using the skin-artery correlation, the invention can obtain the instantaneous blood pressure after some computation and the dynamic compliance at the critical position.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a refractory metal silicide layer; a silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer on the refractory metal silicide layer; and a metal-rich refractory metal silicide layer on the silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer. The refractory metal silicide layer, the silicon-rich refractory metal silicide layer and the metal-rich refractory metal silicide layer include same refractory metals. The semiconductor structure forms a portion of a gate electrode of a metal-oxide-semiconductor device.

Abstract: In certain aspects of the invention, an extrusion apparatus for making a multilayer article includes multiple discs, each of which has at least one passageway configured to permit fluid flow therethrough in a flow direction. At least one of the discs includes a cone shaped portion extending substantially parallel to the flow direction.

Abstract: A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis that can be skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle is located at the distal end of the second portion of the retractor, and may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, a surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest and extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be deflected to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to the surgical tool.

Abstract: A flash memory cell includes a substrate and a gate structure formed on the substrate. The gate structure includes a tunneling layer over the substrate, a storage layer over the tunneling layer, a blocking layer over the storage layer, and a gate electrode over the dielectric. The storage layer preferably has a conduction band lower than a conduction band of silicon. The blocking layer is preferably formed of a high-k dielectric material.

Abstract: An organ manipulator including at least one suction member or adhesive disc mounted to a joint providing freedom of movement of the at least one suction member or adhesive disk relative to its support. A method for retracting and suspending an organ in a retracted position using suction (or adhesive force) so that the organ is free to move normally (e.g., to beat or undergo other limited-amplitude motion) in at least the vertical direction during both steps.

Abstract: A bone marrow aspiration device is described. In one embodiment, the bone marrow aspiration device includes a central body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and an outer shaft portion coupled to the distal end of the central body portion. The outer shaft portion also has a distal opening. A first lumen is formed by the central body portion and the outer shaft portion, and the first lumen extends from the proximal end to the distal opening. An aspiration needle is disposed within the first lumen. The aspiration needle has a substantially linear configuration when positioned within the first lumen, and a substantially curved configuration when extended from the distal opening. The aspiration needle is adapted to aspirate liquid bone marrow from a first region of a bone cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring and methods for using such apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cannula, a dissection balloon releasably attached to the cannula at the distal end, an anchoring balloon disposed on the cannula, and a means for inflating both balloons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical prosthesis having a low profile for delivery into a body lumen. The stent includes a plurality of geometric cells defining the stent, which has first and second opposed open ends; and a plurality of wire strands woven to form a plurality of crossed regions defining the geometric cells. Each wire strand has strand ends and the strand ends are disposed at the second end of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for delivering a medical prosthesis into a body lumen. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a catheter having a stent mounted at the distal end that is released into the body lumen by movement of an outer sheath covering the stent in the proximal direction. The stent expands to conform to the inner wall of the lumen and the catheter is withdrawn.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dilation of tissue utilize a tissue expansion device positioned on an inner cannula with an outer overlying expansive sheath that expands upon translation of the tissue expansion device therethrough. The tissue expansion device may be an olive or wedge formed near the tip of the cannula, and the expansible sheath includes two elongated shells that are fixably attached near proximal ends, and that are resiliently connected near distal ends. Translating the tissue expansion device through the expansible sheath expands the dimension of the shells to provide even dilation of surrounding tissue. Additionally, tissue dilation is performed in one continuous motion of retracting the inner cannula through the expansible sheath or pushing the tissue expansion device through the expansible sheath. The outer expansible sheath may be removed from the inner cannula to provide a dissection instrument having minimal outer diameter.