Abstract: A microthruster for controlling small spacecraft and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Embodiments of the microthruster include one or more nozzle throats with cross sectional areas of at most 20 ?m2, and some with 6 ?m2. Some embodiments include heaters that heat water in one or more reservoirs to increase pressure in the reservoirs and eject the water from the one or more nozzle throats. Some embodiments are manufactured by etching channels into one or more layers of material, and still further embodiments are manufactured by forming the nozzle throats and/or the reservoirs between two layers of material. Some microthruster embodiments are flat in shape with the nozzle throats ejecting water out the thin sides of the microthruster. Still further embodiments are formed by etching channels into one layer of material, printing a heater onto another layer of material, and bonding the two layers together.

Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.

Abstract: A virtual thermocouple system for non-invasively predicting product characteristics is disclosed, which includes one or more temperature sensing systems including a resistive network which includes a temperature sensing device comprising a plurality of negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors, and a load resistor, a corresponding system-on-chip coupled to a corresponding resistive network and configured to i) power the corresponding resistive network, ii) receive corresponding signals from each NTC thermistor of the corresponding temperature sensing device, iii) process the signal associated with each NTC thermistor of the corresponding temperature sensing device and thus generate data associated with each NTC thermistor, and iv) transmitting the processed data, a power generating device configured to provide power to the corresponding system-on-chip, and a base stations adapted to i) receive the processed data from a corresponding system-on-chip, and ii) using a predefined model, and non-invasively

Abstract: An environmental sensor system for monitoring nucleation in a lyophilization chamber is disclosed which includes a sensor unit, including a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a reader circuit in electronic communication with the sensor unit; wherein the sensor unit is adapted to sealingly fit around a vial placed in a lyophilization chamber and further adapted to be energized by the reader circuit and provide signals associated with temperature and pressure within the vial in a non-invasive manner in which the sensors are configured to be positioned in a headspace within the vial but not in contact with product within the vial.

Abstract: A vapor-pressure driven micro pump system comprising an enclosure of a supporting structure; a first chamber having a first volatile material as a propellant with a plurality of exit nozzles; a second chamber have a second volatile material inside of a collapsible diaphragm which separates the first and the second chambers within said enclosure, wherein a vacuum at the plurality of exit nozzles causes vaporization of said propellant, which is compensated and displaced by vapor of said second volatile material at a substantially constant pressure by moving of said collapsible diaphragm. The vapor-pressure driven pump system is useful for various situations, especially in a gravity-free environment in space exploration.

Abstract: A system to monitor and control a lyophilization process using a wireless network is disclosed which includes one or more wireless pressure and gas temperature sensors adapted to provide pressure and gas temperature measurements of the ambient environment, a lyophilization chamber, wherein the one or more wireless pressure sensors are distributed in one or more lyophilization vial trays, a vacuum pump, adapted to change the pressure with the lyophilization chamber, a heat exchanger adapted to modify temperature within the lyophilization chamber, and a controller adapted to collect pressure and gas temperature data from the one or more wireless pressure and gas temperature sensors, calculate sublimation rate of a product to be lyophilized using the collected pressure and gas temperature data, and adjust one or both of pressure and temperature within the lyophilization chamber such that the calculated sublimation rate stays within a predetermined envelope.

Abstract: A microthruster for controlling small spacecraft and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. Embodiments of the microthruster include one or more nozzle throats with cross sectional areas of at most 20 ?m2, and some with 6 ?m2. Some embodiments include heaters that heat water in one or more reservoirs to increase pressure in the reservoirs and eject the water from the one or more nozzle throats. Some embodiments are manufactured by etching channels into one or more layers of material, and still further embodiments are manufactured by forming the nozzle throats and/or the reservoirs between two layers of material. Some microthruster embodiments are flat in shape with the nozzle throats ejecting water out the thin sides of the microthruster. Still further embodiments are formed by etching channels into one layer of material, printing a heater onto another layer of material, and bonding the two layers together.

Abstract: Roll-to-roll freeze-drying (lyophilization) system and process for facilitating freeze-drying processes and enabling the collection of data by which a freeze-drying process can be monitored and evaluated. Such a system includes a roll-to-roll freeze-drying apparatus adapted to continuously freeze and dry a liquid to form a freeze-dried and encapsulate freeze-dried sheet portions of the freeze-dried sheet to create premeasured pouches containing the freeze-dried sheet portions. The system further includes a metrology section that monitors any of the freeze-dried sheet and the freeze-dried sheet portions during the freezing and drying of the liquid to generate data for controlling the freezing and drying of the liquid.

Abstract: A lyophilization method for lyophilizing products inside one or more vials within a lyophilization chamber is disclosed which includes humidifying a charge gas to a predetermined relative humidity, cooling shelves in the lyophilization chamber to a predetermined temperature, pressurizing the chamber with the humidified charge gas to a pressurization threshold to thereby achieving a target relative humidity level within the lyophilization chamber, and suddenly releasing pressure within the lyophilization chamber until a depressurization threshold is reached in a short time interval up to about 4 seconds, during the depressurization, product inside one or more vials nucleate.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) gas sensor operating based on Knudsen thermal force is disclosed. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one stationary assembly that is fixedly coupled to the substrate, and at least one moveable assembly that is positioned above the substrate which is biased to move substantially according to a main axis and juxtaposed with the at least one stationary assembly.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) gas sensor operating based on Knudsen thermal force is disclosed. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one stationary assembly that is fixedly coupled to the substrate, and at least one moveable assembly that is positioned above the substrate which is biased to move substantially according to a main axis and juxtaposed with the at least one stationary assembly.

Abstract: A system to monitor and control a lyophilization process using a wireless network is disclosed which includes one or more wireless pressure and gas temperature sensors adapted to provide pressure and gas temperature measurements of the ambient environment, a lyophilization chamber, wherein the one or more wireless pressure sensors are distributed in one or more lyophilization vial trays, a vacuum pump, adapted to change the pressure with the lyophilization chamber, a heat exchanger adapted to modify temperature within the lyophilization chamber, and a controller adapted to collect pressure and gas temperature data from the one or more wireless pressure and gas temperature sensors, calculate sublimation rate of a product to be lyophilized using the collected pressure and gas temperature data, and adjust one or both of pressure and temperature within the lyophilization chamber such that the calculated sublimation rate stays within a predetermined envelope.

Abstract: Roll-to-roll freeze-drying (lyophilization) system and process for facilitating freeze-drying processes and enabling the collection of data by which a freeze-drying process can be monitored and evaluated. Such a system includes a roll-to-roll freeze-drying apparatus adapted to continuously freeze and dry a liquid to form a freeze-dried and encapsulate freeze-dried sheet portions of the freeze-dried sheet to create premeasured pouches containing the freeze-dried sheet portions. The system further includes a metrology section that monitors any of the freeze-dried sheet and the freeze-dried sheet portions during the freezing and drying of the liquid to generate data for controlling the freezing and drying of the liquid.

Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.

Abstract: A non-invasive method to monitor and control of lyophilization of a frozen product solution to remove solvents is disclosed which includes installing one or more wireless pressure sensors configured to fit into a lyophilization vial tray disposed in a lyophilization chamber having a plurality of product vials, wherein the wireless pressure are distributed among the product vials being lyophilized thereby providing spatial pressure variations, collecting the spatial pressure information from said wireless pressure sensors, calculating sublimation rate of the solution, and adjusting pressure and/or temperature within the lyophilization chamber such that the calculated sublimation rate stays within a predetermined envelope.

Abstract: Roll-to-roll freeze-drying (lyophilization) system and process for facilitating freeze-drying processes and enabling the collection of data by which a freeze-drying process can be monitored and evaluated. Such a system includes a roll-to-roll freeze-drying apparatus adapted to continuously freeze and dry a liquid to form a freeze-dried and encapsulate freeze-dried sheet portions of the freeze-dried sheet to create premeasured pouches containing the freeze-dried sheet portions. The system further includes a metrology section that monitors any of the freeze-dried sheet and the freeze-dried sheet portions during the freezing and drying of the liquid to generate data for controlling the freezing and drying of the liquid.

Abstract: A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.

Abstract: A non-invasive method to monitor and control of lyophilization of a frozen product solution to remove solvents is disclosed which includes installing one or more wireless pressure sensors configured to fit into a lyophilization vial tray disposed in a lyophilization chamber having a plurality of product vials, wherein the wireless pressure are distributed among the product vials being lyophilized thereby providing spatial pressure variations, collecting the spatial pressure information from said wireless pressure sensors, calculating sublimation rate of the solution, and adjusting pressure and/or temperature within the lyophilization chamber such that the calculated sublimation rate stays within a predetermined envelope.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) gas sensor operating based on Knudsen thermal force is disclosed. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one stationary assembly that is fixedly coupled to the substrate, and at least one moveable assembly that is positioned above the substrate which is biased to move substantially according to a main axis and juxtaposed with the at least one stationary assembly.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a pump system, particularly to a vapor-pressure driven micro pump system. This vapor-pressure driven pump system is useful for various situations, especially in a gravity-free environment in space exploration.