Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver coil devices, including a MRI receiver coil or MRI receiver coil arrays, for use in a MRI guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound system, and methods for manufacturing the same. A MRI receive coil device includes a flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pattern of conductive material formed on one or both of the first and second surfaces, the pattern including at least one receive coil and at least one capacitor, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a dielectric plastic material. In certain aspects, at least one layer of hydrophobic material covers the at least one receive coil and the at least one capacitor.

Abstract: Methods for forming conformal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a 3-dimensional (3D) mold structure matching a curvilinear shape of interest, and forming a receive coil pattern on an outer surface of the 3D mold structure. The forming of the receive coil pattern may include spraying and/or depositing a conductive material and a dielectric material on the outer surface of the mold structure to form the receive coil pattern. The forming a receive coil pattern may include forming the receive coil pattern on an outer surface of a flat substrate sheet, and vacuum forming an inner surface of the flat substrate sheet to the outer surface of the mold structure to form a shape-conforming substrate sheet. The shape-conforming substrate sheet may be removed from the mold and used in MRI studies.

Abstract: Potentiometric sensors based on potentiometric mechanosensation and/or thermosensation mechanisms operate by regulating the potential difference between electrodes at two different electrode/electrolyte interfaces. A potentiometric sensor may include at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a microstructured ionic hydrogel composite electrolyte in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode. Methods of making a potentiometric sensor device may include forming a first electrode on a substrate, forming a second electrode on the substrate, and applying a microstructured ionic hydrogel composite electrolyte structure in contact with both the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Methods for forming flexible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, forming a first conductor pattern on the first surface by printing a first layer of conductive material on the first surface using a printing mask having a pattern, and forming a second conductor pattern on the second surface by printing a second layer of conductive material on the second surface using the same printing mask or identical printing mask, wherein a portion of the first conductor pattern on the first surface overlaps with a portion of the second conductor pattern on the second surface with the flexible substrate therebetween to form the at least one capacitor element.

Abstract: A pulse oximeter device is provided that includes a first light emitting element configured to emit red light, a second light emitting element configured to emit green light or near infrared (NIR) light, and a sensor element configured to detect red and green light or detect red and NIR light. The sensor element may have a substantially circular geometry, and the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element may each have a substantially arc-shaped geometry, and wherein the sensor element is positioned between the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element, or the first and second light emitting elements together may have a substantially circular geometry, and wherein the sensor element comprises one or more substantially arc-shaped portions, and wherein the first and second light emitting elements are partially surrounded, or fully surrounded, by the sensor element.

Abstract: Flexible pressure sensors and wearable devices incorporating one or more flexible pressure sensors, and methods of making the same. A flexible pressure sensor includes a first layer including a plurality of pressure-sensitive microstructures, and a second layer including one or more electrode pairs, each of the one or more electrode pairs including a first electrode positioned adjacent a second electrode on the second layer. The first and second electrodes may be positioned on the second layer in a side-by-side configuration.

Abstract: Methods for forming conformal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a 3-dimensional (3D) mold structure matching a curvilinear shape of interest, and forming a receive coil pattern on an outer surface of the 3D mold structure. The forming of the receive coil pattern may include spraying and/or depositing a conductive material and a dielectric material on the outer surface of the mold structure to form the receive coil pattern. The forming a receive coil pattern may include forming the receive coil pattern on an outer surface of a flat substrate sheet, and vacuum forming an inner surface of the flat substrate sheet to the outer surface of the mold structure to form a shape-conforming substrate sheet. The shape-conforming substrate sheet may be removed from the mold and used in MRI studies.

Abstract: Systems and methods to measure pulse and blood oxygen saturation in tissue using pulse oximetry with an ambient light source. Certain pulse oximeters according to various embodiments advantageously do not require and do not include a light source such as an LED, thereby reducing complexity and reducing power consumption.

Abstract: Methods for simultaneously forming two or more different colored material layers on a substrate. include performing surface energy patterning (SEP) to define a first, hydrophobic region and a second, hydrophilic region on the substrate, applying first and second materials on the second region, wherein the first material comprises a material having a first color, and wherein the second material comprises a material having a second color, and doctor blade coating the first and second materials simultaneously to form first and second material layers on the substrate. The methods are particularly useful for making multi-color light emitting and detecting components such as LEDs and OPDs.

Abstract: Methods for simultaneously forming two or more different colored material layers on a substrate. include performing surface energy patterning (SEP) to define a first, hydrophobic region and a second, hydrophilic region on the substrate, applying first and second materials on the second region, wherein the first material comprises a material having a first color, and wherein the second material comprises a material having a second color, and doctor blade coating the first and second materials simultaneously to form first and second material layers on the substrate. The methods are particularly useful for making multi-color light emitting and detecting components such as LEDs and OPDs.

Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver coil devices, including a MRI receiver coil or MRI receiver coil arrays, for use in a MRI guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound system, and methods for manufacturing the same. A MRI receive coil device includes a flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a pattern of conductive material formed on one or both of the first and second surfaces, the pattern including at least one receive coil and at least one capacitor, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a dielectric plastic material. In certain aspects, at least one layer of hydrophobic material covers the at least one receive coil and the at least one capacitor.

Abstract: Methods for forming flexible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a flexible substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, forming a first conductor pattern on the first surface by printing a first layer of conductive material on the first surface using a printing mask having a pattern, and forming a second conductor pattern on the second surface by printing a second layer of conductive material on the second surface using the same printing mask or identical printing mask, wherein a portion of the first conductor pattern on the first surface overlaps with a portion of the second conductor pattern on the second surface with the flexible substrate therebetween to form the at least one capacitor element.

Abstract: Pulse oximeter devices include a first light emitting element that emits red light, a second light emitting element that emits green light or IR light; and a sensor element that detects red and green (or IR) light and that outputs signals representing detected red and green (or IR) light. The pulse oximeter device further includes a flexible substrate, wherein the first light emitting element, the second light emitting element and the sensor element are formed on the flexible substrate. The sensor element is configured to detect the emitted red and green light transmitted through tissue containing blood, and in certain aspects, the sensor element is configured to detect the emitted red and green (or IR) light reflected by tissue containing blood. A signal processing element (e.g., a processor) receives and processes the signals representing detected red and green (or IR) light output by the sensor element to produce signals representing blood oxygenation content.

Abstract: Methods for simultaneously forming two or more different colored material layers on a substrate. include performing surface energy patterning (SEP) to define a first, hydrophobic region and a second, hydrophilic region on the substrate, applying first and second materials on the second region, wherein the first material comprises a material having a first color, and wherein the second material comprises a material having a second color, and doctor blade coating the first and second materials simultaneously to form first and second material layers on the substrate. The methods are particularly useful for making multi-color light emitting and detecting components such as LEDs and OPDs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for real-time, quantifiable monitoring of high-risk areas of biological tissue are described. The methods and apparatus use impedance spectroscopy to detect subtle changes in tissue health.

Abstract: NIRS systems including fully-printed LEDs and PDs operating in the NIR spectrum are provided that provide conformal adherence to a patient's head and efficient measurement of near-infrared absorption. Circuitry processes and wirelessly transmits data from one or multiple devices located on a patients head to a remote and/or portable device. Using multiple sensors improves the spatial resolution of the measurements, and post processing on the portable device provides the ability to transmit results to a patient's physician, e.g., via a secure internet connection.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to treat surface of polymer for printing. Surface of a polymer having a surface energy modified for a time period to control a feature characteristic and/or provide a hysteresis behavior. A material is printed on the surface to form a circuit pattern having at least one of the controlled feature characteristic and the hysteresis behavior.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) receiver includes a receiver coil on a substrate. The receiver coil includes one or more capacitors. The construction of the capacitors allows for the use of very flexible substrates and allows the capacitors themselves to be highly flexible. The increased flexibility permits the MRI receiver to be conformed to the body of a patient and accordingly improves the MRI process.