Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of operating an image sensor. A first integration is performed on a first photodiode of a pixel circuit to obtain at least one first image signal. A second integration is performed on a second photodiode of the pixel circuit to obtain a second image signal, the first photodiode having a photodiode area larger than the second photodiode. A third integration is performed by collecting blooming charge overflowing from the first photodiode to obtain an overflow image signal. The first integration has longest integration time and the third integration has shortest integration time among the first integration, the second integration and the third integration.

Abstract: An open-irrigated catheter system includes a catheter body and a tip assembly, coupled to a distal end of the catheter body. The tip assembly includes an exterior wall that is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy for an RF ablation procedure, and that defines an interior region. The exterior wall includes a number of proximal irrigation ports and a number of distal irrigation ports. At least one fluid chamber is defined within the interior region and is in fluid communication with at least one of the proximal irrigation ports and the distal irrigation ports. At least one fluid lumen extends from a fluid source, through the catheter body, to the tip assembly, and is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid chamber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of operating an image sensor. A first integration is performed on a first photodiode of a pixel circuit to obtain at least one first image signal. A second integration is performed on a second photodiode of the pixel circuit to obtain a second image signal, the first photodiode having a photodiode area larger than the second photodiode. A third integration is performed by collecting blooming charge overflowing from the first photodiode to obtain an overflow image signal. The first integration has longest integration time and the third integration has shortest integration time among the first integration, the second integration and the third integration.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, multiple pixel regions separately disposed in the substrate, and a pick up region including a doping region and a pick up plug obliquely disposed on the doping region and directly contacting the doping region.

Abstract: A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes an implant region of a second type formed in a crystalline layer of a first type. A channel of a transfer gate entirely covers the implant region, which partially joins a photodiode, a doped well and a floating diffusion node.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an open-irrigated ablation catheter. The open-irrigated ablation catheter may include a catheter body, an electrode tip body with one or more irrigation ports at a distal end, and a proximal insert for providing cooling fluid to a proximal end of the electrode tip body.

Abstract: An open-irrigated catheter system includes a catheter body and a tip assembly, coupled to a distal end of the catheter body. The tip assembly includes an exterior wall that is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy for an RF ablation procedure, and that defines an interior region. The exterior wall includes a number of proximal irrigation ports and a number of distal irrigation ports. At least one fluid chamber is defined within the interior region and is in fluid communication with at least one of the proximal irrigation ports and the distal irrigation ports. At least one fluid lumen extends from a fluid source, through the catheter body, to the tip assembly, and is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid chamber.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter for use in cardiac mapping and/or ablation. The catheter may include an elongate catheter shaft having a distal ablation electrode region capable of ablating tissue. An electrode assembly may be coupled to the distal ablation electrode region. The electrode assembly may include a flexible circuit having one or more electrodes disposed thereon.

Abstract: A process of forming a semiconductor device includes second-type blanket implanting a first-type semiconductor substrate to form a second-type implant layer therein; second-type implanting the semiconductor substrate through a first mask to form second-type wells in a second region of the semiconductor substrate; and first-type implanting the semiconductor substrate through a second mask to form isolations in a first region of the semiconductor substrate and to compensate complementary sub-regions of the second region.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, multiple pixel regions separately disposed in the substrate, and a pickup region including a doping region and a pick up plug obliquely disposed on the doping region and directly contacting the doping region.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor and a fabricating method of the image sensor. The image sensor comprises: a first type epitaxial layer, a photodiode region, a first type well region, a gate region of a source follower transistor, and a first type implant isolation region. The first type well region is formed within the first type epitaxial layer with a first horizontal distance to the photodiode region and a vertical distance to a surface of the first type epitaxial layer. The gate region of a source follower transistor is formed on the surface of the first type epitaxial layer and above the first type well region, and has a second horizontal distance to the photodiode region. There is a distance between the first type implant isolation region and the first type well region as an anti-blooming path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor and a fabricating method of the image sensor. The image sensor comprises: a first type epitaxial layer, a photodiode region, a first type well region, a gate region of a source follower transistor, and a first type implant isolation region. The first type well region is formed within the first type epitaxial layer with a first horizontal distance to the photodiode region and a vertical distance to a surface of the first type epitaxial layer. The gate region of a source follower transistor is formed on the surface of the first type epitaxial layer and above the first type well region, and has a second horizontal distance to the photodiode region. There is a distance between the first type implant isolation region and the first type well region as an anti-blooming path.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an open-irrigated ablation catheter. The open-irrigated ablation catheter may include a catheter body, an electrode tip body with one or more irrigation ports at a distal end, and a proximal insert for providing cooling fluid to a proximal end of the electrode tip body.

Abstract: Methods and devices for biasing a balloon catheter are disclosed. In one example, a medical device may include a catheter shaft and a balloon assembly coupled to a distal region of the catheter shaft. The balloon assembly can define a chamber configured to be inflated and deflated using a fluid supplied from the catheter shaft. A biasing member may be positioned in the chamber of the balloon assembly and may be configured to bias the balloon assembly to a longitudinally extended state without obstructing an exhaust lumen of the catheter shaft. In some cases, the biasing member may be a spring. In other cases, the biasing member may be a coiled portion of a fluid supply line.

Abstract: Methods and devices for bonding a balloon assembly, such as a balloon assembly including an inner balloon and an outer balloon, to a catheter shaft are disclosed. In some cases, a proximal waist of the inner balloon may be bonded to an interior surface of an outer tubular member of the catheter shaft and a proximal waist of the outer balloon may be bonded to an exterior surface of the outer tubular member. In other cases, the proximal waist of the inner balloon may be bonded to a reduced diameter portion of the outer tubular member of the catheter shaft and the proximal waist of the outer balloon may be bonded to the outer tubular member, such as a non-reduced outer diameter portion of the outer tubular member.

Abstract: An electrophysiology system comprises an ablation catheter, a radiofrequency generator, and a mapping processor. The ablation catheter has a tissue ablation electrode and a plurality of microelectrodes distributed about the circumference of the tissue ablation electrode and electrically isolated therefrom. The plurality of microelectrodes define a plurality of bipolar microelectrode pairs. The mapping processor is configured to acquire output signals from the bipolar microelectrode pairs, compare the output signals, and generate an output to a display providing a visual indication of a characteristic of the microelectrodes and the tissue ablation electrode relative to myocardial tissue to be mapped and/or ablated.

Abstract: A catheter can include a shaft; an inflatable balloon having a proximal end that is anchored to an end of the shaft; an elongate member that is separate from and disposed inside the shaft, extends into an interior chamber of the balloon, and is anchored to a distal end of the balloon; and a spring member that exerts a distally-oriented longitudinal force on the elongate member, relative to the shaft, where the distally-oriented longitudinal force causes the balloon to be biased in an extended position, away from the end of the shaft. The catheter can further include a sheath that surrounds the shaft and balloon before a treatment procedure. The balloon can be configured to be advanced outside the sheath during a treatment procedure and inflated, and the spring member can be configured to facilitate deflation and withdrawal of the balloon into the sheath following the procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor. The image sensor comprises a plurality of pixels. Each pixel comprises an optical element and at least a dummy metal segment disposed above the optical element, wherein the dummy metal segment is not directly above the optical element. The image sensor includes a dummy metal segment with a size different from a size of another dummy metal segment included in the image sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor. The image sensor comprises: a substrate, a plurality of optical elements, a first insulation layer, an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer, a second insulation layer, and a color filter array. The optical elements are disposed in the substrate. The first insulation layer is disposed on the substrate and the optical elements. The ARC layer is disposed on the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer is disposed on the ARC layer. The color filter array is disposed on the second insulation layer, and the color filter array comprises a plurality of color filters corresponding to a plurality of different colors of light, respectively. The ARC layer comprises a plurality of sections directly below the color filters in a vertical direction, respectively, and the sections have different inherent reflection characteristics. The image sensor of the present invention can increase sensitivity and reduce crosstalk.

Abstract: An image sensor structure, which comprises: a pixel; a first metal line; a second metal line, located under the first metal line; a conductive region, located under the second metal line; and at least one dummy contact, provided between the second metal line and the conductive region, wherein the second metal line and the conductive region are not electrically connected to each other via the dummy contact