Abstract: Provided are a porous silicone resin and a light-weight flexible flame-retardant composite material, belonging to the technical field of nano-porous materials. The porous silicon resin is prepared from a porous silicon resin precursor solution by means of curing and drying processes. The porous silicone resin precursor solution includes a flame retardant, a surfactant, a siloxane monomer, a catalyst, an auxiliary agent and a solvent. The porous silicone resin precursor solution is obtained by firstly dissolving the flame retardant and the surfactant in the solvent, and then adding the siloxane monomer, the catalyst and the auxiliary agent and mixing them uniformly. The porous silicone resin and the light-weight flexible flame-retardant composite material prepared therefrom have the excellent properties of high porosity, high flame retardancy, high elasticity and high strain.

Abstract: A detonator for an explosive material is described. The detonator includes a semiconductor bridge, coupled with the explosive material, including thermal feedback mechanism is provided via one or more thermistors. An exemplary mechanism includes a semiconductor bridge with a polysilicon resistor and a pair of thermistors. The two thermistors are disposed to be substantially close to or sandwich the polysilicon resistor. When the temperature surrounding the polysilicon resistor is getting upwards, the temperature surrounding the thermistors is equally going up. When the temperature reaches a critical point, but below the threshold of the polysilicon resistor, the resistance of the thermistors drops suddenly or drastically, causing the current driving up the temperature of the polysilicon resistor to divert through the VOX temp resistors. Subsequently the current going through the polysilicon resistor is reduced, causing the temperature to drop downwards.

Abstract: A device and method of using the device for high throughput production of emulsions having low coefficient of variation droplet/particle sizes.

Abstract: A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems, such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system. The micropump uses electrode sequences on opposing surfaces of a flow chamber that are staggered with respect to each other. The opposing surfaces include staggered electrodes that have the same phase and same electrode sequence. As such electrodes with the same phase are staggered and not eclipsed.

Abstract: A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems, such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system. The micropump uses electrode sequences on opposing surfaces of a flow chamber that are staggered with respect to each other. The opposing surfaces include staggered electrodes that have the same phase and same electrode sequence. As such electrodes with the same phase are staggered and not eclipsed.

Abstract: A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for the administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for airborne particle contamination control, comprising: creating a simulation by modeling a turbulent airflow in an environment that includes an equipment of interest; plotting a flow parameter on the simulation to visualize a flow field of air according to a current design; creating an injection point on the simulation for particles in the environment; determining a particle concentration of the particles; determining, by a computing device and from the particle concentration, whether the current design provides contamination control; in response to determining that the current design does not provide contamination control, creating a modified design; and providing the modified design for implementation. The present invention further relates to a computing device for airborne particle contamination control. The present invention still further relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium for airborne particle contamination control.

Abstract: A method of designing a die cavity that may include performing a flow analysis using characteristics of a predetermined die cavity, density and rheological properties of a material, and a flow rate of the material to calculate the pressure distribution exerted on the die cavity and cross-sectional flow profile. The method further includes a structural analysis using the calculated pressure distribution and structural characteristics of the die cavity to calculate a deformed die cavity. The flow analysis is repeated using the characteristics of the deformed die cavity to calculate a pressure distribution exerted on the die cavity and cross-sectional flow profile. The outcome is compared to determine if the pressure distributions and/or cross-sectional flow profiles converge. These steps are iteratively repeated until convergence of the pressure and/or cross-sectional flow profile is observed. The variation of the cross-sectional flow profile is analyzed to determine if it is below a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: Methods of using computer based models for simulating a porous media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for airborne particle contamination control, comprising: creating a simulation by modeling a turbulent airflow in an environment that includes an equipment of interest; plotting a flow parameter on the simulation to visualize a flow field of air according to a current design; creating an injection point on the simulation for particles in the environment; determining a particle concentration of the particles; determining, by a computing device and from the particle concentration, whether the current design provides contamination control; in response to determining that the current design does not provide contamination control, creating a modified design; and providing the modified design for implementation. The present invention further relates to a computing device for airborne particle contamination control. The present invention still further relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium for airborne particle contamination control.

Abstract: A method of designing a die cavity can include performing a flow analysis using characteristics of a predetermined die cavity design, density and rheological properties of a material to be extruded, and a flow rate of the material to calculate the pressure distribution exerted on the die cavity and cross-sectional flow profile. The method further includes performing a structural analysis using the calculated pressure distribution and structural characteristics of the die cavity to calculate a deformed die cavity. The flow analysis is then repeated using the characteristics of the deformed die cavity to calculate a pressure distribution exerted on the die cavity and cross-sectional flow profile. The calculated pressure distributions and/or cross-sectional flow profiles are compared to determine if the pressure distributions and/or cross-sectional flow profiles converge. These steps are iteratively repeated until convergence of the pressure and/or cross-sectional flow profile is observed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the micro-scale, dielectrophoretic separation of particles are provided. Fluid suspensions of particles are sorted and separated by dielectrophoretic separation chambers that have at least two consecutive, electrically coupled planar electrodes separated by a gap in a fluid flow channel. The gap distance as well as applied potential can be used to control the dielectrophoretic forces generated. Using consecutive, electrically coupled electrodes rather than electrically coupled opposing electrodes facilitates higher flow volumes and rates. The methods and apparatus can be used, for example, to sort living, damaged, diseased, and/or dead cells and functionalized or ligand-bound polymer beads for subsequent identification and/or analysis.

Abstract: The present invention is an ultrasonic thrombectomy catheter that produces physical forces (shear rates) strong enough to emulsify obstructions such as thrombi and emboli without causing damage to arterial walls. This is accomplished by properly arranging piezoelectric transducers within a catheter and a tubular catheter head separated by a gap to generate acoustic streaming that simultaneously emulsifies the obstruction and sweeps resulting debris into a catheter lumen for removal. The open gap may be formed by supporting struts that connect the catheter to the catheter head. The design of the catheter tip allows the fabrication of catheters capable of removing partial or complete blockages from arteries and other vessels having diameters as small as 2 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mixing and self-cleaning elements in microfluidic systems based on electrothermally induced fluid flow. The apparatus and methods provide for the control of fluid flow in and between components in a microfluidic system to cause the removal of unwanted liquids and particulates or mixing of liquids. The geometry and position of electrodes is adjusted to generate a temperature gradient in the liquid, thereby causing a non-uniform distribution of dielectric properties within the liquid. The dielectric non-uniformity produces a body force and flow in the solution, which is controlled by element and electrode geometries, electrode placement, and the frequency and waveform of the applied voltage.

Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatic collector for low cost, high throughput, high efficiency sampling and concentration of bioaerosols. The device is small enough to be portable and can be contained within or placed on the wall of a typical office or hospital building. The collector comprises one or more collector modules, each having an ionizing electrode, a conical outer electrode, a wet collection electrode, and a liquid collection system. Airflow through a collector module may be partially blocked to enhance the collection of smaller particles and the collection electrode may comprise multiple, programmable electrodes to focus particle deposition onto a smaller area. Particles are collected into a small volume of liquid to facilitate subsequent analysis by an attached analyzer or at a remote site.

Abstract: The present invention is an ultrasonic thrombectomy catheter that produces physical forces (shear rates) strong enough to emulsify obstructions such as thrombi and emboli without causing damage to arterial walls. This is accomplished by properly arranging piezoelectric transducers within a catheter and a tubular catheter head separated by a gap to generate acoustic streaming that simultaneously emulsifies the obstruction and sweeps resulting debris into a catheter lumen for removal. The open gap may be formed by supporting struts that connect the catheter to the catheter head. The design of the catheter tip allows the fabrication of catheters capable of removing partial or complete blockages from arteries and other vessels having diameters as small as 2 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mixing and self-cleaning elements in microfluidic systems based on electrothermally induced fluid flow. The apparatus and methods provide for the control of fluid flow in and between components in a microfluidic system to cause the removal of unwanted liquids and particulates or mixing of liquids. The geometry and position of electrodes is adjusted to generate a temperature gradient in the liquid, thereby causing a non-uniform distribution of dielectric properties within the liquid. The dielectric non-uniformity produces a body force and flow in the solution, which is controlled by element and electrode geometries, electrode placement, and the frequency and waveform of the applied voltage.

Abstract: A micropump that pumps liquid using electrothermally-induced flow is described, along with a corresponding self-regulating pump and infusion pump. The micropump has applications in microfluidic systems such as biochips. The self-regulating infusion pump is useful for the administration of large and small volumes of liquids such as drugs to patients and can be designed for a wide range of flow rates by combining multiple micropumps in one infusion pump system.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling flow motion in a channel/cavity in a microfluidic system includes positioning at least one pair of electrodes in and/or proximate to the channel/cavity. A buffer solution is placed in the channel/cavity, the buffer solution having at least one dielectric property that varies in response to changes in temperature of the solution. An AC/DC voltage is applied to the electrodes to generate an electric field in the channel/cavity; the AC voltage having a known magnitude and frequency and the DC voltage having a known magnitude. The magnitude of the AC/DC voltage is adjusted to cause Joule heating of the buffer solution in the channel/cavity. The geometry and position of the electrodes is adjusted to generate a temperature gradient in the buffer solution, thereby causing a non-uniform distribution of the dielectric property within the solution in the channel/cavity. The dielectric non-uniformity produces a body force and flow in the solution.

Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatic collector for low cost, high throughput, high efficiency sampling and concentration of bioaerosols. The device is small enough to be portable and can be contained within or placed on the wall of a typical office or hospital building. The collector comprises one or more collector modules, each having an ionizing electrode, a conical outer electrode, a wet collection electrode, and a liquid collection system. Airflow through a collector module may be partially blocked to enhance the collection of smaller particles and the collection electrode may comprise multiple, programmable electrodes to focus particle deposition onto a smaller area. Particles are collected into a small volume of liquid to facilitate subsequent analysis by an attached analyzer or at a remote site.