Abstract: An ultrasound transducer device made by a process that includes the steps of forming depositing a first layer on a substrate, depositing a second layer on the first layer, patterning the second layer at a region corresponding to a location of a transducer cavity, depositing a third layer that refills regions created by patterning the second layer, planarizing the third layer to a top surface of the second layer, removing the second layer, conformally depositing a fourth layer over the first layer and the third layer, defining the transducer cavity in a support layer formed over the fourth layer; and bonding a membrane to the support layer.

Abstract: System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

Abstract: System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for coupling an optical beam from an optical source to a hi-tech system are described. A compact, low-cost beam-shaping and steering assembly may be located between the optical source and hi-tech system and provide automated adjustments to beam parameters such as beam position, beam rotation, and beam incident angles. The beam-shaping and steering assembly may be used to couple an elongated beam to a plurality of optical waveguides.

Abstract: The invention provides particle compositions having applications in nucleic acid analysis. Nucleic acid polymer particles of the invention allow polynucleotides to be attached throughout their volumes for higher loading capacities than those achievable solely with surface attachment. In one aspect, nucleic acid polymer particles of the invention comprise polyacrylamide particles with uniform size distributions having low coefficients of variations, which result in reduced particle-to-particle variation in analytical assays. Such particle compositions are used in various amplification reactions to make amplicon libraries from nucleic acid fragment libraries.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for coupling an optical beam from an optical source to a hi-tech system are described. A compact, low-cost beam-shaping and steering assembly may be located between the optical source and hi-tech system and provide automated adjustments to beam parameters such as beam position, beam rotation, and beam incident angles. The beam-shaping and steering assembly may be used to couple an elongated beam to a plurality of optical waveguides.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons. The photodetection region is configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons. The integrated circuit also includes at least one charge carrier storage region. The integrated circuit also includes a charge carrier segregation structure configured to selectively direct charge carriers of the plurality of charge carriers into the at least one charge carrier storage region based upon times at which the charge carriers are produced.

Abstract: Methods of sequencing molecules based on luminescence lifetimes and/or intensities are provided. In some aspects, methods of sequencing nucleic acids involve determining the luminescence lifetimes, and optionally luminescence intensities, of a series of luminescently labeled nucleotides incorporated during a nucleic acid sequencing reaction.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a magnetics system comprising: a B0 magnet configured to provide a B0 field for the MRI system; gradient coils configured to provide gradient fields for the MRI system; and at least one RF coil configured to detect magnetic resonance (MR) signals; and a controller configured to: control the magnetics system to acquire MR spatial frequency data using non-Cartesian sampling; and generate an MR image from the acquired MR spatial frequency data using a neural network model comprising one or more neural network blocks including a first neural network block, wherein the first neural network block is configured to perform data consistency processing using a non-uniform Fourier transformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a human subject in need of such treatment. The methods comprise administering to the subject via inhalation an aerosol composition comprising rapamycin or a prodrug or derivative (including analog) thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting an association between input data in a first modality and data in a second modality using a statistical model trained to represent interactions between data having a plurality of modalities including the first modality and the second modality, the statistical model comprising a plurality of encoders and decoders, each of which is trained to process data for one of the plurality of modalities, and a joint-modality representation coupling the plurality of encoders and decoders. The method comprises selecting, based on the first modality and the second modality, an encoder/decoder pair or a pair of encoders, from among the plurality of encoders and decoders, and processing the input data with the joint-modality representation and the selected encoder/decoder pair or pair of encoders to predict the association between the input data and the data in the second modality.

Abstract: To implement a single-chip ultrasonic imaging solution, on-chip signal processing may be employed in the receive signal path to reduce data bandwidth and a high-speed serial data module may be used to move data for all received channels off-chip as digital data stream. The digitization of received signals on-chip allows advanced digital signal processing to be performed on-chip, and thus permits the full integration of an entire ultrasonic imaging system on a single semiconductor substrate. Various novel waveform generation techniques, transducer configuration and biasing methodologies, etc., are likewise disclosed. HIFU methods may additionally or alternatively be employed as a component of the “ultrasound-on-a-chip” solution disclosed herein.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: In some aspects, a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a B0 magnet and at least one thermal management component configured to transfer heat away from the B0 magnet during operation is provided. The method comprises providing operating power to the B0 magnet, monitoring a temperature of the B0 magnet to determine a current temperature of the B0 magnet, and operating the at least one thermal management component at less than operational capacity in response to an occurrence of at least one event.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays and combinatorial chemistry. The invention provides for aqueous based emulsions containing uniquely labeled cells, enzymes, nucleic acids, etc., wherein the emulsions further comprise primers, labels, probes, and other reactants. An oil based carrier-fluid envelopes the emulsion library on a microfluidic device, such that a continuous channel provides for flow of the immiscible fluids, to accomplish pooling, coalescing, mixing, sorting, detection, etc., of the emulsion library.

Abstract: System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes at least one waveguide configured to propagate excitation energy to the sample wells from a region of the integrated device configured to couple with an excitation energy source. A pixel may also include at least one element for directing the emission energy towards a sensor within the pixel. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

Abstract: An active-source-pixel, integrated device capable of performing biomolecule detection and/or analysis, such as single-molecule nucleic acid sequencing, is described. An active pixel of the integrated device includes a sample well into which a sample to be analyzed may diffuse, an excitation source for providing excitation energy to the sample well, and a sensor configured to detect emission from the sample. The sensor may comprise two or more segments that produce a set of signals that are analyzed to differentiate between and identify tags that are attached to, or associated with, the sample. Tag differentiation may be spectral and/or temporal based. Identification of the tags may be used to detect, analyze, and/or sequence the biomolecule.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a photodetection region configured to receive incident photons. The photodetection region is configured to produce a plurality of charge carriers in response to the incident photons. The integrated circuit includes at least one charge carrier storage region. The integrated circuit also includes a charge carrier segregation structure configured to selectively direct charge carriers of the plurality of charge carriers directly into the at least one charge carrier storage region based upon times at which the charge carriers are produced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques and apparatus for capturing an image of a person's retina fundus, identifying the person, accessing various electronic records (including health records) or accounts or devices associated with the person, determining the person's predisposition to certain diseases, and/or diagnosing health issues of the person. Some embodiments provide imaging apparatus having one or more imaging devices for capturing one or more images of a person's eye(s). Imaging apparatus described herein may include electronics for analyzing and/or exchanging captured image and/or health data with other devices. In accordance with various embodiments, imaging apparatus described herein may be alternatively or additionally configured for biometric identification and/or health status determination techniques, as described herein.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatuses, cartridges, and pumps for peristaltic pumping of fluids and associated methods, systems, and devices. The pumping of fluids is, in certain cases, an important aspect of a variety of applications, such as bioanalytical applications (e.g., biological sample analysis, sequencing, identification). The inventive features described herein may, in some embodiments, provide an ability to pump fluids in ways that combine certain advantages of robotic fluid handling systems (e.g., automation, programmability, configurability, flexibility) with certain advantages of microfluidics (e.g., small fluid volumes with high fluid resolution, precision, monolithic consumables, limiting of the wetting of components to consumables).