Abstract: A method for fabricating a micro-fabricated device comprising a cavity-defining surface which defines a cavity, comprises: fabricating a channel that provides fluid communication with the cavity, the channel comprising a Tesla valve for permitting fluid flow in a first direction out of the cavity and through the channel while impeding fluid flow through the channel into the cavity in a second direction opposed to the first direction; and applying a sealing material to the device to thereby seal the channel, wherein applying the sealing material comprises: introducing the sealing material to the channel; and depositing the sealing material onto one or more channel-defining surfaces. The sealing material is prevented from reaching the cavity at least in part by the action of the Tesla valve.

Abstract: An endoscopic probe comprises a flexible light guide extending from a proximal end of the endoscopic probe to a distal end portion of the endoscopic probe. A motor is disposed in the distal end portion of the endoscopic probe. The motor comprises a rotor coupled to drive rotation of a light deflector. The light deflector is located between the rotor and a distal end of the endoscopic probe. The rotor is configured to provide a light path extending axially through the rotor. The light path arranged to carry light between the light deflector and the light guide. The endoscopic probe may be applied for helical scanning walls of small passages in any of a wide range of modalities such as OCT, fluorescence imaging, Raman spectroscopy, reflectance imaging.

Abstract: An assembly and planar structure for use therein which is expandable into a 3-D structure such as a stent and device for making the planar structure are provided. The planar structure permits the use of planar batch manufacturing technologies to fabricate coronary artery stents. Stents with different wall patterns are fabricated from 50 ?m thick stainless steel foil using micro-electro-discharge machining, and expanded to tubular shapes by using angioplasty balloons. The stents are free-standing. The free-standing stents exhibit diameter variations of <±4%, almost zero radial recoil after deflation of the balloon, and longitudinal shrinkage of <3% upon expansion. A variation of the stents uses breakable links to provide additional customization of electrical and mechanical properties. Loading tests reveal that the radial strengths match commercially available stents, while longitudinal compliance, at 0.02 m/N for a 4 mm long section of the stent, is substantially higher.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology include a micromachined implantable drug delivery devices, grippers, and syringes that are wirelessly powered and controlled by frequency tuning of external radiofrequency (RF) magnetic fields. An illustrative device can be designed and constructed with passive circuitry and microvalves that operate without batteries, e.g., through thermal actuation of hydrogel microvalves and/or shape-memory alloy members. The frequency selectivity in the device control provides not only a path to achieving reliable and safe operation of drug delivery but also potential applications for selective delivery of multiple drugs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology include a micromachined implantable drug delivery devices, grippers, and syringes that are wirelessly powered and controlled by frequency tuning of external radiofrequency (RF) magnetic fields. An illustrative device can be designed and constructed with passive circuitry and microvalves that operate without batteries, e.g., through thermal actuation of hydrogel microvalves and/or shape-memory alloy members. The frequency selectivity in the device control provides not only a path to achieving reliable and safe operation of drug delivery but also potential applications for selective delivery of multiple drugs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electromagnetic flow sensor device for monitoring flow of fluid in a channel. The sensor device includes a first electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, a second electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, and a radially expandable frame to structurally support the first electrode and the second electrode while conforming to the channel to position the first electrode and the second electrode along the channel. The device may also include an antenna coupled to the first and second electrodes to wirelessly provide an indication of a voltage induced between the first and second electrodes. In some embodiments, the radially expandable frame includes an insulating link such that the first and second electrodes are not electrically connected via the radially expandable frame.

Abstract: An inductive sensor includes an inductor comprising conductive loops and at least one hinge mechanically coupling the loops. Operation of the hinge changes the position of the loops and causes a change in the inductance of the sensor. A sensor material may be oriented with respect to the loops so that a dimensional change of the sensor material operates the hinge and causes the change in the position of the loops.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stent device useful for maintaining the patency of a lumen while monitoring an intraluminal characteristic. The device includes a structure having a set of extendible bands that are capable of plastic deformation to form a scaffolding having an inductance, and further includes a capacitance coupled to the set of extendible bands and responsive to the intraluminal characteristic. The capacitance and the inductance form a tank circuit after the plastic deformation of the set of extendible bands to enable wireless transmission of an indication of the intraluminal characteristic.

Abstract: An inductive sensor includes an inductor having one or more loops and a sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material. The sensor material is oriented within the loops of the inductor so that the dimensional change of the sensor material produces a dimensional change of the inductor. The dimensional change of the inductor alters the inductance of the inductor.

Abstract: An inductive sensor includes an inductor comprising conductive loops and at least one hinge mechanically coupling the loops. Operation of the hinge changes the position of the loops and causes a change in the inductance of the sensor. A sensor material may be oriented with respect to the loops so that a dimensional change of the sensor material operates the hinge and causes the change in the position of the loops.

Abstract: A micromachined probe apparatus and methods for making and using same to characterize liquid in a fluidic channel and map embedded charge in a sample on a substrate are provided. The probe apparatus includes an integrated scanning tip and a dither actuation mechanism. The actuation is achieved using a bent-beam electrothermal actuator, and the probe tip is insulated from the actuator with a wide isolation gap. The device is fabricated by a modified micro electro-discharge machining process which allows electrical isolation within the micromachined structure using an epoxy plug. The apparatus may be used to measure changes in the external surface potential of a microfluidic channel as a function of varying pH of liquid inside the channel. The apparatus also may be used to map embedded charge in a thin layer on a substrate, showing it to be suitable for monitoring microelectronics manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electromagnetic flow sensor device for monitoring flow of fluid in a channel. The sensor device includes a first electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, a second electrode to be disposed along the channel and in communication with the fluid, and a radially expandable frame to structurally support the first electrode and the second electrode while conforming to the channel to position the first electrode and the second electrode along the channel. The device may also include an antenna coupled to the first and second electrodes to wirelessly provide an indication of a voltage induced between the first and second electrodes. In some embodiments, the radially expandable frame includes an insulating link such that the first and second electrodes are not electrically connected via the radially expandable frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stent device useful for maintaining the patency of a lumen while monitoring an intraluminal characteristic. The device includes a structure having a set of extendible bands that are capable of plastic deformation to form a scaffolding having an inductance, and further includes a capacitance coupled to the set of extendible bands and responsive to the intraluminal characteristic. The capacitance and the inductance form a tank circuit after the plastic deformation of the set of extendible bands to enable wireless transmission of an indication of the intraluminal characteristic.

Abstract: A micromachined probe apparatus and methods for making and using same to characterize liquid in a fluidic channel and map embedded charge in a sample on a substrate are provided. The probe apparatus includes an integrated scanning tip and a dither actuation mechanism. The actuation is achieved using a bent-beam electrothermal actuator, and the probe tip is insulated from the actuator with a wide isolation gap. The device is fabricated by a modified micro electro-discharge machining process which allows electrical isolation within the micromachined structure using an epoxy plug. The apparatus may be used to measure changes in the external surface potential of a microfluidic channel as a function of varying pH of liquid inside the channel. The apparatus also may be used to map embedded charge in a thin layer on a substrate, showing it to be suitable for monitoring microelectronics manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An assembly and planar structure for use therein which is expandable into a 3-D structure such as a stent and device for making the planar structure are provided. The planar structure permits the use of planar batch manufacturing technologies to fabricate coronary artery stents. Stents with different wall patterns are fabricated from 50 &mgr;m thick stainless steel foil using micro-electro-discharge machining, and expanded to tubular shapes by using angioplasty balloons. The stents are free-standing. The free-standing stents exhibit diameter variations of <±4%, almost zero radial recoil after deflation of the balloon, and longitudinal shrinkage of <3% upon expansion. A variation of the stents uses breakable links to provide additional customization of electrical and mechanical properties. Loading tests reveal that the radial strengths match commercially available stents, while longitudinal compliance, at 0.02 m/N for a 4 mm long section of the stent, is substantially higher.

Abstract: A micro-electro-discharge machining apparatus includes a substrate, a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes on the substrate arranged in an array, and a plurality of electrical interconnect lines formed on the substrate extending to one or more of the electrodes. An electrical power source is connected from one of its terminals through a resistor to each of the interconnect lines and from its other terminal to a workpiece to be machined. The electrodes connected to different interconnect lines may charge and discharge independently of each other, speeding up the machining process. An interconnect line may extend individually to each electrode so that all of the electrodes can charge and discharge independently of the others. The capacitor that is charged to produce the discharge voltage may be a separate discrete capacitor or a conductive substrate.

Abstract: Micro-electro-discharge machining is carried out utilizing a semiconductor array electrode having a substrate with a face surface and electrode protrusions extending from the face surface. The array electrode may be formed by lithographically patterning a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon wafer utilizing lithographic techniques of the type used in semiconductor device processing. The electrode protrusions in the surface of the substrate may be coated with a conducting metal. The electrode is positioned adjacent to a workpiece and a power supply is connected to the electrode and the workpiece to charge a capacitor until discharge takes place between the electrode protrusions and the surface of the workpiece, to electro-discharge-machine the workpiece to replicate the pattern of electrode protrusions into the workpiece.

Abstract: A micro-electro-discharge machining apparatus includes a substrate, a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes on the substrate arranged in an array, and a plurality of electrical interconnect lines formed on the substrate extending to one or more of the electrodes. An electrical power source is connected from one of its terminals through a resistor to each of the interconnect lines and from its other terminal to a workpiece to be machined. The electrodes connected to different interconnect lines may charge and discharge independently of each other, speeding up the machining process. An interconnect line may extend individually to each electrode so that all of the electrodes can charge and discharge independently of the others.

Abstract: A discharge-pumped gas laser, typically a discharge-pumped excimer laser, includes a main discharge circuit for producing an electric discharge in a laser gas to excite the laser gas for laser emission. The main discharge circuit comprises a first electric circuit having a thyratron, a charging circuit including a charging capacitor for storing an electric energy to operate the thyratron, and a discharging circuit including a pair of main discharge electrodes and a peaking capacitor for storing an electric energy to cause a main discharge in the laser gas between the main discharge electrodes. The laser gas is preionized by preionizers having a plurality of preionizing electrodes which produce an electric discharge to preionize the laser gas.

Abstract: A discharge-pumped gas laser has a pressure container filled with a laser gas under pressure and a pair of elongate main discharge electrodes. The main discharge electrodes are disposed in the pressure container in confronting relationship to each other for producing an electric discharge in the laser gas in a main discharge region defined therebetween to excite the laser gas for laser emission. The laser gas is circulated to flow through the main discharge region in a direction perpendicular to the main discharge electrodes. The laser gas in the main discharge region is preionized by an UV preionizer disposed either upstream or downstream of the main discharge region with respect to the direction of flow of the laser beam. The pressure container houses a baffle partition for controlling the laser gas to flow past one of the main discharge electrodes and the preionizer while blocking the laser gas from directly flowing to the other of the main discharge electrodes and the preionizer.