Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to deliver a prosthetic heart valve to a deficient valve. In one embodiment, for instance, a support structure and an expandable prosthetic valve are advanced through the aortic arch of a patient using a delivery system. The support structure is delivered to a position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve (the support structure defining a support-structure interior). The expandable prosthetic valve is delivered into the aortic valve and into the support-structure interior. The expandable prosthetic heart valve is expanded while the expandable prosthetic heart valve is in the support-structure interior and while the support structure is at the position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of the aortic valve, thereby causing one or more native leaflets of the aortic valve to be frictionally secured between the support structure and the expanded prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may be related to apparatuses, processes, and techniques related to a bidirectional optical grating coupler that may be used for testing. A photonic apparatus includes a first layer with electro-optical circuitry that is optically coupled with a bidirectional optical grating coupler. A second layer is physically coupled with a first side of the first layer and includes a first light path to optically coupled with the bidirectional optical grating coupler. A third layer is physically coupled with a second side of the first layer opposite the first side of the first layer, and includes a second light path that optically couples with the bidirectional grating coupler. Operational testing of the electro-optical circuitry is based in part on light received or transmitted through the second light path. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods employing wormhole structures supporting ultra-high density optical routing systems. Microstructures comprising wormhole tunnels are formed in optical looms with wormhole openings arranged in patterns, such as a high-density XY grid. Optical fibers are inserted into respective wormhole tunnels, and sleeves are used to precisely align fiber ends. A rack loom comprising a wormhole backplane is fabricated in a similar manner, with wormhole openings arrayed in the same patterns. The sleeves comprise plug-receptacle sleeve pairs, where when an optical loom (or connector bar of the optical loom) face urged toward the front face of the rack loom, the plug and receptacle sleeves are mated, resulting in precise alignment of the optical fiber ends in the pairs of sleeves. Palpebral structures may also be fabricated to provide a self-cleaning function with optional lubrication.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems, apparatuses, or techniques for using an optical physical layer die within a system-on-a-chip to optically couple with an optical physical layer die on another package to provide high-bandwidth memory access between the system-on-a-chip and the other package. In embodiments, the other package may be a large optically connected memory device that includes a memory controller coupled with an optical physical layer die, where the memory controller is coupled with memory. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.