Abstract: A method and system for monitoring physiological parameters is useful for remote auscultation of the heart and lungs. The system includes an acoustic sensor (105) that has a stethoscopic cup (305). A membrane (325) is positioned adjacent to a first end of the stethoscopic cup (305), and an impedance matching element (335) is positioned adjacent to the membrane (325). The element (335) provides for acoustic impedance matching with a body such as a human torso. A microphone (315) is positioned near the other end of the stethoscopic cup (305) so as to detect sounds from the body. A signal-conditioning module (110) is then operatively connected to the acoustic sensor (105), and a wireless transceiver (115) is operatively connected to the signal-conditioning module (110). Auscultation can then occur at a remote facility that receives signals sent from the transceiver (115).

Abstract: An optical communication between a waveguide core of an optical waveguide and a fiber core of an optical fiber is established. The fiber core is embedded within a fiber cladding with a portion of the fiber core being exposed through a section of the fiber cladding. The waveguide core is composed of refractive index material which is modified by heat or chemicals to facilitate a coupling of the waveguide core and the exposed section of the fiber core upon a pressing of the exposed section into the heated or chemically treated waveguide core.

Abstract: A method and device of detecting a molecule, such as DNA or RNA, is provided. The device includes a substrate having an array of at least one biodetection site. The biodetection site is in contact with an electrical resonator. A biochemical probe is applied to the site and is subsequently interacted with the target biomolecule at the site. The magnetic properties of the biodetection site are measured and may be correlated with the presence and quantity of biomolecules at the site. Methods of using the device to detect the presence and determine the quantity of molecules at the site are also provided.

Abstract: A thin-film metal resistor (44) suitable for a multilayer printed circuit board (12), and a method for its fabrication. The resistor (44) generally has a multilayer construction, with the individual layers (34, 38) of the resistor (44) being self-aligned with each other so that a negative mutual inductance is produced that very nearly cancels out the self-inductance of each resistor layer (34, 38). As a result, the resistor (44) has a very low net parasitic inductance. In addition, the multilayer construction of the resistor (44) reduces the area of the circuit board (12) required to accommodate the resistor (44), and as a result reduces the problem of parasitic interactions with other circuit elements on other layers of the circuit board (12).

Abstract: A thin-film metal resistor (44) suitable for a multilayer printed circuit board (12), and a method for its fabrication. The resistor (44) generally has a multilayer construction, with the individual layers (34, 38) of the resistor (44) being self-aligned with each other so that a negative mutual inductance is produced that very nearly cancels out the self-inductance of each resistor layer (34, 38). As a result, the resistor (44) has a very low net parasitic inductance. In addition, the multilayer construction of the resistor (44) reduces the area of the circuit board (12) required to accommodate the resistor (44), and as a result reduces the problem of parasitic interactions with other circuit elements on other layers of the circuit board (12).