Abstract: A connector for providing both a fluidic and electrical connection is disclosed, said connector having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated body in between, characterized in that the elongated body has an inner cavity spanning throughout its length, and the distal end comprises: a) an inner body portion comprising a first inner electrical contact and b) an outer body portion comprising a second outer electrical contact having a spring element. The connector is easily adaptable to many kind of fluidic actuators and particularly to pipette instruments usually found in laboratory practice and developed to adapt fluidic actuators and pipette instalments to work according to the Coulter principle in every working condition, in particular to adapt the electrical and fluidic connection between a sensing tip and an instrumented pipette.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor, includes a semiconductor substrate in which a source region and a drain region are disposed. The drain region has a drain finger terminating at a drain end. A gate structure is supported by the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region, the gate structure extending laterally beyond the drain end. A drift region in the semiconductor substrate extends laterally from the drain region to at least the gate structure. The drift region is characterized by a first distance between a first sidewall of the drain finger and a second sidewall of the gate structure, and the gate structure is laterally tilted away from the drain region at the drain end of the drain finger to a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A touch surface includes an array of rows of electrodes, means for injecting, at an input point on a row, an input voltage (VDRIVE), means for measuring an output voltage (VSENSE) at a second point in the row, p being the number of pitch spacings of the array separating the two points, the portion of the array between the first point and the second point being akin to an electric dipole of resistance (R(p)) and of capacitance (C), the output voltage (VSENSE) being equal to the product of the input voltage (VDRIVE) and a transfer function represented by a complex function (HSENSE).

Abstract: The particle (1) is suitable for the manufacture of an implantable soft tissue engineering material and comprises: a three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) where (i) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) is made from a biocompatible material having a Young's modulus of 1 kPa to 1 GPa; (ii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has an irregular shape which is encompassed in a virtual three-dimensional envelope (3) having a volume VE; (iii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has a mean sheet thickness T; iv) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has a volume VS; (v) the particle (1) has a Young's modulus of 100 Pa to 15 kPa; and (vi) the particle (1) further comprises a number of protrusions where the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) reaches the envelope (3); (vii) the particle (1) has a number of interconnected channel-type conduits (5) defined by the branching of the sheet (2) and/or by voids in the sheet (2); and (

Abstract: A connector for providing both a fluidic and electrical connection is disclosed, said connector having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongated body in between, characterized in that the elongated body has an inner cavity spanning throughout its length, and the distal end comprises: a) an inner body portion comprising a first inner electrical contact and b) an outer body portion comprising a second outer electrical contact having a spring element. The connector is easily adaptable to many kind of fluidic actuators and particularly to pipette instruments usually found in laboratory practice and developed to adapt fluidic actuators and pipette installments to work according to the Coulter principle in every working condition, in particular to adapt the electrical and fluidic connection between a sensing tip and an instrumented pipette.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact lens for use in the treatment of ocular inflammatory pathologies. The contact lens comprises a soft porous material coupled, in certain embodiments, with detoxifying agents. Said material and/or agents contact and neutralize inflammatory mediators present in the tear fluid of ocular pathologies patients. The nature and architecture of the soft porous material allows a greater contact area between the material itself and/or detoxifying agents with inflammatory mediators, in view of the reversible compression of the soft material that allows greater lachrymal fluid turnover and fluid exchange within the contact lens upon e.g. blinking.

Abstract: A steerable device for use as e.g. a guidewire for insertion into a subject's body is disclosed. The device features a single side deflection of a bendable portion located at its distal end by application of a longitudinally-directed force either on an inner pull wire or on said bendable portion. The bendable portion is characterized by the presence of a reinforcement structure on one lateral side and a stress relief portion on the opposed lateral side that, upon actuation of the device, allows single side bending thanks to the physical constriction of the reinforcement structure, limiting the compression of one side of the bendable portion. A system further comprising an actuator, as well as methods for using thereof, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides for a device (100) for use in electrical nerve modulation in a subject, characterized in that it comprises a rotational and linear actuator (110); a tubular element (101) having a proximal end connected to the actuator (110) and a distal end; a flexible shaft (102) coaxially disposed within the tubular element (101), comprising a proximal end operably connected to the actuator (110) and a distal end, and adapted to be slid along the tubular element (101); a conformable support (103) comprising a proximal end operably connected to the tubular element's (101) distal end, and a distal end operably connected to the flexible shaft's (102) distal end, having a portion of its length helically wrapped about a distal portion of the flexible shaft (102) so to define a pitch (500) and a radius (400); and a plurality of electrodes (104) operably disposed along the helically configured portion of the conformable support (103), and electrically connectable to a generator (200), adapted to contact the

Abstract: Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication, assembly and use of the same, to provide highly localized neural recording and/or neural stimulation to a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged protruding shafts. The protruding shafts are enclosed within an elongated probe shaft, and can be expanded from their enclosure. The microelectrode elements, and elongated probe shafts, are dimensioned in order to target small volumes of neurons located within the nervous system, such as in the deep brain region. Beneficially, the probe can be used to quickly identify the location of a neurological target, and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Abstract: A mattress includes a support surface for supporting the body of a patient, a plurality of inflatable cells arranged below the support surface, and a valve system. The plurality of inflatable cells are arranged in layers including a first layer of inflatable cells arranged below the support surface and a second layer of inflatable cells arranged below the first layer, wherein each inflatable cell of the first layer is arranged above at least one cell of the second layer. The valve system includes a plurality of valves, each valve being fluidly connected to one of the inflatable cells of the first and second layers and each valve being controllable to enable inflation and deflation of the inflatable cell.

Abstract: Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication, assembly and use of the same, to provide highly localized neural recording and/or neural stimulation to a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged protruding shafts. The protruding shafts are enclosed within an elongated probe shaft, and can be expanded from their enclosure. The microelectrode elements, and elongated probe shafts, are dimensioned in order to target small volumes of neurons located within the nervous system, such as in the deep brain region. Beneficially, the probe can be used to quickly identify the location of a neurological target, and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, such as a laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor, includes a semiconductor substrate in which a source region and a drain region are disposed. The drain region has a drain finger terminating at a drain end. A gate structure is supported by the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region, the gate structure extending laterally beyond the drain end. A drift region in the semiconductor substrate extends laterally from the drain region to at least the gate structure. The drift region is characterized by a first distance between a first sidewall of the drain finger and a second sidewall of the gate structure, and the gate structure is laterally tilted away from the drain region at the drain end of the drain finger to a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A system for isolating and enumerating cells or particles from a fluid are disclosed. The system includes a microfluidic chip and an impedance chip fluidly connected to the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes a substrate and a microfluidic channel disposed in the substrate between an inlet and an outlet. The microfluidic channel generates a vortex within the at least one expansion region in response to fluid flowing through the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication and use of the same, to provide highly localized and efficient electrical stimulation of a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged along an elongated probe shaft. The microelectrode elements are dimensioned and shaped so as to target individual neurons, groups of neurons, and neural tissue as may be located in an animal nervous system, such as deep within a human brain. Beneficially, the neurological probe can be used to facilitate location of the neurological target and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Abstract: A method of producing a cryogel-based multicompartment 3D scaffold is herein disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a first frozen polymeric layer on a refrigerated support kept at subzero temperature; b) providing subsequent polymeric layers to obtain a stack of polymeric layers by possibly modulating the subzero temperature of the refrigerated support; c) optionally incubating the final polymeric structure at subzero temperature; and d) placing the produced cryogel at a temperature above 0° C., the method being characterized in that each subsequent layer i) is deposited on the previous one after freezing of this latter; ii) is deposited on the previous one before the complete polymerization of this latter; and iii) is deposited with a temperature higher than the freezing temperature of the previously deposited layer. Cryogel scaffolds obtained from the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are microelectrode array devices, and methods of fabrication and use of the same, to provide highly localized and efficient electrical stimulation of a neurological target. The device includes multiple microelectrode elements arranged along an elongated probe shaft. The microelectrode elements are dimensioned and shaped so as to target individual neurons, groups of neurons, and neural tissue as may be located in an animal nervous system, such as deep within a human brain. Beneficially, the neurological probe can be used to facilitate location of the neurological target and remain implanted for long-term monitoring and/or stimulation.

Abstract: A sensing tip including a pipette tip having a cavity which communicates with an external environment of the pipette tip through an aperture located at a distal end of the pipette tip, and an impedance sensor having a sensing area including at least two electrodes located respectively outside and inside the pipette tip, wherein the sensing area is arranged within the aperture.

Abstract: A device with touch surface with projected capacitive detection comprising a matrix touchscreen comprises a plurality of conductive rows and of conductive columns, the screen linked to electronic control means generating, for each conductive row and for each conductive column, transmission signals and electronic means for receiving and analyzing the reception signals from each conductive row and from each conductive column. Each row of the device comprises, at one of its ends, first means for generating a first transmission signal and first means for receiving a first reception signal and, at its opposite end, second means for generating a second transmission signal and second means for receiving a second reception signal, the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal being synchronous, having the same frequency, the same amplitude and the same phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is an austenitic stainless steel alloy that includes, by weight, about 22% to about 28% chromium, about 3.5% to about 6.5% nickel, about 1% to about 6% manganese, about 0.5% to about 2.5% silicon, about 0.3% to about 0.6% carbon, about 0.2% to about 0.8% nitrogen, and a balance of iron. Molybdenum, niobium, and tungsten are excluded. The alloy is suitable for use in turbocharger turbine housing applications for temperature up to about 980° C.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices include a semiconductor substrate containing a source region and a drain region, a gate structure supported by the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region, a composite drift region in the semiconductor substrate, the composite drift region extending laterally from the drain region to at least an edge of the gate structure, the composite drift region including dopant having a first conductivity type, wherein at least a portion of the dopant is buried beneath the drain region at a depth exceeding an ion implantation range, and a well region in the semiconductor substrate. The well region has a second conductivity type and is configured to form a channel therein under the gate structure during operation. Methods for the fabrication of semiconductor devices are described.