Abstract: Temporary pacing catheters for pacing a patient’s heart and methods of use. The pacing catheter may include variable stiffness shaft. A distal portion of the pacing catheter may carry one or more electrodes for pacing the patient’s heart. The pacing catheter may include a lumen configured to receive a shaping instrument. The pacing catheter may have a first configuration when advanced to the patient’s heart without the shaping instrument and a second configuration configured to stabilize the pacing catheter within the patient’s heart when the shaping instrument is introduced through the lumen.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate having an N-active region and a P-active region, a layer of silicon-carbon positioned on an upper surface of the N-active region, a first layer of a first semiconductor material positioned on the layer of silicon-carbon, a second layer of the first semiconductor material positioned on an upper surface of the P-active region, and a layer of a second semiconductor material positioned on the second layer of the first semiconductor material. An N-type transistor is positioned in and above the N-active region and a P-type transistor is positioned in and above the P-active region.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate having an N-active region and a P-active region, a layer of silicon-carbon positioned on an upper surface of the N-active region, a first layer of a first semiconductor material positioned on the layer of silicon-carbon, a second layer of the first semiconductor material positioned on an upper surface of the P-active region, and a layer of a second semiconductor material positioned on the second layer of the first semiconductor material. An N-type transistor is positioned in and above the N-active region and a P-type transistor is positioned in and above the P-active region.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing a first plurality of epitaxial deposition processes to form a first plurality of semiconductor materials selectively above the N-active region while masking the P-active region, performing a second plurality of epitaxial deposition processes to form a second plurality of semiconductor materials selectively above the P-active region while masking the N-active region, forming an N-type transistor in and above the N-active region and forming a P-type transistor in and above the P-active region.

Abstract: Microneedles with sharpened tips are fabricated without any reduction to the shaft diameter below the tip. By sharpening the tip and not the entire length of the microneedle, their mechanical strength is maintained. The microneedles are fabricated out of a wafer substrate using lithography and deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE). By controlling the timing of the DRIE as the photoresist depletes, the sharpness and angle of the tips are controlled.

Abstract: A method of forming SSRW FETs with controlled step height between a field oxide and epitaxially grown silicon and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include providing a SiN layer on a substrate, forming first, second, and third spaced STI regions of field oxide through the SiN layer and into the substrate, removing a top portion of the field oxide for each STI region by a controlled deglaze, removing the SiN layer, forming an n-type region in the substrate between the first and second STI regions and a p-type region in the substrate between the second and third STI regions, and epitaxially growing a Si based layer on the substrate over the n-type and p-type regions.

Abstract: A method for etching FinFET spacers by inserting a Si recess step directly after the traditional spacer ME step and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate having a silicon fin, the gate having a nitride cap on an upper surface thereof and an oxide cap on an upper surface of the nitride cap; forming a dielectric layer over the silicon fin and the gate; removing the dielectric layer from an upper surface of the oxide cap and an upper surface of the silicon fin; recessing the silicon fin; and removing the dielectric layer from side surfaces of the silicon fin and the remaining silicon fin.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing a first plurality of epitaxial deposition processes to form a first plurality of semiconductor materials selectively above the N-active region while masking the P-active region, performing a second plurality of epitaxial deposition processes to form a second plurality of semiconductor materials selectively above the P-active region while masking the N-active region, forming an N-type transistor in and above the N-active region and forming a P-type transistor in and above the P-active region.

Abstract: A method includes forming a layer of silicon-carbon on an N-active region, performing a common deposition process to form a layer of a first semiconductor material on the layer of silicon-carbon and on the P-active region, masking the N-active region, forming a layer of a second semiconductor material on the first semiconductor material in the P-active region and forming N-type and P-type transistors. A device includes a layer of silicon-carbon positioned on an N-active region, a first layer of a first semiconductor positioned on the layer of silicon-carbon, a second layer of the first semiconductor material positioned on a P-active region, a layer of a second semiconductor material positioned on the second layer of the first semiconductor material, and N-type and P-type transistors.

Abstract: A method of forming SSRW FETs with controlled step height between a field oxide and epitaxially grown silicon and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include providing a SiN layer on a substrate, forming first, second, and third spaced STI regions of field oxide through the SiN layer and into the substrate, removing a top portion of the field oxide for each STI region by a controlled deglaze, removing the SiN layer, forming an n-type region in the substrate between the first and second STI regions and a p-type region in the substrate between the second and third STI regions, and epitaxially growing a Si based layer on the substrate over the n-type and p-type regions.

Abstract: A method of forming SSRW FETs with controlled step height between a field oxide and epitaxially grown silicon and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include providing a SiN layer on a substrate, forming first, second, and third spaced STI regions of field oxide through the SiN layer and into the substrate, removing a top portion of the field oxide for each STI region by a controlled deglaze, removing the SiN layer, forming an n-type region in the substrate between the first and second STI regions and a p-type region in the substrate between the second and third STI regions, and epitaxially growing a Si based layer on the substrate over the n-type and p-type regions.

Abstract: A methodology enabling the formation of steep channel profiles for devices, such as SSRW FETs, having a resultant channel profiles that enables suppression of threshold voltage variation and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include providing STI regions in a silicon wafer; performing a deep well implantation of a dopant into the silicon wafer between STI regions; forming a recess in the doped silicon wafer between the STI regions; performing a shallow well implantation of the dopant into the silicon wafer in the recess; and forming Si:C on the doped silicon wafer in the recess.

Abstract: Fin-type transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided having extended embedded stress elements. The methods include, for example: providing a gate structure extending over a fin extending above a substrate; using isotropic etching and anisotropic etching to form an extended cavity within the fin, where the extended cavity in part undercuts the gate structure, and where the using of the isotropic etching and the anisotropic etching deepens the extended cavity into the fin below the undercut gate structure; and forming an embedded stress element at least partially within the extended cavity, including below the gate structure.

Abstract: Fin-type transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided having extended embedded stress elements. The methods include, for example: providing a gate structure extending over a fin extending above a substrate; using isotropic etching and anisotropic etching to form an extended cavity within the fin, where the extended cavity in part undercuts the gate structure, and where the using of the isotropic etching and the anisotropic etching deepens the extended cavity into the fin below the undercut gate structure; and forming an embedded stress element at least partially within the extended cavity, including below the gate structure.

Abstract: Methods of facilitating isolation region uniformity include: patterning a semiconductor substrate to form at least one isolation opening within the semiconductor substrate, the patterning comprising leaving, at least in part, a protective hard mask above a portion of the semiconductor substrate; providing an insulating material within and over the at least one isolation opening, and planarizing the insulating material to facilitate fabricating an isolation region within the semiconductor substrate; stopping the planarizing on the protective hard mask and exposing at least a portion of the protective hard mask above the portion of the semiconductor substrate; and non-selectively removing a remaining portion of the insulating material over the at least one isolation opening and the exposed protective hard mask above the portion of the semiconductor substrate while leaving the insulating material within the at least one isolation opening and exposing upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, to facilitate i

Abstract: A methodology enabling the formation of steep channel profiles for devices, such as SSRW FETs, having a resultant channel profiles that enables suppression of threshold voltage variation and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include providing STI regions in a silicon wafer; performing a deep well implantation of a dopant into the silicon wafer between STI regions; forming a recess in the doped silicon wafer between the STI regions; performing a shallow well implantation of the dopant into the silicon wafer in the recess; and forming Si:C on the doped silicon wafer in the recess.

Abstract: Methods for opening polysilicon NFET and PFET gates for a replacement gate process are disclosed. Embodiments include providing a polysilicon gate with a nitride cap; defining PFET and NFET regions of the polysilicon gate, creating a nitride bump on the nitride cap; covering the nitride cap to a top of the nitride bump with a PMD; performing a 1:1 dry etch of the PMD and the nitride bump; and performing a second dry etch, selective to the nitride cap, down to the top surface of the polysilicon gate. Other embodiments include, after creating a nitride bump on the nitride cap, recessing the PMD to expose the nitride cap; covering the nitride cap and the nitride bump with a nitride fill, forming a planar nitride surface; and removing the nitride fill, nitride bump, and nitride cap down to the polysilicon gate.

Abstract: A methodology enabling the formation of steep channel profiles for devices, such as SSRW FETs, having a resultant channel profiles that enables suppression of threshold voltage variation and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include providing STI regions in a silicon wafer; performing a deep well implantation of a dopant into the silicon wafer between STI regions; forming a recess in the doped silicon wafer between the STI regions; performing a shallow well implantation of the dopant into the silicon wafer in the recess; and forming Si:C on the doped silicon wafer in the recess.

Abstract: A method for etching FinFET spacers by inserting a Si recess step directly after the traditional spacer ME step and the resulting device are provided. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate having a silicon fin, the gate having a nitride cap on an upper surface thereof and an oxide cap on an upper surface of the nitride cap; forming a dielectric layer over the silicon fin and the gate; removing the dielectric layer from an upper surface of the oxide cap and an upper surface of the silicon fin; recessing the silicon fin; and removing the dielectric layer from side surfaces of the silicon fin and the remaining silicon fin.

Abstract: A method includes forming a layer of silicon-carbon on an N-active region, performing a common deposition process to form a layer of a first semiconductor material on the layer of silicon-carbon and on the P-active region, masking the N-active region, forming a layer of a second semiconductor material on the first semiconductor material in the P-active region and forming N-type and P-type transistors. A device includes a layer of silicon-carbon positioned on an N-active region, a first layer of a first semiconductor positioned on the layer of silicon-carbon, a second layer of the first semiconductor material positioned on a P-active region, a layer of a second semiconductor material positioned on the second layer of the first semiconductor material, and N-type and P-type transistors.