Mechanism for MEMS bump side wall angle improvement

The present disclosure relates to a bump processing method and/or resulting MEMS-CMOS structure, in which one or more anti-stiction bumps are formed within a substrate prior to the formation of a cavity in which the one or more anti-stiction bumps reside. By forming the one or more anti-stiction bumps prior to a cavity, the sidewall angle and the top critical dimension (i.e., surface area) of the one or more anti-stiction bumps are reduced. The reduction in sidewall angle and critical dimension reduces stiction between a substrate and a moveable part of a MEMS device. By reducing the size of the anti-stiction bumps through a processing sequence change, lithographic problems such as reduction of the lithographic processing window and bump photoresist collapse are avoided.

Active blade tracker and related systems and methods

Devices, methods and systems are provided for monitoring movement of an object, such as rotation of a blade or other airfoil. One exemplary tracking device includes a first emitter to emit first radiation along a first line of sight, a first detector proximate the first emitter to detect the first radiation, a second emitter to emit second radiation along a second line of sight, and a second detector proximate the second emitter to detect the second radiation.

NOVEL MECHANISM FOR MEMS BUMP SIDE WALL ANGLE IMPROVEMENT

The present disclosure relates to a bump processing method and/or resulting MEMS-CMOS structure, in which one or more anti-stiction bumps are formed within a substrate prior to the formation of a cavity in which the one or more anti-stiction bumps reside. By forming the one or more anti-stiction bumps prior to a cavity, the sidewall angle and the top critical dimension (i.e., surface area) of the one or more anti-stiction bumps are reduced. The reduction in sidewall angle and critical dimension reduces stiction between a substrate and a moveable part of a MEMS device. By reducing the size of the anti-stiction bumps through a processing sequence change, lithographic problems such as reduction of the lithographic processing window and bump photoresist collapse are avoided. 1. A method of bump processing , comprising:forming a masking layer on a substrate to define a first etching area;etching the substrate in the first etching area to form one or more anti-stiction bumps;forming a second masking layer, which exposes the one or more anti-stiction bumps, to define a second masking area that contains the one or more anti-stiction bumps; andetching the substrate in the second etching area to form a cavity comprising the one or more anti-stiction bumps, wherein etching the substrate in the second etching area reduces the sidewall angle of the one or more anti-stiction bumps formed by etching the substrate in the first etching area.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more anti-stiction bumps have a sidewall angle of approximately 50° to 75°.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a second masking layer comprises removing a portion of the first masking layer.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first etching area is a subset of the second etching area.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first etching area is etched to a first depth and the second etching area is etched to a second depth greater than the first depth.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ...

ACTIVE BLADE TRACKER AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Devices, methods and systems are provided for monitoring movement of an object, such as rotation of a blade or other airfoil. One exemplary tracking device includes a first emitter to emit first radiation along a first line of sight, a first detector proximate the first emitter to detect the first radiation, a second emitter to emit second radiation along a second line of sight, and a second detector proximate the second emitter to detect the second radiation. 1. A tracking device comprising:a first emitter to emit first radiation along a first line of sight towards a reference plane of motion for an object;a first detector proximate the first emitter to detect at least a first portion of the first radiation reflected from the reference plane;a second emitter to emit second radiation along a second line of sight towards the reference plane; anda second detector proximate the second emitter to detect at least a second portion of the second radiation reflected from the reference plane.2. The tracking device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing having the first emitter claim 1 , the first detector claim 1 , the second emitter claim 1 , and the second detector contained therein claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an aperture portion aligned with the first line of sight and the second line of sight.3. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein the first line of sight and the second line of sight intersect between the tracking device and the reference plane.4. The tracking device of claim 3 , wherein:the first detector detects the first radiation in response to the object traversing the first line of sight; andthe second detector detects the second radiation in response to the object traversing the second line of sight.5. The tracking device of claim 1 , wherein:the first detector is substantially aligned with the first line of sight; andthe second detector is substantially aligned with the second line of sight.6. The tracking device of claim 5 , wherein the first ...

NOVEL MECHANISM FOR MEMS BUMP SIDE WALL ANGLE IMPROVEMENT

The present disclosure relates to a bump processing method and/or resulting MEMS-CMOS structure, in which one or more anti-stiction bumps are formed within a substrate prior to the formation of a cavity in which the one or more anti-stiction bumps reside. By forming the one or more anti-stiction bumps prior to a cavity, the sidewall angle and the top critical dimension (i.e., surface area) of the one or more anti-stiction bumps are reduced. The reduction in sidewall angle and critical dimension reduces stiction between a substrate and a moveable part of a MEMS device. By reducing the size of the anti-stiction bumps through a processing sequence change, lithographic problems such as reduction of the lithographic processing window and bump photoresist collapse are avoided. 1. An integrated chip , comprising:a dielectric material disposed onto a semiconductor substrate and having a cavity that extends through the dielectric material from a bottom surface of the cavity located within the dielectric material to a top surface of the dielectric material;one or more anti-stiction bumps disposed within the cavity and connected to the bottom surface of the cavity, wherein the one or more anti-stiction bumps have a sidewall angle of less than 90°; andwherein some of the dielectric material is positioned between the cavity and a semiconductor substrate.2. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the one or more anti-stiction bumps have a sidewall angle in a range of between approximately 60° and approximately 65°.3. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises sidewalls having the dielectric material.4. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the one or more anti-stiction bumps extend outward from the bottom surface of the cavity to a first distance that is less than a depth to which the cavity extends into the dielectric material.5. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the one or more anti-stiction bumps comprise the dielectric material.6. The integrated ...

FLEXIBLE RELIABILITY CODING FOR STORAGE ON A NETWORK

This disclosure describes a programmable device, referred to generally as a data processing unit, having multiple processing units for processing streams of information, such as network packets or storage packets. This disclosure also describes techniques that include enabling data durability coding on a network. In some examples, such techniques may involve storing data in fragments across multiple fault domains in a manner that enables efficient recovery of the data using only a subset of the data. Further, this disclosure describes techniques that include applying a unified approach to implementing a variety of durability coding schemes. In some examples, such techniques may involve implementing each of a plurality of durability coding and/or erasure coding schemes using a common matrix approach, and storing, for each durability and/or erasure coding scheme, an appropriate set of matrix coefficients. 1. A method comprising:receiving, by a data processing unit, a set of data to be stored;identifying, by the data processing unit, a durability scheme from among a plurality of available durability schemes for data reliability;determining, by the data processing unit and based on the identified durability scheme, a coefficient matrix appropriate for the identified durability scheme; andgenerating, by data durability circuitry within the data processing unit and by applying the coefficient matrix to the set of data, parity data.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:storing, by the data processing unit, the set of data and the parity data.3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:caching, by the data processing unit, the coefficient matrix appropriate for the identified durability scheme.4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:receiving, by the data processing unit, a request to access at least a portion of the set of data;identifying, by the data processing unit, available data from the stored set of data and the stored parity data;generating, by the ...

Externally supported tape reinforced vascular graft

An externally supported, tape-reinforced tubular prosthetic graft and method of manufacturing therefore. The graft comprises a tubular base graft formed of expanded, sintered fluoropolymer material, a strip of reinforcement tape helically wrapped about the outer surface of the tubular base graft and attached thereto, and, an external support member helically wrapped around the outer surface of the reinforcement tape and attached thereto. The helical pitch of the reinforcement tape is different from the helical pitch of the external support member. Preferably, the helical pitch of the reinforcement tape is in a direction which is opposite the direction of the external support member.

Radially-enlargeable ptfe tape-reinforced vascular grafts and their methods of manufacture

A method for improving the radial enlargeability and other properties of tape-reinforced tubular vascular graft formed of sintered fluoropolymer(s), such as expanded, sintered PTFE. Broadly, the method comprises the step of radially shrinking the reinforcement tape layer of the graft, or the entire tape-reinforced graft, after sintering thereof. Such radial shrinkage of the reinforcement tape layer, or of the entire graft, renders the graft subsequently radially enlargeable by more than 5%, without tearing or breaking of the reinforcement tape layer of the graft. Radially enlargeable grafts of the present invention may be combined with various types of stents or anchoring systems, to form endovascular graft devices which are transluminally insertable and implantable within the lumen of a host blood vessel. Alternatively, radially enlargeable grafts of the present invention may be implanted by way of traditional surgical graft implantation techniques, without any radial enlargement of the graft at the time of implantation, so as to take advantage of the improved strength properties and suture-holding properties of the radially-shrunken tape-reinforced grafts of the present invention.

Method for manufacturing porous fluoropolymer films

A method for preparing thin fluoropolymer (PTFE) films, said method generally having the steps of: a) providing an unsintered fluoropolymer film; b) pre-sintering expansion of the film; c) sintering the expanded film with dimensional restraint to prevent shrinkage; and d) post-sintering stretching of the film to a final thickness preferably less than 0.002 inches. The post-sintering stretching of the film in step d may be accomplished in a single step, or may include a series of post-sintering stretching steps. Steps b and c of the method may be carried out bypassing the calendared film through a machine direction orienter device and, thereafter, step d of the method may be accomplished by subsequently repassing the sintered film through the machine direction orienter device, one or more additional times.

Pliable biological graft materials and their methods of manufacture

PLIABLE BIOLOGICAL VASCULAR GRAFTS AND THEIR METHODS OF MANUFACTURE Abstract Preparing chemically cross-linked collagenous biological graft material (10a) by preparation processes which include the step of altering the locations and/or orientations of chemical cross-linkages formed during the collagen cross-linking process. Embodiments of the method include various processes whereby physical force, stress or movement is applied to alter the relative positioning of the collagen fibers within the graft materials (10a) during at least the initial period of exposure to the collagen cross-linking reagent.

Tape-reinforced blood vessel implant piece with external reinforcement and its manufacturing method

【課題】管状ベース移植片から強化テープの剥離またはほつれを併発しない新規なテープ強化管状血管移植片を提供する。 【解決手段】伸張された焼結フルオロポリマー材料から形成された管状ベース移植片を提供する工程、伸張された焼結フロオロポリマーフィルムから形成された強化テープのストリップを提供する工程、第１の螺旋ピッチで、該管状ベース移植片の外表面の周りに該強化テープを螺旋状に巻き付ける工程、該螺旋状に巻かれた強化テープを該管状ベース移植片に付着させる工程、実質的に非弾性のビーディングから形成された外部補強部材を提供する工程、該第１の螺旋ピッチとは異なる第２の螺旋ピッチで、該螺旋状に巻き付けられた強化テープの周りに該外部補強部材を螺旋状に巻き付ける工程、および該螺旋状に巻き付けられた外部補強部材を該螺旋状に巻き付けられた強化テープに付着させる工程を包含する方法。 【選択図】図３

Stented, radially expandable, tubular ptfe grafts

Stented tubular grafts of expanded, sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The scented 1PTFE grafts of the present invention include an integrally scented embodiment, an externally stented embodiment, and an internally stented embodiment. In each embodiment, the stent may be either self expanding or pressure-expandable. Also, in each embodiment, the stent may be coated or covered with a plastic material capable of being affixed (e.g., heat fused) to PTFE. Manufacturing methods are also disclosed by the individual components of the stented grafts, are preassembled on a mandrel and are subsequently heated to facilitate attachment of the PTFE layer(s) to one another and/or to the scent. Optionally, the stented graft may be post-flexed and post-expanded following its removal from the mandrel to ensure that the stented graft will be freely radially expandable and/or radially contractible over its full intended range of diameters.

Supported, radially expandable tubular PTFE grafts

Methods of manufacture of multiaxially oriented fluoropolymer films

Porous fluoropolymer films, such as PTFE films, formed by a method including the steps of (a) forming a fluoropolymer (e.g., PTFE) paste, (b) extruding, calendaring, or otherwise processing the paste to form a film extrudate, (c) causing the film extrudate to be calendared in a first directional axis, (d) subsequently calendaring the film extrudate in a second directional axis which is different from the first directional axis, (e) subsequently calendaring the film extrudate in at least one additional directional axis which is different from said first and second directional axes, thereby forming a multiaxially calendared film extrudate, (f) drying the multiaxially calendared film extrudate, and (g) radially expanding the multiaxially calendared film extrudate to form a radially oriented fluoropolymer (e.g., PTFE) film. The porous fluoropolymer films formed by this method are multiaxially oriented and exhibit isotropic strength properties.

Laminated self-sealing vascular access graft

A vascular access graft that is radially supported and self-sealing upon puncture with, for example, a dialysis needle. The graft has at least one access segment that is formed by an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and outer layer. The intermediate layer has, in longitudinal cross-section, regions of different densities. Radial support members within the intermediate layer prevent collapse of vascular access graft and may be formed of a material that has a lower melting temperature than the other components of the graft. A porous or low-density material is provided between the radial support members to permit blood seepage therein, and the graft is formed by heating to cause the radial support members to melt slightly into the intersitial spaces of the low-density material. The radial support members may be individual turns of a helical coil of FEP, and the low-density material may be compressed PTFE "cotton". The inner and outer layers may also be formed of PTFE. An adhesive layer of FEP may be provided closely surrounding the inner layer to further anchor the various components of the graft during the step of heating. The inner layer extends on either side of the access segment to provide junction segments that can be cleanly trimmed to size, and which can be used for graft cannulation in lieu of the access segment after suitable tissue ingrowth. A method of manufacture of the vascular access graft is also provided.

Stented, radially expandable, tubular ptfe grafts

Stented tubular grafts of expanded, sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The stented PTFE grafts of the present invention include an integrally stented embodiment, an externally stented embodiment, and an internally stented embodiment. In each embodiment, the stent may be either self-expanding or pressure-expandable. Also, in each embodiment, the stent may be coated or covered with a plastic material capable of being affixed (e.g., heat fused) to PTFE. Manufacturing methods are also disclosed by the individual components of the stented grafts, are preassembled on a mandrel and are subsequently heated to facilitate attachment of the PTFE layer(s) to one another and/or to the stent. Optionally, the stented graft may be post-flexed and post-expanded following its removal from the mandrel to ensure that the stented graft will be freely radially expandable and/or radially contractible over its full intended range of diameters.

Stented, radially expandable, tubular ptfe grafts

Stented tubular grafts of expanded, sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The scented 1PTFE grafts of the present invention include an integrally scented embodiment, an externally stented embodiment, and an internally stented embodiment. In each embodiment, the stent may be either self expanding or pressure-expandable. Also, in each embodiment, the stent may be coated or covered with a plastic material capable of being affixed (e.g., heat fused) to PTFE. Manufacturing methods are also disclosed by the individual components of the stented grafts, are preassembled on a mandrel and are subsequently heated to facilitate attachment of the PTFE layer(s) to one another and/or to the scent. Optionally, the stented graft may be post-flexed and post-expanded following its removal from the mandrel to ensure that the stented graft will be freely radially expandable and/or radially contractible over its full intended range of diameters.

Verfahren zur herstellung von radial expandierbaren, bandverstärkten polytetrafluoräthylengefässtransplantaten

Laminiertes, selbstdichtendes, vaskuläres zugangsgewebe sowie verfahren zu seiner herstellung

Gestützte, radial expandierbare, rohrförmige ptfe transplantate

Non-porous smooth ventricular assist device conduit

An improved inflow conduit for an implantable ventricular assist device comprising covering the flexible porous tubular graft body of the conduit with an attached non-porous polymer to produce a non-porous conduit. The flexible conduit has an upstream end and a downstream end, a ventricular attachment structure to which the upstream end of the body connects; and a coupling fitting on the downstream end of the body. Also taught is a combination of the improved inflow conduit with an implantable ventricular assist device. A method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, comprising implanting the implantable ventricular assist device in a patient in need of such treatment, as well as an article of manufacture, comprising packaging material and the implantable ventricular assist device contained within the packaging material are also provided.

System and method providing risk relationship transaction automation in accordance with medical condition code

A system to provide a risk relationship transaction automation tool via a back-end application computer server of an enterprise. The system may include a risk relationship data store that contains electronic records representing transactions associated with requested resource allocations between the enterprise and a plurality of entities. The server may receive an indication of a selected requested resource allocation transaction and retrieve, from the risk relationship data store, the electronic record associated with the selected requested resource allocation transaction. The server may then execute a medical code decision model. According to some embodiments, the system may also support a graphical interactive user interface display via a distributed communication network, the interactive user interface display providing resource allocation transaction data.