Johns Hopkins University

Harry K Charles, Jr

Thomas J Beck

Timothy J Cornish

Arthur S Francomacaro

Howard S Feldmesser

Russell P Cain

Seppo J Lehtonen

Paul D Wienhold

Deborah M Mechtel

Thomas C Magee

David M Lee

Paul Arthur Bottomley

Ergin Atalar

Bliss G Carkhuff

George M Murray

Ark L Lew

Paul D Schwartz

Binh Q Le

Sharon X Ling

Paul R Falk

A Shaun Francomacaro

Jeffrey C Lestio

Allen C Keeney

A plurality of sensors are embedded in a form fitting garment similar to exercise togs such that the sensors are held in contact with or close proximity to the body. The sensors are connected via a plurality wires to an electronics module which is unintrusive being literally in its ultimate configuration the size of a credit card. A range of thickness, from 6 mm (6 credit cards) down to 1 mm or less, is possible for the module inclusive of a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The electronics module can be easily removed for garment maintenance (laundering).

Garment for monitoring physiological functions and method of use thereof

Electronic module with keyed connection to a wearable garment for monitoring physiological functions and method of use

Thinned die are attached to a flexible substrate and the die-substrate assembly is formed (wound) around multiple horizontal fingers of a heat removal buss structure such that the substrate below each die is in contact with one of the fingers. The fingers connect to a vertical support member that provides stability and a means of connecting the heat removal buss structure to the ambient.

Apparatus and methods for 3-D stacking of thinned die

A method for identifying a product includes providing a solid body () fabricated from at least a molecularly imprinted polymer having molecular sized cavities () adapted to selectively receive and bind molecules () having a specific taggant molecular structure (), the molecular sized cavities () disposed on a portion of an exterior surface () of the body (), and applying to the surface of the body a composition containing indicator molecules () having a taggant moiety () at one end and a marking function group () tethered to the taggant moiety () by a molecular chain the taggant moieties () engaging and binding to the molecular sized cavities () so as to mark the portion of the surface () of the body () with the indicator molecules () bound thereto, the marking functional groups () rendering the marked portion of the surface () perceptible with or without detection instrumentation.

Authentication of products using molecularly imprinted polymers

The index of refraction in a length of doped and/or 'doped-and-poled' electro-optic polymers is controlled so that a gradual transition from a low &#x394;n to a high &#x394;n, or vice versa, is achieved for use in, for example, a lightguide-to-fiber transition. Multiple methods for creating this gradual transition are disclosed.

Transitions in refractive index using electro-optic polymers

Methods and apparatuses for advanced, multiple-projection, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning systems include combinations of a conical collimator; a high-resolution two-dimensional detector; a portable, power-capped, variable-exposure-time power supply; an exposure-time control element; calibration monitoring; a three-dimensional anti-scatter-grid; and a gantry-gantry base assembly that permits up to seven projection angles for overlapping beams. Such systems are capable of high precision bone structure measurements that can support three dimensional bone modeling and derivations of bone strength, risk of injury, and efficacy of countermeasures among other properties.

Method and apparatus for multiple-projection, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning

An x-ray tube and method of operating include a vacuum chamber vessel and a source of an electron beam inside the vacuum chamber vessel. A target disposed inside the vacuum chamber vessel includes a substrate and one or more deposits attached to the substrate. Each different deposit includes an atomic element having a different atomic number. The x-ray tube also includes a means for directing the electron beam to a selectable deposit of multiple deposits. The substrate material can be selected with better vacuum sustaining strength, x-ray transparency, melting point, and thermal conductivity than a deposit. The substrate may be cooled by an integrated cooling system. The x-ray tube allows a selectable x-ray frequency to be produced with enhanced economy of power, reduced moving parts, and reduced size. For improved bone mass applications, one of the deposits has a k-fluorescence energy less than about 53 thousand electron volts.

X-ray source and method for more efficiently producing selectable x-ray frequencies

A gating grid for deflecting ions includes an insulating substrate (), a conducting layer () adhered to the insulating substrate (), and interdigitated electrodes () patterned in the conducting layer by a photolithographic process. A hole () in the insulating substrate beneath the interdigitated electrodes allows ions to pass through the hole in the substrate. A process for making a gating grid for deflecting ions includes adhering a conducting layer () to an insulating substrate (), forming interdigitated electrodes () on the conducting layer (), and then forming a hole () in the insulating substrate beneath the interdigitated electrodes.

Gating grid and method of making same

A semiconductor die adapter assembly includes a semiconductor die cut from a wafer, the die having an active surface including bond pads. A die adapter, also having bond pads, is bonded to the semiconductor die. Die-to-adapter connectors electrically connect the die bond pads to the adapter bond pads. Finally, adapter-to-substrate connectors electrically connect the adapter bond pads to a device substrate. Having bond pads on the die adapter eliminates the need to break and remake the electrical connections to the original bond pads on the die during burn-in testing of the die.

Semiconductor die adapter and method of using

Techniques for deriving bone properties from images generated by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry apparatus include receiving first image data having pixels indicating bone mineral density projected at a first angle of a plurality of projection angles. Second image data and third image data are also received. The second image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a different second angle. The third image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a third angle. The third angle is different from the first angle and the second angle. Principal moments of inertia for a bone in the subject are computed based on the first image data, the second image data and the third image data. The techniques allow high-precision, high-resolution dual-energy x-ray attenuation images to be used for computing principal moments of inertia and strength moduli of individual bones, plus risk of injury and changes in risk of injury to a patient.

Techniques for deriving tissue structure from multiple projection dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

A method of electrolessly gold plating copper on a printed circuit board (PCB). Starting with a copper patterned PCB, steps include: clean with ultrasonic agitation with the PCB initially oriented vertically and gradually moved to a 45&deg; angle; rinse; sulfuric acid bath with ultrasonic and mechanical agitation; rinse; another sulfuric acid bath with ultrasonic and mechanical agitation; plate the copper with palladium with ultrasonic agitation with the PCB initially oriented at a 45&deg; angle and flipped half way through to opposing 45&deg; angle; rinse; post dip in sulfuric acid; rinse; electrolessly nickel plate with mechanical agitation; rinse; nitrogen blow dry; visual inspection for nickel coverage of the copper; hydrochloric acid bath with manual agitation; rinse; if full nickel coverage was not achieved, repeat preceding steps starting with second sulfuric acid bath; gold flash plate to establish a first layer of gold; rinse; autocatalytic gold plate; rinse; and nitrogen blow dry.

Method for electroless gold plating of conductive traces on printed circuit boards

A novel technique utilizing the precision of printed circuit board design and the physical versatility of thin, flexible substrates is disclosed to produce a new type of ion reflector. A precisely defined series of thin conductive strips (traces) are etched onto a flat, flexible circuit board substrate. Preferably, the thin conductive strips are further apart at one end of the substrate and get increasingly closer towards the other end of the substrate. The flexible substrate is then rolled into a tube to form the reflector body, with the conductive strips forming the rings of the ion reflector. The spacing between the traces, and hence the ring spacing, can be readily varied by adjusting the conductor pattern on the substrate sheet during the etching process. By adjusting the spacing between the rings, the characteristics of the field created by the reflectron can be easily customized to the needs of the user.

Method of making an ion reflectron comprising a flexible circuit board

An X-ray scatter reduction grid includes a first layer having a plurality of cells. The cells have a perimeter formed of an X-ray absorbing material. The shape of the perimeters can vary, but a polygonal shape is preferred. The grid can also include other layers, each with their own cells. The cells of the subsequent other layers are larger than and offset from the cells of the prior layer. The increased size of the cells allows a primary ray passing through the center of a first layer cell to also pass through the center of a subsequent layer cell. This allows for a maximum of primary ray passthrough and a maximum of scatter absorption.

Focused X-ray scatter reduction grid

Flexboard reflector

The present invention improves multi-chip module (MCM) testability by using a new technique to detect on-substrate electric field strength. The invention employs a non-invasive, laser-based instrument to probe the MCM structures fabricated with poled polyimide interlayer dielectrics and thin film metallizations on silicon carriers. Circuit element characteristics of MCMs are probed with laser to detect electric field strength. The electrical, mechanical and optical properties of the electro-optical dielectric layers are determined to investigate the effect of the poling and processing operations on the efficacy of the polyimide as both a dielectric layer and an electro-optic material suitable for laser probing.

Growing community of inventors

Laurel, MD, United States of America

Harry K Charles, Jr