摘要:
A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.
摘要:
A method is presented for tracking an ingestible device in a gastrointestinal tract of a subject. The method includes: measuring acceleration of the ingestible device as it traverses through the gastrointestinal tract, for example using an accelerometer disposed in the ingestible device; computing a metric from the acceleration measurements obtained by the accelerometer over a given period of time; and identifying a location in the gastrointestinal tract based in part on the metric.
摘要:
A magnetoelastic tag includes a frame-suspended magnetoelastic resonator that combines a strong resonant response with a relatively small resonator, enabling magnetoelastic sensor use in a variety of inconspicuous applications and/or small packages. The resonator is suspended with respect to a substrate, which reduces, minimizes, or eliminates interaction between the substrate and resonator. Signal strength is thereby enhanced, thereby allowing miniaturization while maintaining a measurable response to the interrogation field. The resonator can have a hexagonal shape and/or be suspended at particular locations about its perimeter to promote signal generation in a direction different from that of the interrogation field. A sensor can include one or more frame-suspended resonators, which can be arranged in an array, stacked, or randomly where a plurality of resonators is employed.
摘要:
The distance between microscale electrodes can be determined from microdischarge current and/or capacitance distribution among a plurality of electrodes. A microdischarge-based pressure sensor includes a reference pair of electrodes on a body of the sensor and a sensing pair of electrodes. One of the electrodes of the sensing pair is on a diaphragm of the sensor so that the distance between the sensing pair of electrodes changes with diaphragm movement, while the distance between the reference pair does not. Plasma and current distribution within a microdischarge chamber of the sensor is sensitive to very small diaphragm deflections. Pressure sensors can be fabricated smaller than ever before, with useful signals from 50 micron diaphragms spaced only 3 microns from the sensor body. The microdischarge-based sensor is capable of operating in harsh environments and can be fabricated along-side similarly configured capacitive sensors.
摘要:
An implantable actuation device that may be used with a glaucoma drainage device or attached to an ocular surface, a method of making an implantable actuation device, and a method of preventing cell adhesion resulting from a glaucoma treatment procedure. The implantable actuation device is made from a magnetoelastic material. Actuation of the magnetoelastic material may help control cellular adhesion that may develop and undesirably disrupt proper healing when recovering from invasive surgical treatments. The implantable actuation devices may have small form factors and customized geometries which include three-dimensional curvatures to help promote the actuation of liquid flow and facilitate the removal of unwanted cells.
摘要:
An environmental logging system that includes a housing and an electronic logging circuit sealed within the housing. The logging circuit includes an energy source, transducer, charging circuit, trigger circuit, electronic control unit (ECU), and transmitter. The energy source is charged by the charging circuit using electricity from the transducer in response to external energy applied to the transducer. Commands may also be received by the circuit via the transducer. The ECU includes a processor, memory, and one or more sensors, and it operates under power from the energy source to store data from the sensor(s). The transmitter is coupled to the ECU and transmits the data via electromagnetic radiation outside the housing. The trigger circuit supplies operating power to the processor only when the voltage level of the energy source is above a minimum threshold. The housing may be a tubular shell filled with a polymeric material.
摘要:
A sub-millimeter packaged microsystem includes a microsystem located in a sealed cavity defined between first and second portions of a micropackage. One or both micropackage portions can be fabricated from a metal suitable for use in a harsh environment, such as an oil well environment. The microsystem includes electronic components and can be configured to communicate with external components through a wall of the micropackage by wireless communication or by conductive feedthroughs. Pluralities of microsystems, first micropackage portions, and/or second micropackage portions are simultaneously placed during a batch assembly process. The assembly process may include micro-crimping the first and second micropackaging portions together without the need for bonding materials and related process steps.