2.5D heterogeneously integrated microsystem for high-density neural sensing applications.

Heterogeneously integrated and miniaturized neural sensing microsystems are crucial for brain function investigation. In this paper, a 2.5D heterogeneously integrated bio-sensing microsystem with µ-probes and embedded through-silicon-via (TSVs) is presented for high-density neural sensing applications. This microsystem is composed of µ-probes with embedded TSVs, 4 dies and a silicon interposer. For capturing 16-channel neural signals, a 24 × 24 µ-probe array with embedded TSVs is fabricated on a 5×5 mm(2) chip and bonded on the back side of the interposer. Thus, each channel contains 6 × 6 µ -probes with embedded TSVs. Additionally, the 4 dies are bonded on the front side of the interposer and designed for biopotential acquisition, feature extraction and classification via low-power analog front-end (AFE) circuits, area-power-efficient analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), configurable discrete wavelet transforms (DWTs), filters, and a MCU. An on-interposer bus ( µ-SPI) is designed for transferring data on the interposer. Finally, the successful in-vivo test demonstrated the proposed 2.5D heterogeneously integrated bio-sensing microsystem. The overall power of this microsystem is only 676.3 µW for 16-channel neural sensing.

Effects of bonding technology and thinning process in three-dimensional integration on device characteristics.

This research is to investigate the effects of bonding technology and thinning process on the electrical properties of 0.35 microm technology node n-MOSFET devices. After the bonding process, by changing the bonding temperature up to 400 degrees C and bonding force up to 2.5 x 10(5) Pa, these devices still have the same electrical performances. In addition, thinning process was applied to investigate the stress which would affect the electrical properties of n-MOSFETs. The electrical performances of devices do not change for substrate thickness larger than 466 microm.

Medialization laryngoplasty with strap muscle transposition for vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus vocalis.

OBJECTIVE: Vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus vocalis may result in a spindle-shaped glottal incompetence (SGI). Because of varying drawbacks with all existing materials (e.g., Silastic block, Teflon, fat, etc.) used for medialization or augmentation of the atrophic vocal folds, there is a need to supplant these materials with a more stable, autologous tissue to correct the SGI. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two patients with vocal fold atrophy underwent medialization laryngoplasty with strap muscle transposition. METHODS: Under local or general anesthesia, the thyroid lamina on the more affected side was vertically incised 5 mm off the midline. The inner perichondrium was carefully elevated from the overlying thyroid ala. Care was taken not to enter the laryngeal lumen. After dividing the thyrohyoid and cricothyroid membranes, the lamina was retracted laterally. To accommodate the muscle flap more easily, the caudal edge of the lamina was trimmed using a small burr. A bipedicled strap muscle flap was then transposed into the space between the lamina and the paraglottic soft tissue. The thyroid cartilages were carefully sutured back in place. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative voice evaluations including laryngostroboscopy, perceptual assessment, and acoustic and aerodynamic analyses. Patients who had been followed up for more than 3 months were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: A total of 27 of the 32 patients with complete pre- and postoperative voice function measurements were included in the analysis. Vocal improvement was demonstrated in 26 of these 27 (96%) patients. No dyspnea or other major complications were noted in any patients. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that medialization laryngoplasty with strap muscle transposition is a prosthesis-free, safe, and effective technique for correcting SGI caused by vocal fold atrophy.

A new paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction and strap muscle transposition for vocal fold medialization.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a prosthesis-free medialization laryngoplasty for the treatment of glottal incompetence. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two consecutive patients with glottal incompetence underwent vocal fold medialization using a new paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction and/or strap muscle transposition. METHODS: Under local anesthesia, the thyroid lamina on the involved side was parasagittally separated 5 mm off the midline. The inner perichondrium was carefully freed from the overlying thyroid cartilage. After dividing the thyrohyoid and cricothyroid membranes, the lamina was retracted laterally, the inner perichondrium was opened, and the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle identified. Tracing the muscle fibers posterosuperiorly, the muscular process of the arytenoid was identified. A 2-0 or 3-0 Prolene suture was placed through the muscular process and tied to the cricoid cartilage at the origin of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle. A bipedicled strap muscle flap was then transposed into the space between the lamina and the inner perichondrium and the thyroid cartilages sutured back into place. Pre- and postoperative voice evaluations measured mean fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and maximal phonation time, as well as assessments of voice quality. RESULTS: Vocal improvement was obtained in 95% (21 of 22) of patients. There was a significant improvement (P <.05) in all parameters except shimmer. No major complications were noted in any patient, except for dyspnea in one patient resulting from arytenoid overrotation. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a paramedian approach to arytenoid adduction combined with strap muscle transposition is a safe and effective method for treating glottal incompetence, particularly in patients with unilateral paralytic dysphonia.