Thin film based semi-active resonant marker design for low profile interventional cardiovascular MRI devices

Objectives

A new microfabrication method to produce low profile radio frequency (RF) resonant markers on catheter shafts was developed. A semi-active RF resonant marker incorporating a solenoid and a plate capacitor was constructed on the distal shaft of a 5 Fr guiding catheter. The resulting device can be used for interventional cardiovascular MRI procedures.

Materials and methods

Unlike current semi-active device visualization techniques that require rigid and bulky analog circuit components (capacitor and solenoid), we fabricated a low profile RF resonant marker directly on guiding the catheter surface by thin film metal deposition and electroplating processes using a modified physical vapor deposition system.

Results

The increase of the overall device profile thickness caused by the semi-active RF resonant marker (130 µm thick) was lowered by a factor of 4.6 compared with using the thinnest commercial non-magnetic and rigid circuit components (600 µm thick). Moreover, adequate visibility performance of the RF resonant marker in different orientations and overall RF safety were confirmed through in vitro experiments under MRI successfully.

Conclusion

The developed RF resonant marker on a clinical grade 5 Fr guiding catheter will enable several interventional congenital heart disease treatment procedures under MRI.

     

Representation of assemblies for automatic tolerance chain generation

A scheme of representing assemblies and an algorithm for the tolerance chain generation are developed so that tolerance chains of assemblies can be generated automatically to accommodate tolerance analysis at the assembly level. In the hierarchical data structure representing an assembly the connectivity information is carried by the instances of components and subassemblies, and the mating relations between each pair of mating entities are described by mating links, mating paths, mating conditions, and mating features. Mating graphs are derived from the mating links before they are searched for the generation of tolerance chains. The scheme has been implemented in a prototype interactive package that allows the user to model assemblies directly without detailed object modeling. Several examples of various complexity have been tested with success.     

On the Temperature-Dependent Gain and Noise Figure Analysis of C-Band High-Concentration EDFAs With the Effect of Cooperative Upconversion

We present an efficient temperature-dependent analysis to study the effect of cooperative upconversion on the temperature-dependent gain (TDG) performance of the C-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) at high-concentration. The influence of cooperative upconversion on the TDG is examined by using a set of temperature-dependent rate and light propagation equations. In the analysis given, the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), as well as the excited state absorption (ESA) are also considered. In the forward pumping configuration at a signal wavelength of 1547 nm and in the temperature range of - 40degC to + 80degC, the variations of the TDG and the noise figure (NF) are about 1.7 and 0.9 dB, respectively. Numerical analysis results show that, with 260-mW/1480-nm pump power, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier having a doping concentration of 4.4 times 10²⁶ ion/m³ and optimum length of 9.2 cm may reach a signal gain of 44.6 dB and a noise figure of 3.9 dB at room temperature.     

Determination of FA composition and total trans FA of Turkish margarines by capillary GLC

In this research, FA composition and total trans FA contents of 16 different brands of margarine (8 hard-type and 8 soft-type) sold in Turkey were determined by capillary GLC method. According to the results, the contents of saturated FA, monounsaturated FA, and PUFA were within the ranges of 23.9–32.3, 44.0–61.9, and 14.2–24.1%, respectively, in hard-type margarines, and 27.0–39.9, 21.0–40.9, and 32.0–53.7%, respectively, in soft-type margarines. Hard-type margarines contained total trans FA concentrations of 20.1–34.3%, whereas soft-type margarines contained less than 8.9% total trans FA. C_18∶1 trans acid content was within the range of 18.5–29.8% in hard-type margarines, and it was significantly higher than the range in soft margarines (0.7–8.1%). C_18∶1 trans acid was the major trans FA in all margarines, and C_18∶3 trans acid concentrations were less than 0.2%.     

Digital Application of Second Order Generalized Integrator Based Grid Estimator Under Unbalanced and Distorted Voltage Conditions

Abstract

Frequency, amplitude, and phase information of the grid voltage are the main constraints for constructing a robust controller algorithm for grid connected applications under unbalanced and distorted voltage conditions. This paper narrates a simple, robust, straight forward method to estimate the instantaneous positive and negative sequence voltage components under unbalanced and distorted voltage circumstances. A second order generalized integrator (SOGI) is encapsulated to filter out the distorted voltage as well as to generate orthogonal voltage components for the three phases of AC grid. Furthermore, these filtered and orthogonal components are accounted for the calculation of instantaneous symmetrical components. Developed technique is more frequency adaptive compared to conventional phase locked loop (PLL) techniques. A set of test outcome results are provided in this paper based on MATLAB/Simulink simulations with real grid data captured from an industrial plant. Moreover, SOGI based estimator is digitally implemented by using dSPACE ds1103 digital controller to validate the numerical simulation results in accordance with the developed theoretical prediction.     

Chemical stability of KNbO3, NaNbO3, and K0.5Na0.5NbO3 in aqueous medium

In recent years, potassium sodium niobate (K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃, KNN) has become popular and promising among perovskite lead‐free piezoceramic systems. In this study, the chemical stability of KNN powders in aqueous medium was investigated as a function of pH, time, and powder surface area. To better understand the dissolution behavior of the complex KNN stoichiometry, subconstituents such as potassium niobate (KNbO₃, KN) and sodium niobate (NaNbO₃, NN) were investigated separately first. Results showed that all of the cations in the structure underwent dissolution in different values. Indicating that KNN undergoes incongruent dissolution in aqueous medium, the dissolution of A site cations was higher at lower pH while the dissolution of B site cations increased at higher initial pH. The order of released cation concentrations (C_A1 = K > C_{A2 = Na} > C_B = Nb) fits with inverse relationship of cation field strength (FS) order, B = Nb⁵⁺_FS > A₂ = Na⁺_FS>A₁ = K⁺_FS, at pH 4, 7 and 10 for NN, KN, and KNN. Calculated diffuse layer thickness from the ICP data confirmed to outer amorphous layer in TEM image. Also, the ratio of normalized cation concentration versus surface area of powders showed that incongruent dissolution kinetic was driven by the diffusion step.     

Acidic and alkaline precipitation in the Cilician Basin, north-eastern Mediterranean Sea

Samples from precipitation events collected at Erdemli during February 1996-June 1997 were analyzed to determine their particulate aluminium content, in addition to pH and conductivity measurements. Backward air mass trajectories corresponding to the rainy days were analyzed to determine potential source regions of acidic and alkaline constituents transported to the Cilician Basin. Approximately 28% of the rain samples were found to be acidic and the trajectories associated with half of the acid precipitation events were from the Mediterranean Basin and the Balkan Peninsula, while the other half were from the Anatolian mainland and local sources. Rain samples were found to be alkaline (58%), with their trajectories originating from North Africa and the Middle East. As a result of its CaCO3 content, mineral dust from these arid regions significantly increased the pH of rainwater.     

An investigation of agricultural use potential of wastewater sludges in Turkey--case of heavy metals.

Landfilling is one of the most common methods that are used in the final disposal of sludge world wide, as well as in Turkey. However, increasing sludge quantities and limited landfilling areas make this method difficult to apply. The use of sludge in agriculture presents a possible alternative for disposal. However, it also poses some risks to be evaluated. In this respect, it is important to identify the heavy metal content of sewage sludges because of its adverse health effects. This study aims to determine the heavy metal contents of sludges and wastewaters from three different wastewater treatment plants in Turkey. The selection of plants was carried out according to the different treatment technologies applied to wastewater and sludge in those plants. Heavy metal analysis of sludges and wastewaters was conducted using a microwave assisted digestion procedure. After sampling and analysis, the results show that all the related metal concentrations are below the values that are set in the Soil Pollution Control Regulation of Turkey. However, in two of the three plants, Zn and Ni concentration should be tracked carefully.