Showing papers by "Agilent Technologies published in 2000"

Molecular classification of cutaneous malignant melanoma by gene expression profiling

Abstract: The most common human cancers are malignant neoplasms of the skin. Incidence of cutaneous melanoma is rising especially steeply, with minimal progress in non-surgical treatment of advanced disease. Despite significant effort to identify independent predictors of melanoma outcome, no accepted histopathological, molecular or immunohistochemical marker defines subsets of this neoplasm. Accordingly, though melanoma is thought to present with different 'taxonomic' forms, these are considered part of a continuous spectrum rather than discrete entities. Here we report the discovery of a subset of melanomas identified by mathematical analysis of gene expression in a series of samples. Remarkably, many genes underlying the classification of this subset are differentially regulated in invasive melanomas that form primitive tubular networks in vitro, a feature of some highly aggressive metastatic melanomas. Global transcript analysis can identify unrecognized subtypes of cutaneous melanoma and predict experimentally verifiable phenotypic characteristics that may be of importance to disease progression.

Tissue classification with gene expression profiles.

Abstract: Constantly improving gene expression profiling technologies are expected to provide understanding and insight into cancer-related cellular processes. Gene expression data is also expected to significantly aid in the development of efficient cancer diagnosis and classification platforms. In this work we examine three sets of gene expression data measured across sets of tumor(s) and normal clinical samples: The first set consists of 2,000 genes, measured in 62 epithelial colon samples (Alon et al., 1999). The second consists of approximately equal to 100,000 clones, measured in 32 ovarian samples (unpublished extension of data set described in Schummer et al. (1999)). The third set consists of approximately equal to 7,100 genes, measured in 72 bone marrow and peripheral blood samples (Golub et al, 1999). We examine the use of scoring methods, measuring separation of tissue type (e.g., tumors from normals) using individual gene expression levels. These are then coupled with high-dimensional classification methods to assess the classification power of complete expression profiles. We present results of performing leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) experiments on the three data sets, employing nearest neighbor classifier, SVM (Cortes and Vapnik, 1995), AdaBoost (Freund and Schapire, 1997) and a novel clustering-based classification technique. As tumor samples can differ from normal samples in their cell-type composition, we also perform LOOCV experiments using appropriately modified sets of genes, attempting to eliminate the resulting bias. We demonstrate success rate of at least 90% in tumor versus normal classification, using sets of selected genes, with, as well as without, cellular-contamination-related members. These results are insensitive to the exact selection mechanism, over a certain range.

Amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A method for the determination of underivatized amino acids based on capillary electrophoresis coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) is described. To analyze free amino acids simultaneously a low acidic pH condition was used to confer positive charge on whole amino acids. The choice of the electrolyte and its concentration influenced resolution and peak shape of the amino acids, and 1 M formic acid was selected as the optimal electrolyte. Meanwhile, the sheath liquid composition had a significant effect on sensitivity and the highest sensitivity was obtained when 5 mM ammonium acetate in 50% (v/v) methanol-water was used. Protonated amino acids were roughly separated by CE and selectively detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a sheath flow electrospray ionization interface. Under the optimized conditions, 19 free amino acids normally found in proteins and several physiological amino acids were well determined in less than 17 min. The detection limits for basic amino acids were between 0.3 and 1.1 mumol/L and for acidic and low molecular weight amino acids were less than 6.0 mumol/L with pressure injection of 50 mbar for 3 s (3 nL) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This method is simple, rapid, and selective compared with conventional techniques and could be readily applied to the analysis of free amino acids in soy sauce.

Modified Butterworth-Van Dyke circuit for FBAR resonators and automated measurement system

Abstract: Microwave Film Bulk Acoustic Resonators (FBARs) may be characterized by means of the Mason transmission line model, but for parameter extraction and design studies, the lumped Butterworth-Van Dyke (BVD) model is more useful. We propose a modification to the standard five element BVD model, in which a second resistor is added in series with the plate capacitance C/sub 0/. This improves the model predictions as compared to the data obtained from a network analyzer (NWA). Here, the modified model will be developed in terms of the resonant frequencies, effective coupling constant k/sub t//sup 2/, and the quality factor Q, as determined from the S parameters of an FBAR measured by the NWA. To evaluate the FBAR resonators on a routine basis, an automated data acquisition and parameter extraction method based on the Modified Butterworth-Van Dyke model (MBVD) is described. An Agilent Technologies 8753ES NWA operating under Personal Computer control is used to acquire and process FBAR data by means of a custom HPVEE/sup TM/ program, which transfers data from the NWA, and extracts the six MBVD circuit parameters. Excellent agreement is obtained between the measured data for a typical FBAR resonator and calculated "postdictions" obtained from the MBVD circuit. Coupled with the automated method, which takes about 10 seconds per resonator to perform a complete extraction cycle, a computer controlled probing station is used to acquire data from several hundred resonators on the wafer upon which the FBARS were fabricated. With this speed and probing capability, it is feasible to wafer map the FBARs for uniformity. Contour plots of the measured resonant frequency and coupling constant k/sub t//sup 2/ will be presented to illustrate the capability.

A model for longitudinal and shear wave propagation in viscoelastic media

Abstract: Relaxation models fail to predict and explain loss characteristics of many viscoelastic materials which follow a frequency power law. A model based on a time-domain statement of causality is presented that describes observed power-law behavior of many viscoelastic materials. A Hooke’s law is derived from power-law loss characteristics; it reduces to the Hooke’s law for the Voigt model for the specific case of quadratic frequency loss. Broadband loss and velocity data for both longitudinal and shear elastic types of waves agree well with predictions. These acoustic loss models are compared to theories for loss mechanisms in dielectrics based on isolated polar molecules and cooperative interactions.

Tissue classification with gene expression profiles

Abstract: Constantly improving gene expression profiling technologies are expected to provide understanding and insight into cancer related cellular processes. Gene expression data is also expected to significantly and in the development of efficient cancer diagnosis and classification platforms. In this work we examine two sets of gene expression data measured across sets of tumor and normal clinical samples One set consists of 2,000 genes, measured in 62 epithelial colon samples [1]. The second consists of a 100,000 clones, measured in 32 ovarian samples (unpublished, extension of data set described in [26]).We examine the use of scoring methods, measuring separation of tumors from normals using individual gene expression levels. These are then coupled with high dimensional classification methods to assess the classification power of complete expression profiles. We present results of performing leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) experiments on the two data sets. employing SVM [8], AdaBoost [13] and a novel clustering based classification technique. As tumor samples can differ from normal samples in their cell-type composition we also perform LOOCV experiments using appropriately modified sets of genes, attempting to eliminate the resulting bias.We demonstrate success rate of at least 90% in tumor vs normal classification, using sets of selected genes, with as well as without cellular contamination related members. These results are insensitive to the exact selection mechanism, over a certain range.

Indicator components for microfluidic systems

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and systems that include keying, registration or indication elements that communicate a functionality of the microfluidic device to the instrumentation which is used in conjunction with these devices. Indicator elements include structural indicators, electrical indicators, optical indicators and chemical indicators. Different indicator elements are indicative of different functionalities, e.g., applications, new vs. used, and the like.

Microcap wafer-level package

Abstract: A microcap wafer-level package is provided in which a micro device is connected to bonding pads on a base wafer A peripheral pad on the base wafer encompasses the bonding pads and the micro device A cap wafer has gaskets formed thereon using a thick photoresist semiconductor photolithographic process Bonding pad gaskets match the perimeters of the bonding pads and a peripheral pad gasket matches the peripheral pad on the base wafer Wells are located inside the perimeters of the bond pad gaskets and are formed to a predetermined depth in the cap wafer The cap wafer is then placed over the base wafer to cold weld bond the gaskets to the pads and form a hermetically sealed volume between the bonding pad gaskets and the peripheral pad gasket The cap wafer is then thinned below the predetermined depth until the wells become through holes that provide access to the bonding pads inside the package, but outside the hermetically sealed volume, for connecting wires from a micro device utilizing system

Cavity spanning bottom electrode of a substrate-mounted bulk wave acoustic resonator

Abstract: A filter formed of acoustic resonators, where each resonator has its own cavity and a bottom electrode that spans the entirety of the cavity, so that the bottom electrode has an unsupported interior region surrounded by supported peripheral regions. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity is formed by etching a depression into the substrate, filling the depression with a sacrificial material, depositing the piezoelectric and electrode layers that define an FBAR or SBAR, and then removing the sacrificial material from the depression. Also in the preferred embodiment, the sacrificial material is removed via release holes that are limited to the periphery of the depression. Preferably, the bottom electrode is the only electrode that spans the cavity, thereby limiting the formation of parasitic FBARs or SBARs. In one embodiment, the bottom electrode includes a serpentine edge that leaves a portion of one side of the cavity free of overlap by the bottom electrode, so that a top electrode may overlap this portion. Thus, the top and bottom electrodes can overlap the same side without sandwiching the piezoelectric layer outside of the unsupported interior region.

A microfluidic system for high-speed reproducible DNA sizing and quantitation

Abstract: Microfabrication technology was used to develop a system consisting of disposable glass chips containing etched channels, reagents including polymer matrix and size standards, computer-controlled instrumentation for performing electrophoretic separations and fluorescence detection of double-stranded DNA, and software for automated data analysis. System performance was validated for separation and quantitation reproducibility using samples varying in amount and size of DNA fragments, buffer composition, and salt concentrations. Several applications of the microfluidic system for DNA analysis have been demonstrated, such as of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, sizing of plasmid digests, and detection of point mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) mapping.

Method of enhancing adhesion of a conductive barrier layer to an underlying conductive plug and contact for ferroelectric applications

Abstract: An embodiment of the instant invention is a method of forming a conductive barrier layer on a dielectric layer, the method comprising the steps of: providing the dielectric layer ( 112 of FIG 7 d ) having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and including a conductive plug ( 704 of FIG 7 d ) having a top surface substantially coplanar with the top surface of the dielectric layer; subjecting the top surface of the dielectric layer and the top surface of the conductive plug to a gas selected from the group consisting of: argon, nitrogen, hydrogen, CH 4 , and any combination thereof, the gas being incorporated into a high-temperature ambient or a plasma; and forming the conductive barrier layer on the top surface of the dielectric layer and the top surface of the conductive plug after the step of subjecting the top surface of the dielectric layer and the top surface of the conductive plug to the gas incorporated into the high-temperature ambient or the plasma

Microcap wafer-level package with vias

Abstract: A microcap wafer-level package is provided in which a micro device is connected to bonding pads on a base wafer. A peripheral pad on the base wafer encompasses the bonding pads and the micro device. A cap wafer is processed to form wells of a predetermined depth in the cap wafer. A conductive material is made integral with the walls of the wells in the cap wafer. The cap wafer has contacts and a peripheral gasket formed thereon where the contacts are capable of being aligned with the bonding pads on the base wafer, and the gasket matches the peripheral pad on the base wafer. The cap wafer is then placed over the base wafer so as to bond the contact and gasket to the pads and form a hermetically sealed volume within the peripheral gasket. The cap wafer is thinned to form a “microcap”. The microcap is thinned below the predetermined depth until the semiconductor dopant is exposed to become conductive vias through the cap wafer to outside the hermetically sealed volume.

Bulk acoustic wave resonator with improved lateral mode suppression

Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave device that provides a high spectral purity, high Q, resonator in the radio frequency and microwave frequency ranges. Such resonators may be coupled together to form filters or other frequency selective devices. The bulk acoustical wave filter is constructed from a piezoelectric (PZ) material having a first surface and a second surface and first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes an electrically conducting layer on the first surface, and the second electrode includes an electrically conducting layer on the second surface. The first electrode overlies at least a portion of the second electrode, the portion of the first electrode that overlies the second electrode has a periphery which is a non-rectangular, irregular polygon. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the periphery is a three-sided, four-sided, or n-sided irregular polygon in which no two sides are parallel to one another.

Digital camera and method for communicating digital image and at least one address image stored in the camera to a remotely located service provider

Abstract: A photo service provider provides remote developing, printing, and delivery of photographic prints of digital images. In one embodiment, a handheld digital camera can send to the photo service provider one or more digital images with address information (e.g., one or more address image created in the camera) indicating destinations for the digital images or photographic prints. One or more additional images or instructions associated with the delivery addresses can indicate the size or quantity of the prints to be delivered. The camera can be coupled to a data communication network through which the camera directly sends the selected images to the photo service provider. At a server of the service provider, one or more photographic prints of the selected images are automatically printed, packaged, and sent to the delivery addresses.

Step and flash imprint lithography for sub-100-nm patterning

Abstract: Step and Flash Imprint Lithography (SFIL) is an alternative to photolithography that efficiently generates high aspect-ratio, sub-micron patterns in resist materials. Other imprint lithography techniques based on physical deformation of a polymer to generate surface relief structures have produced features in PMMA as small as 10 nm, but it is very difficult to imprint large depressed features or to imprint a thick films of resist with high aspect-ratio features by these techniques. SFIL overcomes these difficulties by exploiting the selectivity and anisotropy of reactive ion etch (RIE). First, a thick organic 'transfer' layer (0.3 micrometer to 1.1 micrometer) is spin coated to planarize the wafer surface. A low viscosity, liquid organosilicon photopolymer precursor is then applied to the substrate and a quartz template applied at 2 psi. Once the master is in contact with the organosilicon solution, a crosslinking photopolymerization is initiated via backside illumination with broadband UV light. When the layer is cured the template is removed. This process relies on being able to imprint the photopolymer while leaving the minimal residual material in the depressed areas. Any excess material is etched away using a CHF3/He/O2 RIE. The exposed transfer layer is then etched with O2 RIE. The silicon incorporated in the photopolymer allows amplification of the low aspect ratio relief structure in the silylated resist into a high aspect ratio feature in the transfer layer. The aspect ratio is limited only by the mechanical stability of the transfer layer material and the O2 RIE selectivity and anisotropy. This method has produced 60 nm features with 6:1 aspect ratios. This lithography process was also used to fabricate alternating arrays of 100 nm Ti lines on a 200 nm pitch that function as efficient micropolarizers. Several types of optical devices including gratings, polarizers, and sub-wavelength structures can be easily patterned by SFIL.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Method and apparatus for processing quality of service measurement data to assess a degree of compliance of internet services with service level agreements

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for evaluating Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that describe the level of services that are to be provided to customers by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or Enterprise Service Providers (ESPs). The method and apparatus are utilized to measure the quality of service being provided to customers and to determine whether or not the quality of service is in compliance with an SLA that characterizes the level of service to be provided to customers. Such services include, for example, electronic mail (e-mail), Voice-Over-IP (Voice Over Internet protocol), networking services and web hosting.

Physiological fluid extraction with rapid analysis

Abstract: A device for sampling and analyzing a physiological fluid from the skin of a patient by puncture The device includes a body and sensors The body has a needle with a point for puncturing a physiological tissue and a channel in the body for conducting the physiological fluid away from the point The sensors are located in the body and are accessible to the physiological fluid conducting along the channel for physiological fluid analysis The device can be used to lance the skin and obtain a representative sample of the physiological fluid, with relatively simple procedures and quick analysis to minimize the exposure of the physiological fluid sample to air

Acoustic resonator filter with reduced electromagnetic influence due to die substrate thickness

Abstract: A plurality of acoustic resonators are manufactured in a batch process by forming cavities in a substrate and filling the cavities with a sacrificial layer An FBAR membrane comprising a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode is formed over each cavity and the sacrificial layer The substrate is then thinned and the substrate is separated into a plurality of dice using a scribe and break process The sacrificial layer is then removed and the FBAR filter is mounted in a package with thermal vias being thermal communication with underside of the FBAR filter The production method improves thermal properties by increasing the efficiency of heat dissipation from the FBAR filter In addition, electromagnetic interference is decreased by reducing the distance between a primary current flowing over the surface of the FBAR filter and an image current flowing in a ground plane beneath the FBAR filter

Comparing functional and structural tests

Abstract: This paper describes an experimental study to understand issues and requirements for structural-based testing using low cost testers, compared to functional-based testing using expensive testers. Several studies have been directed at the effectiveness of various test methods, but none explicitly addressed issues involved in attempting to replace functional vectors with scan vectors and none carried the experiment further by placing defective chips into systems and running system tests. This paper describes the results of such an experiment and offers insight into necessary requirements for reduction or elimination of functional tests.

White-light-emitting diodes for illumination

Abstract: White light for illumination can be produced from LEDs either by combining red, green and blue emitting chips in one lamp, or by using phosphors to down-convert the emission of short wavelength emitting InGaN LEDs. Both concepts will be critically reviewed, and simulations compared with experimental evaluations. As expected, each solution has advantages, but also drawbacks, which are weighted by the specifics of the applications. The overall picture strongly depends on the efficiencies of the single color chips, the temperature coefficients of all involved materials, and the wanted light output per lamp.

Integrated circuit packaging for optical sensor devices

Abstract: An optical device packaging technique involves an optical sensor that is formed on a first substrate and flip chip bonded to a second substrate. The second substrate includes a through hole or a transparent section that is aligned with the optical sensor in order to allow light to contact the optical sensor. An embodiment of an optical device structure includes an optical sensor, a first substrate, a second substrate, and a circuit board. The optical sensor is formed on or within the first substrate and the individual sensors or pixels of the optical sensor are electrically connected to contact pads that are exposed on the first substrate. The first substrate is flip chip bonded to the second substrate. The second substrate is flip chip bonded to a circuit board. Another embodiment of an optical device structure includes an optical sensor, a first substrate, and a circuit board as the second substrate. In the embodiment, contact pads of the first substrate are flip chip bonded to contact pads of the circuit board with conductive balls. The connection between the first substrate and the circuit board provides the electrical connection between the optical sensor and the circuit board.

Optical switches using dual axis micromirrors

Abstract: In a first embodiment of an optical switch having at least one dual axis micromirror, the micromirror is manipulated about two generally perpendicular axes by varying voltage patterns along two electrostatic arrangements The two electrostatic arrangements may be formed to independently drive two movers, or may be formed to control a mover that is displaceable in two directions The micromirrors and the movers that control the micromirrors may be integrated onto a single substrate Alternatively, the micromirrors may be formed on a substrate that is attached to the substrate that includes the mover or movers In a second embodiment of an optical switch in accordance with the invention, the switch includes two collimator arrays and two dual axis micromirror arrays Each first micromirror in the first micromirror array is dedicated to one of the collimators in the first collimator array Similarly, each second micromirror of the second micromirror array is dedicated to one of the collimators of the second collimator array By manipulating a first micromirror, an input signal from the associated first collimator can be reflected to any of the second micromirrors By manipulating the second micromirror that receives the signal, the signal can be precisely positioned on the second collimator that is associated with the second micromirror

Integrated filter balun

Abstract: In one embodiment, an N-stage ladder circuit is serially connected to a bridge (lattice circuit. The N-stage ladder circuit receives differential inputs, e.g. mixers, while the bridge lattice circuit outputs a singled end output, e.g. amplifier. In another embodiment, a bridge lattice circuit is serially connected to an N-stage ladder circuit. The bridge lattice circuit receives a single ended load while the N-stage ladder circuit provides a differential output. Film bulk acoustic resonators are used in the combination ladder and lattice structure for both embodiments to provide the necessary band-pass functionality as well as make the necessary transition from differential to single ended load.

Apparatus for the operation of a microfluidic device

Abstract: In a system for operation or handling of a laboratory microchip (41) for chemical processing or analysis, the microchip (41) is mounted in a first physical unit (42). The microchip (41) is arranged on a mounting plate, such that it is readily accessible from the top and thus the fitting and removal of the microchip is considerably simplified. Furthermore, the first physical unit (42) comprises an optical device (43) for contactless detection of the results of the chemical processes conducted on the microchip. The supply systems necessary for the operation of the microchip are arranged in a module unit that has a separable connection with a second physical unit. The proposed modular layout enables ease of interchangeability of the required supply systems and thus, overall, ease of adaptability of the proposed system for various types of microchips.

Mounting film bulk acoustic resonators in microwave packages using flip chip bonding technology

Abstract: A device includes a die that contains a filter circuit. The filter is implemented using film bulk acoustic resonators. A package contains the die. The package includes a base portion. Signal paths are incorporated in the base portion. Solder joints attach the die to the base portion. The solder joints electrically connect pads on the die to the signal paths in the base portion. The solder joints do not include, and are used instead of, wire bonds.

Distributed Asynchronous Collections: Abstractions for Publish/Subscribe Interaction

Abstract: Publish/subscribe is considered one of the most important interaction styles for the explosive market of enterprise application integration. Producers publish information on a software bus and consumers subscribe to the information they want to receive from that bus. The decoupling nature of the interaction between the publishers and the subscribers is not only important for enterprise computing products but also for many emerging e-commerce and telecommunication applications. It is often claimed that object-orientation is inherently incompatible with the publish/subscribe interaction style. This flawed argument is due to the persistent confusion between object-orientation as a modeling discipline and the specific request/reply mechanism promoted by CORBA-like middleware systems. This paper describes object-oriented abstractions for publish/subscribe interaction in the form of Distributed Asynchronous Collections (DACs). DACs are general enough to capture the commonalities of various publish/subscribe interaction styles, and flexible enough to allow the exploitation of the differences between these flavors.

Configurable arrhythmia analysis algorithm with security interface

Abstract: An electrotherapy device includes a power supply and electrodes. The electrodes are coupled to the power supply to deliver a defibrillating shock to a patient. Electronic circuitry is coupled to the electrodes and is operable to detect heart rhythms via the electrodes. Further, control circuitry is coupled to the electronic circuitry and the power supply and configurable to selectively classify patient heart rhythms that generate a shockable condition, the control circuitry operable to arm the power supply for energizing the electrodes responsive to such detectable shockable condition. A method is also provided.