Dynamic Focusing (DF) Cone-Based Omnidirectional Fingertip Pressure Sensor with High Sensitivity in a Wide Pressure Range.

It is essential to detect pressure from a robot's fingertip in every direction to ensure efficient and secure grasping of objects with diverse shapes. Nevertheless, creating a simple-designed sensor that offers cost-effective and omnidirectional pressure sensing poses substantial difficulties. This is because it often requires more intricate mechanical solutions than when designing non-omnidirectional pressure sensors of robot fingertips.

Aggregated micropatch-based deep learning neural network for ultrasonic diagnosis of cirrhosis.

Despite the advancements in the diagnosis of early-stage cirrhosis, the accuracy in the diagnosis using ultrasound is still challenging owing to the presence of various image artifacts, which results in poor visual quality of the textural and lower-frequency components. In this study, we propose an end-to-end multistep network called CirrhosisNet that includes two transfer-learned convolutional neural networks for semantic segmentation and classification tasks. It uses a uniquely designed image, called an aggregated micropatch (AMP), as an input image to the classification network, thereby assessing whether the liver is in a cirrhotic stage.

Omnidirectional Fingertip Pressure Sensor Using Hall Effect.

When grasping objects with uneven or varying shapes, accurate pressure measurement on robot fingers is critical for precise robotic gripping operations. However, measuring the pressure from the sides of the fingertips remains challenging owing to the poor omnidirectionality of the pressure sensor. In this study, we propose an omnidirectional sensitive pressure sensor using a cone-shaped magnet slider and Hall sensor embedded in a flexible elastomer, which guarantees taking pressure measurements from any side of the fingertip.

Cascaded Deep Learning Neural Network for Automated Liver Steatosis Diagnosis Using Ultrasound Images.

Diagnosing liver steatosis is an essential precaution for detecting hepatocirrhosis and liver cancer in the early stages. However, automatic diagnosis of liver steatosis from ultrasound (US) images remains challenging due to poor visual quality from various origins, such as speckle noise and blurring. In this paper, we propose a fully automated liver steatosis prediction model using three deep learning neural networks.

Fully Automated Lab-On-A-Disc Platform for Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Using Micro-Carbon-Activated Cell Lysis.

Fast and fully automated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification methods are of interest in the research on lab-on-a-disc (LOD) platforms because of their full compatibility with the spin-column mechanism using centrifugal force. However, the standard procedures followed in DNA amplification require accurate noncontact temperature control as well as cell lysis at a low temperature to prevent damage to the LOD platform. This requirement makes it challenging to achieve full automation of DNA amplification on an LOD.

Optical Temperature Control Unit and Convolutional Neural Network for Colorimetric Detection of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification on a Lab-On-A-Disc Platform.

Lab-on-a-disc (LOD) has emerged as a promising candidate for a point-of-care testing (POCT) device because it can effectively integrate complex fluid manipulation steps using multiple layers of polymeric substrates. However, it is still highly challenging to design and fabricate temperature measurement and heating system in non-contact with the surface of LOD, which is a prerequisite to successful realization of DNA amplification especially with a rotatable disc. This study presents a Lab-on-a-disc (LOD)-based automatic loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) system, where a thermochromic coating (<~420 µm) was used to distantly measure the chamber's temperature and a micro graphite film was integrated into the chamber to remotely absorb laser beam with super high efficiency.

Non-Contact Temperature Control System Applicable to Polymerase Chain Reaction on a Lab-on-a-Disc.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the visual inspection of fluorescent amplicons for detection are commonly used procedures in nucleic acid tests. However, it has been extremely challenging to incorporate PCR onto a lab-on-a-disc (PCR-LOD) as it involves controlling the complicated and precise heating steps during thermal cycling and the measurement of reagent temperature. Additionally, a non-contact temperature control system without any connecting attachments needs to be implemented to facilitate the rotation of the PCR-LOD.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Using a Lab-on-a-Disc Device with Thin-film Phase Change Material.

The design and fabrication of temperature measurement systems that facilitate successful realization of DNA amplification using a lab-on-a-disc (LOD) device are a highly challenging task. The major challenge lies in the fact that such a system must be directly attached to a heating chamber in a way that enables the accurate measurement of temperature of the chamber while allowing the LOD to rotate. This paper presents a temperature control system for implementing isothermal amplification of DNA samples using an LOD device.

Lab-on-a-Disc Platform for Automated Chemical Cell Lysis.

Chemical cell lysis is an interesting topic in the research to Lab-on-a-Disc (LOD) platforms on account of its perfect compatibility with the centrifugal spin column format. However, standard procedures followed in chemical cell lysis require sophisticated non-contact temperature control as well as the use of pressure resistant valves. These requirements pose a significant challenge thereby making the automation of chemical cell lysis on an LOD extremely difficult to achieve.

Chemical Cell Lysis System Applicable to Lab-on-a-Disc.

The design and fabrication of a heating system has been a significant challenge in implementing chemical lysis on a lab-on-a-disc (LOD). The proposed system contains a sample inlet, phase change material (PCM) array, heating chamber, and valve in a single disc, providing cost-effective, rapid, and fully automated chemical cell lysis. Compared to the conventional cell lysis system, our cell lysis system has many advantages, such as a compact structure that is easily integrated into the LOD and reduced processing time and labor.

Automated centrifugal-microfluidic platform for DNA purification using laser burst valve and coriolis effect.

We report a fully automated DNA purification platform with a micropored membrane in the channel utilizing centrifugal microfluidics on a lab-on-a-disc (LOD). The microfluidic flow in the LOD, into which the reagents are injected for DNA purification, is controlled by a single motor and laser burst valve. The sample and reagents pass successively through the micropored membrane in the channel when each laser burst valve is opened.