Comparative autofluorescence analysis of silicon nitride and tantalum pentoxide waveguides at 532 nm.

In this paper, we quantitatively compare the autofluorescence of stoichiometric low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) silicon nitride and sputtered tantalum pentoxide waveguides at a pump wavelength of 532 nm. Through a direct quantitative characterization of comparable waveguides formed from the two films, we find no observable autofluorescence for tantalum pentoxide waveguides. Our experimental sensitivity is limited by Raman scattering of the pump into our detection band and our measurements indicate that the autofluorescence of the tantalum pentoxide waveguides is more than 600 × smaller than that of silicon nitride waveguides.

Niobium-tantalum oxide as a material platform for linear and nonlinear integrated photonics.

Here we realize the first reported integrated photonic devices fabricated using sputtered niobium-tantalum oxide films. Sputtered niobium-tantalum oxide films are highly promising for integrated photonics as they are scalable to high volume manufacturing, possess high refractive index, and are transparent in the ultraviolet through near infrared wavelength range. At a wavelength near 1550 nm, we observe propagation losses as low as 0.

A multicenter trial of an intrabronchial valve for treatment of severe emphysema.

Objectives: Minimally invasive endoscopic treatment of emphysema could provide palliation with less risk than lung volume reduction surgery and offer therapy to patients currently not considered for lung volume reduction surgery. The Intrabronchial Valve is used to block bronchial airflow in the most emphysematous areas of lung.

Methods: Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heterogeneous upper lobe-predominant emphysema were eligible.