Lossy Mode Resonance Based Microfluidic Platform Developed on Planar Waveguide for Biosensing Applications.

The development of resonance phenomena-based optical biosensors has gained relevance in recent years due to the excellent optical fiber properties and progress in the research on materials and techniques that allow resonance generation. However, for lossy mode resonance (LMR)-based sensors, the optical fiber presents disadvantages, such as the need for splicing the sensor head and the complex polarization control. To avoid these issues, planar waveguides such as coverslips are easier to handle, cost-effective, and more robust structures.

Twin lossy mode resonance on a single D-shaped optical fiber.

This Letter presents the fabrication of dual lossy mode resonance (LMR) refractometers based on titanium dioxide () and tin oxide () thin films deposited on a single side-polished D-shaped optical fiber. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, two independent LMRs are obtained in the same D-shaped optical fiber, by using a step-shaped nanostructure consisting of a first section of with a thickness of 120 nm and a second section with a thickness of 140 nm (120 nm of and 20 nm of ). Each section is responsible for generating a first-order LMR with TM-polarized light ().

Optical Biosensors for the Detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Biomarkers: A Comprehensive Review.

A comprehensive review of optical biosensors for the detection of biomarkers associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is presented here, including microRNAs (miRNAs), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and histidine, which are biomarkers that enable RA detection and/or monitoring. An overview of the different optical biosensors (based on fluorescence, plasmon resonances, interferometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) among other optical techniques) used to detect these biomarkers is given, describing their performance and main characteristics (limit of detection (LOD) and dynamic range), as well as the connection between the respective biomarker and rheumatoid arthritis. It has been observed that the relationship between the corresponding biomarker and rheumatoid arthritis tends to be obviated most of the time when explaining the mechanism of the optical biosensor, which forces the researcher to look for further information about the biomarker.

Femtomolar Detection by Nanocoated Fiber Label-Free Biosensors.

The advent of optical fiber-based biosensors combined with that of nanotechnologies has provided an opportunity for developing in situ, portable, lightweight, versatile, and high-performance optical sensing platforms. We report on the generation of lossy mode resonances by the deposition of nanometer-thick metal oxide films on optical fibers, which makes it possible to measure precisely and accurately the changes in optical properties of the fiber-surrounding medium with very high sensitivity compared to other technology platforms, such as long period gratings or surface plasmon resonances, the gold standard in label-free and real-time biomolecular interaction analysis. This property, combined with the application of specialty structures such as D-shaped fibers, permits enhancing the light-matter interaction.

Micro and Nanostructured Materials for the Development of Optical Fibre Sensors.

The measurement of chemical and biomedical parameters can take advantage of the features exclusively offered by optical fibre: passive nature, electromagnetic immunity and chemical stability are some of the most relevant ones. The small dimensions of the fibre generally require that the sensing material be loaded into a supporting matrix whose morphology is adjusted at a nanometric scale. Thanks to the advances in nanotechnology new deposition methods have been developed: they allow reagents from different chemical nature to be embedded into films with a thickness always below a few microns that also show a relevant aspect ratio to ensure a high transduction interface.

Is there a frontier in sensitivity with Lossy mode resonance (LMR) based refractometers?

A tin dioxide thin layer has been studied in order to improve the sensitivity of lossy mode resonances (LMR) based sensors. The effects of the thin film thickness and the polarization of light in a SnO coated D-shaped single mode optical fiber have been evaluated. The optimization of such parameters in the fabrication of refractometers have led to an unprecedented sensitivity of over one million nanometers per refractive index unit (RIU), which means a sensitivity below 10 RIU with a pm resolution detector.

Optimization in nanocoated D-shaped optical fiber sensors.

Nanocoated D-shaped optical fibers have been proven as effective sensors. Here, we show that the full width at half minimum (FWHM) of lossy mode resonance can be reduced by optimizing the nanocoating width, thickness and refractive index. As a counterpart, several resonances are observed in the optical spectrum for specific conditions.

High sensitive and selective C-reactive protein detection by means of lossy mode resonance based optical fiber devices.

This work presents the development of high sensitive, selective, fast and reusable C-reactive protein (CRP) aptasensors. This novel approach takes advantage of the utilization of high sensitive refractometers based on Lossy Mode Resonances generated by thin indium tin oxide (ITO) films fabricated onto the planar region of d-shaped optical fibers. CRP selectivity is obtained by means of the adhesion of a CRP specific aptamer chain onto the ITO film using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) nano-assembly fabrication process.

High sensitive refractometers based on lossy mode resonances (LMRs) supported by ITO coated D-shaped optical fibers.

Tin doped indium oxide (ITO) coatings fabricated onto D-shaped optical fibers are presented as the supporting medium for Lossy Mode Resonances (LMRs) generation. The characteristic geometry of ITO-coated D-shaped optical fibers enables to observe experimentally LMRs obtained with both TM and TE polarized light (LMR(TM) and LMR(TE)). This permits to obtain a maximum transmission decay of 36 dB with a LMR spectral width of 6.

Experimental demonstration of lossy mode resonance generation for transverse-magnetic and transverse-electric polarizations.

This Letter, presents the fabrication of lossy mode resonance (LMR) devices based on titanium dioxide (TiO2)/ poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) coatings deposited on side-polished D-shaped optical fibers. TiO2 thin films have been obtained by means of the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. LbL enables us to produce smooth and homogeneous coatings on the polished side of the fiber.

Epicardially Based Pulmonary Vein Isolation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Utilizing Laser Energy in the Pig Model.

Atrial fibrillation is a common disease that increases the incidence of cerebrovascular embolic events and cardiac dysfunction. Foci for atrial fibrillation have been mapped and found to be for the most part located within the ostia of the pulmonary veins. Since 2002 microwave and radiofrequency energy sources have been used to create pulmonary vein isolation lesions.

Laser Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation: Mid-term Clinical Experience.

Atrial Fibrillation is known to account for one third of all the strokes caused in the US in the population above the age of 70. Patients treated with the surgical Cox MAZE operation have been shown to have a 150 fold decrease in the incidence of stroke over an 18 year period. However, the original Cox MAZE although extremely successful in treating atrial fibrillation and decreasing the incidence of strokes was not performed widely because of complexity and invasiveness of the procedure.

Prediction of long-term survival by preoperative exercise testing in patients with depressed ejection fraction undergoing myocardial revascularization.

Ejection fraction is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality for patients with ischemic heart disease. Patients with an ejection fraction of 0.40 or less are generally recognized as having a poorer prognosis than those patients with an ejection fraction of 0.

Probability of valve repair for pure mitral regurgitation.

The advantages of mitral valve repair are well established. Unfortunately, not all valves can be repaired. This presents a dilemma for the surgeon in terms of advising the patient as to the timing of operation and in decision making during operation.

Stunned myocardium following prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass: effect of warm versus cold cardioplegia in the canine model.

"Stunned myocardium" is defined as the prolonged but transient postischemic contractile dysfunction of viable myocardium that has been salvaged by reperfusion. This phenomenon, although first characterized in the experimental canine model of coronary artery occlusion/reperfusion, also occurs following transient global ischemia. Moreover, despite the superb cardioprotection conferred by administration of cold cardioplegia during aortic cross-clamping, stunned myocardium is a well-recognized sequela of prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiac operation without hypothermia for the patient with cold agglutinin.

Recently, a new technique for myocardial protection that does not rely on hypothermia has been reported. In this method, the heart is continuously perfused with normothermic hyperkalemic blood cardioplegia during the cross-clamp period. Cardiac arrest is achieved and maintained using high levels of potassium.

Rapid sustained recovery after cardiac operations.

After successful cardiac operations in the early 1980s the most common causes of prolonged hospitalizations were noncardiac disorders. We prevented or quickly corrected these noncardiac disorders after operations in succeeding patients and observed in the following 2 years that the shortest postoperative stays in the hospital were followed by the fewest rehospitalizations. In 240 consecutive patients the median length of hospital stay after operation was 4 days.

Tricuspid regurgitation associated with mitral valve disease: repair and replacement.

Between January 1975 and June 1988, 156 patients with combined mitral and tricuspid valve disease underwent mitral and tricuspid valve repair or replacement. There were 127 (81%) patients with tricuspid valve repair and 29 (19%) patients with tricuspid valve replacement. Hospital mortality was 14% and was strongly influenced by preoperative pulmonary hypertension (systolic pressure greater than 65 mm Hg) and poor left ventricular function (ejection fraction less than 0.

Long-term results of operations for mitral regurgitation secondary to coronary artery disease.

There are few published reports regarding the long-term results of the operative treatment of significant mitral regurgitation secondary to coronary artery occlusive disease. The few available reports deal with mitral replacement and myocardial revascularization. We prefer repair of the mitral apparatus to replacement, whether combined with myocardial revascularization or done alone.

Mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation secondary to coronary artery disease.

Mitral regurgitation secondary to ischemic heart disease carries a significant mortality in the untreated patient. We report on 141 patients with mitral regurgitation secondary to ischemic heart disease who underwent complete coronary revascularization and correction of mitral regurgitation by either repair (101 patients) or replacement (40 patients). Good long- and short-term palliation was obtained.

Myocardial revascularization for patients with an ejection fraction of 0.2 or less. 12 years' results.

From 1969 through December 31, 1981, a total of 232 patients with an ejection fraction of 0.2 or less (normal 0.67) had myocardial revascularization.

Ventricular septal rupture secondary to myocardial infarction. Clinical approach and surgical results.

Twenty-four patients underwent operation for ventricular septal rupture secondary to acute myocardial infarction. There were 14 hospital survivors (58%) and two late deaths (8%). There were eight hospital deaths (62%) of 13 patients referred in cardiogenic shock, but only two deaths (18%) of 11 patients not in shock at time of referral.

Long-term results of operations for mitral insufficiency secondary to coronary artery disease.

There are few published reports regarding the long-term results of the operative treatment of significant mitral insufficiency secondary to coronary artery disease. The few available reports deal with mitral replacement and myocardial revascularization. However, we prefer mitral repair to mitral replacement with myocardial revascularization.

Aortic valve replacement in patients with poor ventricular function-early and late results with long-term follow-up.

A series of 62 consecutive patients with an ejection fraction of 0.4 or less (mean 0.28 with a range from 0.