Robust Pixel Design Methodologies for a Vertical Avalanche Photodiode (VAPD)-Based CMOS Image Sensor.

We present robust pixel design methodologies for a vertical avalanche photodiode-based CMOS image sensor, taking account of three critical practical factors: (i) "guard-ring-free" pixel isolation layout, (ii) device characteristics "insensitive" to applied voltage and temperature, and (iii) stable operation subject to intense light exposure. The "guard-ring-free" pixel design is established by resolving the tradeoff relationship between electric field concentration and pixel isolation. The effectiveness of the optimization strategy is validated both by simulation and experiment. To realize insensitivity to voltage and temperature variations, a global feedback resistor is shown to effectively suppress variations in device characteristics such as photon detection efficiency and dark count rate. An in-pixel overflow transistor is also introduced to enhance the resistance to strong illumination. The robustness of the fabricated VAPD-CIS is verified by characterization of 122 different chips and through a high-temperature and intense-light-illumination operation test with 5 chips, conducted at 125 °C for 1000 h subject to 940 nm light exposure equivalent to 10 kLux.

Modeling and Analysis of Capacitive Relaxation Quenching in a Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Applied to a CMOS Image Sensor.

We present an analysis of carrier dynamics of the single-photon detection process, i.e., from Geiger mode pulse generation to its quenching, in a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The device is modeled by a parallel circuit of a SPAD and a capacitance representing both space charge accumulation inside the SPAD and parasitic components. The carrier dynamics inside the SPAD is described by time-dependent bipolar-coupled continuity equations (BCE). Numerical solutions of BCE show that the entire process completes within a few hundreds of picoseconds. More importantly, we find that the total amount of charges stored on the series capacitance gives rise to a voltage swing of the internal bias of SPAD twice of the excess bias voltage with respect to the breakdown voltage. This, in turn, gives a design methodology to control precisely generated charges and enables one to use SPADs as conventional photodiodes (PDs) in a four transistor pixel of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) with short exposure time and without carrier overflow. Such operation is demonstrated by experiments with a 6 µm size 400 × 400 pixels SPAD-based CIS designed with this methodology.

A 250 m Direct Time-of-Flight Ranging System Based on a Synthesis of Sub-Ranging Images and a Vertical Avalanche Photo-Diodes (VAPD) CMOS Image Sensor.

We have developed a direct time-of-flight (TOF) 250 m ranging Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS) based on a 688 × 384 pixels array of vertical avalanche photodiodes (VAPD). Each pixel of the CIS comprises VAPD with a standard four transistor pixel circuit equipped with an analogue capacitor to accumulate or count avalanche pulses. High power near infrared (NIR) short (<50 ns) and repetitive (6 kHz) laser pulses are illuminated through a diffusing optics. By globally gating the VAPD, each pulse is counted in the in-pixel counter enabling extraction of sub-photon level signal. Depth map imaging with a 10 cm lateral resolution is realized from 1 m to 250 m range by synthesizing subranges images of photon counts. Advantages and limitation of an in-pixel circuit are described. The developed CIS is expected to supersede insufficient resolution of the conventional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems and the short range of indirect CIS TOF.

[Optimal catheter position for PreSep central venous oximetry catheter].

BACKGROUND & METHODS: To evaluate optimal catheter position for PreSep central venous oximetry catheter, we inserted the catheter through a sheath introducer with contamination shield and conducted its in vivo calibration in twenty-eight patients. In the event of calibration failure due to unstable signals, the catheter was advanced until calibration became possible. If SQI rose to 3 or 4 during surgery, we readjusted the catheter position to resume reliable monitoring. At the conclusion of surgery, the catheter position was checked radiologically and the distance between the catheter tip and the upper border of the clavicle was measured. RESULTS: In 70% of the patients, calibration was performed successfully when the catheter was inserted for 12-14 cm from the top of the groove between the sternal and clavicular heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which led to positioning of the catheter tip 5-7 cm from the upper border of the clavicle. However, there was a considerable variation within the total patient sample and no definite correlation was found between catheter positions and patient's height. In 30% of the patient, readjustment of the catheter was required during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a sheath introducer with contamination shield seems to be useful for positioning the PreSep catheter.

Fulminant respiratory failure due to severe pneumothorax after re-do coronary artery bypass grafting treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

This case report details the management of a 79-year-old man who developed massive postoperative pneumothorax following redo coronary artery bypass grafting due to severe lung adhesions. We successfully treated the patient using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without femoral cannulation, allowing for early rehabilitation initiation. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a reasonable option for cases of severe respiratory failure due to pneumothorax with lung destruction caused by re-sternotomy during re-do cardiac surgery.

Development of angle-resolved spectroscopy system of electrons emitted from a surface with negative electron affinity state.

We developed an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy system for the analysis of conduction-band electrons. By forming a negative electron affinity surface on a semiconductor surface, electrons in conduction bands are emitted into a vacuum and measured by using an analyzer. This method enables us to determine the energy and momentum of the conduction electrons. Furthermore, it can be used to determine unoccupied conduction band structures. The main challenges of this method are that the energies of the emitted electrons are extremely low and the trajectories of the electrons change due to various influences. We overcame these problems by placing the shielding mesh close to the sample and parallel to the sample surface. The entire chambers, including the shielding mesh, were grounded, and a negative bias voltage was applied only to the sample. This configuration realizes the acceleration of electrons while preserving the momentum component parallel to the sample surface. Another problem is the establishment of a method for converting a detected angle into the corresponding wavevector. We focused on the emission angle of electrons emitted from a sample and their minimum energy and then established an analytical method for converting detected angles into corresponding wavevectors on the basis of the minimum energy.

A case series of continuous paravertebral block in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), via minithoracotomy, is thought to be a fast track to extubation and recovery after surgery. For this, good coverage analgesia is essential. Epidural anesthesia, a standard technique for thoracic surgery, has high risk of complications, such as epidural abscess and spinal hematoma in open-heart surgery. Based on the hypothesis that continuous paravertebral block (CPVB), a less invasive regional anesthetic technique, is safe and effective in open-heart surgery, we applied CPVB to MICS with thoracotomy. FINDINGS: To assess whether CPVB could be used in open-heart surgery with fewer potential complications, we investigated our medical records of the 87 adult patients who underwent MICS at Akashi Medical Center, Hyogo, Japan, between March 2009 and May 2016. We collected data of CPVB-related complications, postextubation respiratory failure, duration of intubation, and other analgesic use from hospital clinical records. We observed no severe CPVB-related complications, such as hematoma, neuropathy, or abscess. PT-INR longer than 1.1 was associated with CPVB-related minor bleeding. Forty-three patients (47.4%) were extubated within 1 h after surgery, and there were no postextubation respiratory failures in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: We observed no cases of severe CPVB-related complications or postextubation respiratory failure in any of our patients who underwent MICS. Preoperative prolongation of PT-INR was associated with CPVB-related minor bleeding.