Development Of A Prototype Production System For Optical Fibre Diagnostic Probes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$191,598.00
Summary
Advances in nanotechnology have led to new techniques for the precise fabrication of nanometre scale structures. A recent breakthrough by the applicants now allows high-quality nanostructures to be stamped onto the tip of low-cost optical fibre probes. When coated with silver, these sensitive probes can be used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose in diabetics and in critical care situations. This project aims to develop a prototype manufacturing system for optical fibre glucose probes.
Nanometric optical sensing for characterisation of microbioreactors. Microfabrication of microfluidic based microbioreactors is a novel technology that is creating advanced tools in the fields of biology and medicine. A critically important step in the development of a microbioreactor is the ability to characterise fluid shear stress of the microenvironment without impacting on the biological system. The development of a microbioreactor in which individual or multiple cells can be cultured and ....Nanometric optical sensing for characterisation of microbioreactors. Microfabrication of microfluidic based microbioreactors is a novel technology that is creating advanced tools in the fields of biology and medicine. A critically important step in the development of a microbioreactor is the ability to characterise fluid shear stress of the microenvironment without impacting on the biological system. The development of a microbioreactor in which individual or multiple cells can be cultured and manipulated will have a significant impact on study of biological systems in cancer research and stem cell research. Read moreRead less
Micro-engineered Optical Fibre Clocks. Clocks and oscillators are crucial components of all communication, navigation and computing technologies. Improvements in the performance of these internal clocks results in improvement in the performance of the dependent system, and are thus of high economic and technological value. A great need presently exists for compact and high performance clocks for improving optical fibre communication systems. The goal of this project is join the expertise of t ....Micro-engineered Optical Fibre Clocks. Clocks and oscillators are crucial components of all communication, navigation and computing technologies. Improvements in the performance of these internal clocks results in improvement in the performance of the dependent system, and are thus of high economic and technological value. A great need presently exists for compact and high performance clocks for improving optical fibre communication systems. The goal of this project is join the expertise of the University of Western Australia group with that of the University of Bath team to develop a new type of clock to fulfil this need.Read moreRead less
Imaging of properties of coherent elastic light scattering from turbid biological media. Imaging with coherent, elastically-scattered light for visualisation of thick-tissue morphology in vivo, or of cells buried deep in a turbid medium, remains a major challenge. We adopt an alternative approach of imaging of properties of light scattering based on regarding cellular tissue as a spatially-varying refractive-index continuum which encodes scattered light. We propose new methodologies to infer t ....Imaging of properties of coherent elastic light scattering from turbid biological media. Imaging with coherent, elastically-scattered light for visualisation of thick-tissue morphology in vivo, or of cells buried deep in a turbid medium, remains a major challenge. We adopt an alternative approach of imaging of properties of light scattering based on regarding cellular tissue as a spatially-varying refractive-index continuum which encodes scattered light. We propose new methodologies to infer tissue state and morphology indirectly based on phase delay, speckle, and angle-resolved scattering. We will break new ground in correlating the structure and function of in situ epithelial tissue and cells to light scattering enabling, e.g., the detection of mitosis and apoptosis in cells buried in thick, turbid media, and of cancers and precancers in vivo.Read moreRead less
Advances in optical coherence tomography. We propose to continue our research into the biomedical imaging technique of optical coherence tomography by making substantial new advances in the key areas of ultra-broad bandwidth operation, coincident confocal gate scanning, and dispersion compensation. These advances are aimed at improving resolution to the 1-5 micron range, which should allow a breakthrough to sub-cellular in vivo imaging, making visible sample histology in situ, which is currentl ....Advances in optical coherence tomography. We propose to continue our research into the biomedical imaging technique of optical coherence tomography by making substantial new advances in the key areas of ultra-broad bandwidth operation, coincident confocal gate scanning, and dispersion compensation. These advances are aimed at improving resolution to the 1-5 micron range, which should allow a breakthrough to sub-cellular in vivo imaging, making visible sample histology in situ, which is currently not possible. We also plan to make advances in the key area of scanning delay line technology by employing acousto-optics in OCT for the first time. Acousto-optics conveys advantages in no-moving-parts, scan-speed and accuracy.Read moreRead less
New quantitative methods in X-ray imaging using crystal optics. This project will enhance Australian science's international leadership in the area of x-ray imaging. This powerful type of X-ray imaging, which makes use of optical elements made of perfect crystals, is specially tailored to image samples which are invisible to conventional x-ray techniques. Such "extended x-ray vision" is extremely important for imaging in medicine, biology and materials science. Furthermore, we will train x-ray s ....New quantitative methods in X-ray imaging using crystal optics. This project will enhance Australian science's international leadership in the area of x-ray imaging. This powerful type of X-ray imaging, which makes use of optical elements made of perfect crystals, is specially tailored to image samples which are invisible to conventional x-ray techniques. Such "extended x-ray vision" is extremely important for imaging in medicine, biology and materials science. Furthermore, we will train x-ray scientists of tomorrow, whose expertise will allow Australia to capitalize on its investment in the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
Novel High-Q Resonant Structures for Space and Telecommunications. High-Q microwave resonators with low spurious mode density have important applications in telecommunications, radar, navigation, precision metrology and time standards. We will develop high-Q resonators by constructing a dielectric Bragg resonators using monocrystalline sapphire loaded in a copper cavity with new cylindrical and spherical geometries. Based on these devices, compact and economical state-of-the-art ultra-low noise ....Novel High-Q Resonant Structures for Space and Telecommunications. High-Q microwave resonators with low spurious mode density have important applications in telecommunications, radar, navigation, precision metrology and time standards. We will develop high-Q resonators by constructing a dielectric Bragg resonators using monocrystalline sapphire loaded in a copper cavity with new cylindrical and spherical geometries. Based on these devices, compact and economical state-of-the-art ultra-low noise microwave oscillators and hydrogen masers will be built for the telecommunications market and space applications.Read moreRead less
Non-Interferometric Phase Measurement of Exotic Waves. Phase is a key concept in all aspects of physics from biological microscopy through to length measurement and on to industrial inspection. The University of Melbourne has developed a new class of phase measurement techniques that possesses unprecedented flexibility. The aim of this project is to build on the international leadership of the Australian team so as to fully explore and develop these techniques.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347462
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Femtosecond laser micromachining facility. The proposed establishment of a femtosecond laser micromachining facility, with microdiagnostic capabilities, will facilitate a range of projects involving fabrication of submicron structures in metals, polymers, glasses, ceramics and crystalline materials. This facility, unique in Australia , will be comparable to the best such facilities in the world, enabling researchers to apply new microfabrication techniques to a range of photonic and optoelectro ....Femtosecond laser micromachining facility. The proposed establishment of a femtosecond laser micromachining facility, with microdiagnostic capabilities, will facilitate a range of projects involving fabrication of submicron structures in metals, polymers, glasses, ceramics and crystalline materials. This facility, unique in Australia , will be comparable to the best such facilities in the world, enabling researchers to apply new microfabrication techniques to a range of photonic and optoelectronic devices, including laser-written optical planar waveguides, nonlinear components and photonic bandgap structures , and various biomedical microstructures. Outcomes will include demonstration and development of novel photonic/optoelectronic devices and of new techniques, crucial to cost-effective manufacture of photonic components.Read moreRead less
Control of Instabilities in Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors. Gravitational wave technology from UWA has already given rise to significant spin-offs including sapphire oscillators for radar applications and vibration isolators for airborne mineral exploration. This project will lead to techniques for increasing the sensitivity of already extraordinary sensitive instruments, and could have applications in many areas. The project will strengthen Australia's role in the world wide quest to det ....Control of Instabilities in Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors. Gravitational wave technology from UWA has already given rise to significant spin-offs including sapphire oscillators for radar applications and vibration isolators for airborne mineral exploration. This project will lead to techniques for increasing the sensitivity of already extraordinary sensitive instruments, and could have applications in many areas. The project will strengthen Australia's role in the world wide quest to detect gravitational waves, which is one of the most significant and challenging human endeavours. The project will use the superb national research facility at Gingin. Its content contributes to the Eureka Prize winning Gravity Discovery Centre also located at the site, which is a major centre for science education.Read moreRead less