Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge re ....Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge reduction in their usage. We could assess thick tissues enabling early noninvasive diagnosis of malignancy in tumours in situ or muscle characterization for meat quality or muscular dystrophy. These benefits impact on research, animal ethics, and on health, and have commercial potential in life and medical sciences, and the meat industry.Read moreRead less
Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and ....Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and the possibility of time sequential studies of the same animal; and in muscular dystrophy in humans, a new capability in the direct assessment of muscle tissue and the disease treatment and progression. This suite of advances should generate intellectual property of major commercial importance.Read moreRead less
Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools ....Modelling and Measurement of Flow-Structure Dynamics in the Human Upper Airway. Sleep disruption due to the common and disabling conditions of snoring and obstruction of the human upper airway can result in chronic fatigue, lost work and accidents caused by daytime drowsiness. To date the behaviour of the upper airway has not been adequately studied in terms able to reveal the mechanical causes of these conditions. This deficiency is addressed through the development and use of simulation tools and measurement techniques that will elucidate the flow-structure dynamics leading to new diagnostic and improved treatment methods. Simulating the effect of treatment on any individual will permit it to be chosen to maximise its efficacy for a problem that costs the nation an estimated $2 Billion per year in lost productivity.Read moreRead less
New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have ....New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have been limited to detection of a specific substance. Success in this project will make low cost generic MEMS-based sensors a reality, allowing, for the first time, wide-spread use of sensitive sensing systems in applications such as farming, container transport security, general medical practice and national security.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0345794
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Spectroscopic Imaging Ellipsometry for Opto-VLSI Engineering and Nanotechnology Applications. The focus for implementation of spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry is to create a powerful optical analysis and characterisation tool to complement the advanced integrated circuit test facilities within Western Australia. This infrastructure will facilitate the integration of the fields of materials research, new device technologies, integrated circuit technology, nanotechnology and photonics in the exp ....Spectroscopic Imaging Ellipsometry for Opto-VLSI Engineering and Nanotechnology Applications. The focus for implementation of spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry is to create a powerful optical analysis and characterisation tool to complement the advanced integrated circuit test facilities within Western Australia. This infrastructure will facilitate the integration of the fields of materials research, new device technologies, integrated circuit technology, nanotechnology and photonics in the expanding field of Opto-VLSI. The proposed equipment is being built upon targeted research in VLSI, and will create an additional platform for innovations in microelectronic technology applicable to the communications, information technology, energy generation, security, and biomedical fields.Read moreRead less
Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify can ....Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify cancerous tissue during surgery and reduce rates of recurrence. It could aid in tissue engineering and regeneration and will provide a new database of tissue mechanical properties. The project will position Australia as a leader in this newly developing medical imaging technology, with significant potential for commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Exploring Synergies between Frontier Microphotonics and Advanced Time and Frequency Technology. Recently scientists have developed the means to manufacture objects that are on the same microscopic scale as light itself. These structures can deliver exquisite control of the properties of the light beams. Our existing research has been aimed at developing some of the world's most precise measurement tools based on clocks and the pure colours generated by lasers. By combining these two technologie ....Exploring Synergies between Frontier Microphotonics and Advanced Time and Frequency Technology. Recently scientists have developed the means to manufacture objects that are on the same microscopic scale as light itself. These structures can deliver exquisite control of the properties of the light beams. Our existing research has been aimed at developing some of the world's most precise measurement tools based on clocks and the pure colours generated by lasers. By combining these two technologies, both of which lie at the extreme limit of precision, we will develop a new generation of technology for fundamental science objectives as well as for industrial needs.Read moreRead less
Verification and prototypes of Opto-ULSI Processors for MicroPhotonic Applications. The aim of the program is to establish efficient linkage between Australia and Korea by stimulating research towards the rapid integration of VLSI systems into photonic components, hence creating a new platform in intelligent MicroPhotonic systems, which are core elements for future-generation reconfigurable telecommunication networks. Our ultimate target is to (1) design a low-power 256-phase Opto-ULSI processor ....Verification and prototypes of Opto-ULSI Processors for MicroPhotonic Applications. The aim of the program is to establish efficient linkage between Australia and Korea by stimulating research towards the rapid integration of VLSI systems into photonic components, hence creating a new platform in intelligent MicroPhotonic systems, which are core elements for future-generation reconfigurable telecommunication networks. Our ultimate target is to (1) design a low-power 256-phase Opto-ULSI processor, (2) experimentally verify various reconfigurable MicroPhotonic architectures for optical telecommunication applications, (3) develop efficient software for the various MicroPhotonic systems, and (4) develop and verify working prototypes.Read moreRead less
Reconfigurable MicroPhotonic Processor. This research aims to study a new reconfigurable MicroPhotonic processor capable of performing many optical functions simultaneously. In this project, research is particularly focused on reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing (ROADM) for future Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) optical networks. The significance of the MicroPhotonic architecture is that it can add/drop a single or multiple wavelength channels, and can scale to tens of chan ....Reconfigurable MicroPhotonic Processor. This research aims to study a new reconfigurable MicroPhotonic processor capable of performing many optical functions simultaneously. In this project, research is particularly focused on reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing (ROADM) for future Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) optical networks. The significance of the MicroPhotonic architecture is that it can add/drop a single or multiple wavelength channels, and can scale to tens of channels while maintaining low insertion loss and low crosstalk. The outcome will be a new reconfigurable MicroPhotonic ROADM architecture which overcomes existing scaling bottlenecks for processing hundreds of DWDM channels.Read moreRead less
Automated photonic multi-spectral weed discrimination sensor for precision agriculture. Australian farmers spend over $800 million yearly on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80% (i.e. over $640 million p.a. saving) and improve crop yields by 30%. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export sales. Reduced chemical loads o ....Automated photonic multi-spectral weed discrimination sensor for precision agriculture. Australian farmers spend over $800 million yearly on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80% (i.e. over $640 million p.a. saving) and improve crop yields by 30%. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export sales. Reduced chemical loads on ecosystems will benefit the environment and reduced chemicals in the food chain will benefit the health of Australians. This development will put Australia at the cutting edge of precision spray technology and has numerous spin-off applications in many sectors.Read moreRead less