New Fabrication Method of Silicon Sub-Micron Beams with Monolithic Contacts for Thermoelectric Transport Properties Analysis

Micromachined devices were developed and fabricated using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)/micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology allowing for the analysis of transport properties of silicon sub-micron beams having monolithic contacts. The beams were fabricated by a combination of deep reactive ion etching (RIE) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) etching techniques on standard p and n silicon bulk and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Simultaneous fabrication of many devices on one wafer allows for the extraction of statistical information to properly compare the different layers and contacts. Fabricated devices are presented, underlining the feasibility of the proposed microdevice. The methods used to manipulate the geometry and the surface roughness of the single crystalline silicon beams are described. The presented measurement device offers the possibility to determine simultaneously all the main transport values, thermal, and electrical conductivities as well as the Seebeck coefficient

The Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters in Pediatrics: miniMAGIC

Vascular access device decision-making for pediatric patients remains a complex, highly variable process. To date, evidence-based criteria to inform these choices do not exist. The objective of the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters in pediatrics (miniMAGIC) was to provide guidance on device selection, device characteristics, and insertion technique for clinicians, balancing and contextualizing evidence with current practice through a multidisciplinary panel of experts.The RAND Corporation and University of California, Los Angeles Appropriateness Method was used to develop miniMAGIC, which included the following sequential phases: definition of scope and key terms, information synthesis and literature review, expert multidisciplinary panel selection and engagement, case scenario development, and appropriateness ratings by an expert panel via 2 rounds.The appropriateness of the selection, characteristics, and insertion technique of intravenous catheters commonly used in pediatric health care across age populations (neonates, infants, children, and adolescents), settings, diagnoses, clinical indications, insertion locations, and vessel visualization devices and techniques was defined. Core concepts including vessel preservation, insertion and postinsertion harm minimization (eg, infection, thrombosis), undisrupted treatment provision, and inclusion of patient preferences were emphasized.In this study, we provide evidence-based criteria for intravenous catheter selection (from umbilical catheters to totally implanted venous devices) in pediatric patients across a range of clinical indications. miniMAGIC also highlights core vascular access practices in need of collaborative research and innovation