OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of posterior, metal-free polymer crowns with and without a glass-fiber framework, in comparison to metal-ceramic crowns. METHODS After randomisation, 80 single crowns, manufactured from a newly designed polymer composite, were set in posterior teeth. Half of these received a glass-fiber framework, while half were prepar...

We use coupled mode theory, adequately incorporating optical losses, to model ultra-broadband terahertz (THz) waveguide emitters (0.1-20 THz) based on difference frequency generation of femtosecond infrared (IR) optical pulses. We apply the model to a generic, symmetric, five-layer, metal/cladding/core waveguide structure using transfer matrix theory. We provide a design strategy for an efficie...

The mechanical strength and failure behavior of two photonic crystal silica optical fibers with different diameters were investigated using tensile test. The effect of polymer coating on the failure behavior was also studied. The results indicated that all fibers failed in a brittle manner and the failure normally initiated from fiber surfaces. The failure loads observed in the coated fibers ar...

thin films of polymer doped with nonlinear optical organic dye, disperse red 1, at thickness of 1 to 2 micrometers, were prepared and studied. in order to induce an axial and orientational alignment of dye molecules within polymer matrix, a contact electric field poling was used. by this process the inherent inversion symmetry in the polymer matrix was eliminated to achieve the desired macrosco...

A polymer optical backplane capable of generic luminescence detection within microfluidic chips is demonstrated using large core polymer waveguides and vertical couplers. The waveguides are fabricated through a new process combining mechanical machining and vapor polishing with elastomer microtransfer molding. A backplane approach enables general optical integration with planar array microfluid...

Fast and accurate detection of gas and/or liquid leakage is very important for safe operation of process plant and social infrastructures. Study aims to develop a reliable detection system of minute leakage of gas and/or liquid from pipes. We used an optical fiber Mach-Zender and Michelson type laser interferometer as an acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system. The system utilizes polymer coat...

Modern optical fibers require double-layer coating on the glass fiber to provide protection from signal attenuation and mechanical damage. The most important plastic resins used in wires and optical fibers are plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low-high density polyethylene (LDPE/HDPE), nylon and Polysulfone. In this paper, double-layer optical fiber coating is performed using melt polymer sa...

BACKGROUND This article describes a new fiber-coupled, percutaneous fluorescent continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system that has shown 14 days of functionality in a human clinical trial. METHOD The new optical CGM system (FiberSense) consists of a transdermal polymer optical fiber containing a biochemical glucose sensor and a small fluorescence photometer optically coupled to the fiber. Th...

We developed a technique for constructing light diffusing devices comprised of a flexible shape memory polymer (SMP) cylindrical diffuser attached to the tip of an optical fiber. The devices are fabricated by casting an SMP rod over the cleaved tip of an optical fiber and media blasting the SMP rod to create a light diffusing surface. The axial and polar emission profiles and circumferential (a...

In this paper the physical basis for the design of an optical fibre sensor suited for aqueous medium and gas phase based on the excitation of an evanescent wave at the core/cladding interface is developed. The detection based on the refractive index changes (between 1.41 and 1.45) of the infinite dielectric medium which can be an electrolyte or a sol-gel polymer deposited on the uncladed part o...