Adaptive aberration compensation in high refractive index materials for next-generation active microphotonic devices. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to compensate the strong aberration in a high refractive index material. The successful compensation of such aberration will allow people to fabricate microdevices directly inside high refractive index materials. This project will greatly advance optical fabrication techniques and expand the national kno ....Adaptive aberration compensation in high refractive index materials for next-generation active microphotonic devices. The method proposed in this project is a very promising and versatile method to compensate the strong aberration in a high refractive index material. The successful compensation of such aberration will allow people to fabricate microdevices directly inside high refractive index materials. This project will greatly advance optical fabrication techniques and expand the national knowledge in the area of nonlinear PhCs (photonic crystals) and related applications. It is expected that the project will provide many chances for postgraduate students to be involved. In future, nonlinear PhCs and related devices may be widely used in daily life and this project may provide some opportunities for industry.Read moreRead less
Developing tests for the early detection of eye disease. Australians have a tradition of innovative design in perimetry. A good example being the Frequency Doubling Technology produced from work performed at the Australian National University. This technology, however, is manufactured by an overseas company (Welch Allyn, NY, USA). The Medmont company is a local perimeter manufacturer and we hope to improve their product with innovative design to yield a distinct marketing advantage. We will cons ....Developing tests for the early detection of eye disease. Australians have a tradition of innovative design in perimetry. A good example being the Frequency Doubling Technology produced from work performed at the Australian National University. This technology, however, is manufactured by an overseas company (Welch Allyn, NY, USA). The Medmont company is a local perimeter manufacturer and we hope to improve their product with innovative design to yield a distinct marketing advantage. We will consider the fundamental issues underlying cone-interactions and methods that stress retinal function. We believe that this approach will have advantages over conventional techniques and prove more sensitive for the early detection of eye disease. However, this is a high risk venture requiring substantial developmental cost and technical commitment by the company. Successful innovation will enhance the company's international penetration, continue the trend for Australians to be seen as leaders in this field and have impact on eye care.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
Quantitative polarisation phase microscopy: A new tool for advances in structural analysis and biophotonics. Innovation in biomedical research is driven by technology in optical imaging. Optical imaging methods including polarisation microscopy are widely accepted and are at the forefront of biomedical scientific discoveries. This project undertakes fundamental and applied research innovatively combining polarisation imaging and quantitative phase imaging microscopy to uniquely quantify the phys ....Quantitative polarisation phase microscopy: A new tool for advances in structural analysis and biophotonics. Innovation in biomedical research is driven by technology in optical imaging. Optical imaging methods including polarisation microscopy are widely accepted and are at the forefront of biomedical scientific discoveries. This project undertakes fundamental and applied research innovatively combining polarisation imaging and quantitative phase imaging microscopy to uniquely quantify the physical thickness and morphology of birefringent specimens such as the cardiac muscle cell. This project, while of substantial intellectual merit in its own right, could also have the potential to lead to the detection of the mechanisms related to heart failure. Read moreRead less
Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a nove ....Multiphoton microscopy through tissue turbid media. The aim of this proposal is to conduct the collaborative project on multi-photon microscopic imaging through biological tissue, which has been recently initiated between Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It will integrate the special skills, two-photon fluorescence endoscopy and second-harmonic coherence tomography, investigated in the respective collaborating institutes, to develop a novel method for detecting/imaging cancer cells that are located at 1 mm below tissue surfaces, while they are still in the early stage to be cured. Consequently, a diagnostic method for early cancer detection particularly through skin tissue becomes possible.Read moreRead less
Effective Microfluidic Cell Sorting using Synergistic Acoustic and Optical manipulation. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique alone represented a US$860 million market in worldwide diagnostic and life science research devices for 2004. The development of a faster and cheaper device with similar efficacy, as per the objective of this work, has the potential of supplanting immunological methods of cell sorting and thus yield substantial economic returns to the nation. The research act ....Effective Microfluidic Cell Sorting using Synergistic Acoustic and Optical manipulation. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique alone represented a US$860 million market in worldwide diagnostic and life science research devices for 2004. The development of a faster and cheaper device with similar efficacy, as per the objective of this work, has the potential of supplanting immunological methods of cell sorting and thus yield substantial economic returns to the nation. The research activities in this project will strengthen Australia's research standing in the fields of microfluidics and lab-in-a-chip technologies. On a broader platform, it will contribute to Australia's high standing in the field of biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Functional nonlinear optical endoscopy - the third-generation optical endoscopy technology toward early cancer detection at a cellular level. The third-generation optical endoscopy technology can be used for a better understanding of nonlinear optical interaction with organ sites and thus for early cancer detection. Such a novel device will enable biomedical scientists to gain the fundamental knowledge needed to enable Australians to develop better medical strategies for health and productive li ....Functional nonlinear optical endoscopy - the third-generation optical endoscopy technology toward early cancer detection at a cellular level. The third-generation optical endoscopy technology can be used for a better understanding of nonlinear optical interaction with organ sites and thus for early cancer detection. Such a novel device will enable biomedical scientists to gain the fundamental knowledge needed to enable Australians to develop better medical strategies for health and productive lives. Since 1 in 3 Australians will feel the effects of cancers, development of portable nonlinear optical endoscopes is of national importance, in particular for rural Australia, and therefore improves the healthcare of human beings. The potential spin-off activity will lead to economic benefits from new R&D development.Read moreRead less
Microcharacterisation of rare-earth-doped optical fibres. Rare-earth-doped optical fibres continue to play a central role in optical telecommunication systems and are increasingly being used as elements in optical fibre sensing devices and as fibre lasers. The aim of this project is the application of new high spatial resolution techniques for determining the physical properties of such fibres. These methods will permit unprecedented knowledge of the precise distribution of rare-earth ions in th ....Microcharacterisation of rare-earth-doped optical fibres. Rare-earth-doped optical fibres continue to play a central role in optical telecommunication systems and are increasingly being used as elements in optical fibre sensing devices and as fibre lasers. The aim of this project is the application of new high spatial resolution techniques for determining the physical properties of such fibres. These methods will permit unprecedented knowledge of the precise distribution of rare-earth ions in the fibre and its relationship with the fibre's refractive index profile. This information is critical to understanding the performance of rare-earth-doped fibres in a variety of applications and the outcomes of this work will inform the design of fibres optimised for use in specific applications.Read moreRead less
Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimen ....Probing the function of protein molecular motors on nano-fabricated structures. The function of protein linear molecular motors, which are natural dynamic bio-nano-devices with a ubiquitous importance in multicellular organisms, will be 'probed' with purposefully designed nano-structures fabricated via photo- or Scanning Probe Microscopy Lithography, that is, flat polymeric surfaces with combinatorial combinations of physico-chemistries; and micro/nano-channels and nano-wells with critical dimensions similar to the scale of the probed biomolecules. The project turns 'up-side down' the challenge of invasive nano-probing of biomolecules using it in an engineered manner. The fundamental understanding of linear molecular motors will impact on biomedical science and on the assessment of hybrid natural-artificial dynamic nano-devices.Read moreRead less
Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing abili ....Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing ability of future patients. The 'bionic ear' was invented in Australia and this project will help to ensure the continued success of Australia's world leading implant industry.Read moreRead less