42 innovations from Bar-Ilan University, available for licensing, co-investment, or spin-out through BIRAD.
Ozana, Nisan
In this patent, we present a novel new method to optically measure blood flow changes and acoustic signals using a rolling shutter camera combined with either an interferometric system or a coded mask. The interferometric system generates a fringe pattern. By calculating the correlation between rows captured by the rolling shutter camera, we are able to extract blood flow signals from deep tissue as well as acoustic vibrations at a high sampling rate, enabled by the rolling shutter mechanism. Furthermore, the interferometric system significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, allowing us to measure the autocorrelation function, g₁, using a camera instead of single-photon detectors. The coded Barker-based mask allows us to further increase the SNR of the cross-correlation between rows by applying a spatial code and utilizing the entire camera field of view.
Asaf Albo
This invention relates to a novel method for low-temperature epitaxial growth of high-quality aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). The process enables the deposition of epitaxial AlN films on GaN substrates emplates at just 300 °C, without requiring additional in situ plasma treatments or post-deposition annealing, which are typically needed to enhance film crystallinity but may damage underlying structures. The resulting AlN films exhibit excellent crystalline quality—validated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy—maintaining epitaxial alignment throughout thicknesses up to 70 nm. This simplified, low-thermal-budget process enables integration of III-nitride semiconductors with thermally sensitive platforms like silicon, thereby advancing the manufacturing of next-generation optoelectronic and high-power electronic devices.
Garini Yuval
Analyzing stained tissue sections is of major importance for pathological diagnostics, and it forms a bottleneck in various clinical procedures, including cancer detection. Although there are now systems that can scan whole biopsies, they only measure color (RGB data) that provides limited information for reliable and accurate analysis. We invented a new modality for cancer analysis that is based on rapid spectral imaging measurement of whole biopsy, followed by adequate analysis. The spectral information at each pixel of the image is valuable and it allows to perform accurate analysis by using adequate algorithms. Using the system, we also identified the spectra of normal and cancerous cells from a lymph node sample of breast cancer biopsy. Using this information, we developed an algorithm that allows to identify cancer cells with high sensitivity and specificity. The method combines hardware for rapid scan of biopsies followed by specific way for detecting cancer from the measured spectral images.
Salomon Adi
The META-SERS-NET substrates described herein provide a versatile, scalable, and highly sensitive platform for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) detection of a wide range of organic and inorganic analytes in aqueous environments. Owing to their three-dimensional nanostructured architecture, broad electromagnetic enhancement, negligible background, and compatibility with lightweight machine-learning (ML) models, these metasurfaces are suitable for multiple commercial and industrial applications, including but not limited to: Environmental Monitoring and Water Quality Control META-SERS-NET substrates are designed for rapid, label-free detection of organic contaminants (e.g., dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals) and inorganic ions (e.g., Li⁺, Mg²⁺, B⁺, Na⁺) directly in water. The high enhancement factor, combined with the ability to detect analytes at concentrations down to 10⁻⁹ M, enables: Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M Online and offline monitoring of drinking water quality. Surveillance of industrial effluents, wastewater treatment plants, and surface waters. Early detection of persistent organic pollutants and heavy-metal–related species when coupled with appropriate ion-selective polymers. Portable and Field-Deployable Sensing Devices The META-SERS-NET architecture maintains strong SERS performance even when used with low-NA optics (e.g., NA = 0.15), which are typical in portable and handheld Raman instruments. Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M This optical tolerance enables: Integration into handheld Raman probes for in-field environmental monitoring. Compact sensors for on-site industrial process control, pipeline monitoring, and spill detection. Low-cost, battery-operated point-of-use devices for municipalities, utilities, and emergency response teams. Industrial Process Control and Quality Assurance The reproducible enhancement and negligible substrate background of META-SERS-NET allow robust quantification of analytes across several orders of magnitude in concentration. Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M This makes the platform suitable for: Real-time tracking of dyes, intermediates, and by-products in chemical and pharmaceutical production. Quality control in manufacturing processes requiring precise monitoring of residual contaminants. Inline or at-line sensors for continuous verification of feedstocks, solvents, and process streams. Food and Beverage Safety By enabling sensitive detection of trace dyes, adulterants, and ionic species, META-SERS-NET can be incorporated into: Screening tools for contaminants in beverages and liquid food matrices (e.g., juices, dairy, brewing lines). Rapid verification of cleaning and sanitation processes via detection of residual chemicals in rinse water. Biomedical and Clinical Research Tools (Non-diagnostic Use) In research settings, META-SERS-NET can serve as a high-performance SERS platform for: Studying drug–polymer and ion–polymer interactions using the polymer-assisted detection mode. Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M Investigating model bio-relevant ions and small molecules in simulated physiological media. Serving as a robust reference substrate for SERS method development in analytical and bioanalytical laboratories. AI-Augmented Analytical Platforms The integration of the metasurface with a dedicated machine-learning spectral reconstruction module provides enhanced peak separation, noise suppression, and analyte classification. Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M This joint optical–computational architecture enables: Automated, high-accuracy detection and quantification of multiple analytes in complex mixtures. Cloud-connected or on-device AI-SERS platforms for routine monitoring tasks operated by non-experts. “Smart” SERS instruments that self-calibrate using the internal Si reference and adapt to device-specific spectral distortions. Calibration Standards and Reference Substrates Due to their ligand-free, additive-free fabrication and high reproducibility over large areas, META-SERS-NET substrates can function as: Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M Standard SERS reference substrates for instrument calibration and inter-laboratory comparisons. Internal standards in commercial Raman instruments, ensuring consistent performance across devices and over time. Long-Lifetime, Low-Maintenance Sensing Modules The metasurfaces exhibit lifetimes of at least one year under standard storage and operating conditions and demonstrate efficient heat dissipation and stability at low excitation powers. Salomon_SERS_Spec_V3-M This durability supports: Long-term deployment in remote or difficult-to-access locations. Low-maintenance sensor cartridges for subscription-based monitoring services. Replacement-ready “plug-and-measure” chips that can be exchanged in field devices without complex recalibration.
Naveh Doron
Metal intercalated within the van der Waals gap of layered semiconductor compounds such as MoS2 resulting in a unique hybrid manifesting enhanced interactions with light and consequently result in photodetector devices with improved photoresponse. For example, copper-enhanced MoS2 photodiodes are superior in their spectral response, that extends into the infrared and also in their total responsivity that exceeds 104 A/W. The gain of such photodetectors is comparable with those of night vision enhancing devices.
Naveh Doron
State-of-the-art methods for printing highly resolved pixels of two-dimensional (2D) materials on technologically important substrates typically involve multiple and time-consuming processing steps which increase device fabrication complexity and the risk of impurity contamination. This work introduces an alternative printing approach based on the Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) technique for the successful digital transfer of graphene, MoS2 hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and, Bi2Se(3-x)Sx. Using LIFT, graphene pixels of 30 μm x 30 μm, MoS2 and Bi2Se3 flakes are transferred on SiO2/Si and flexible polymer substrates. The potential of upscaling this novel approach by reaching sizes of up to 300 μm x 300 μm for transferred graphene patches is also demonstrated. The transferred 2D materials are employed for the fabrication of devices including flexible touch sensors and Field-Effect-Transistors. By repeating the printing process also heterostructures of 2D materials can be developed.
Cohen Haim
This invention relates to a method for diagnosing Covid-19 virus in biological samples. Specifically, this invention relates to a method for detecting SARS-CoV2 viral RNA using a fluorescently labeled complementary DNA probe according to a phenomenon known as Microscale Thermophoresis (MST). MST is a physical phenomenon where biomolecules migrate differently along a temperature gradient according to properties such as size, hydration shell and charge. These different migration patterns resulting in a separation along the gradient which can be quantified for scientific studies. Since binding events are predicted to affect thermophoretic migration, MST is used to detect biological interactions such as protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions with high accuracy and low sample consumption. In a typical MST measurement an infra-red laser (I.R) is used to create the temperature gradient for a limited time and one of the binding partners is fluorescently labeled and being monitored during the total time of the experiment. The ratio between the florescence signal before and during the temperature gradient is calculated and represents the thermophoretic migration. The present invention is directed to utilize this phenomenon, prior MST measurement RNA is extracted from a biological sample using guanidinium thiocyanate phenol-chloroform extraction technique. Then, under strict conditions to ensure maximum specificity it is allowed to hybridize with a fluorescently labeled SARS-CoV2 DNA probe. If the viral RNA is present in the sample, a RNA:DNA hybrid is formed and the difference between the thermophoretic migration of a free probe and the hybrid is measured using an MST instrument. For more details and proof of concept’ please see figure 1-4. The method of this invention allows a detection time of 3 seconds for 1 sample, meaning a theoretical capacity up to 58,000 samples per day for 1 MST instrument (depends on the model in used). The invention is also further applicable for the diagnosis of other viruses and bacteria.
Salomon Adi
We report that Para-Red, a long known azo dye not previously recognized as forming a nonlinear optically (NLO) active crystal, exhibits strong second harmonic generation (SHG) when crystalized in an appropriate morphology. Using a controlled vapor-deposition process, we obtain plate-like crystals of the Pn polymorph that expose the (020) plane, whose orientation lies close to the molecular packing axis associated with the dominant hyperpolarizability direction. In contrast, the traditionally solution grown needles of the same polymorph expose planes nearly orthogonal to the optical axis and therefore appear NLO-inert. The vapor-grown plates produce clean and robust SHG without the need for cutting or polishing and can be exfoliated into thin layers suitable for integration. These results reveal a previously hidden NLO response in Para-Red and demonstrate that morphology-controlled crystal growth can enable NLO in other previously discarded organic materials.
Ozana, Nisan
Vocal fold paralysis (VFP) is characterized by impaired vocal fold movement, commonly resulting from nerve damage during surgical procedures. Current diagnostic methods rely on endoscopic examinations requiring specialized physicians, reducing accessibility and potentially delaying treatment. We propose a non-contact optical sensing method using speckle pattern analysis for VFP identification. Our approach uses external laser illumination and a camerathatcapturesspecklepatterns,providinganon-invasiveandreal-timeassessment. The techniqueusesspectralanalysisenhancedbyslidingwindowscanningtoextractamplitudepeaks across vocal fold regions.
Naveh Doron
Leveraging a single, widely tunable photodetection element, we propose to realize an on-chip spectrometer covering the mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelength range from 2 to 8 um. This invention will demonstrate the feasibility of realizing on-chip spectroscopy based on a single, microscale device. This demonstration will also lay the foundation for the future realization of chip-scale spectral imaging in the mid-infrared wavelength range.
Naveh Doron
A computational spectrometer system based on a voltage-tunable GeSe-InSe heterojunction device that addresses nonlinear photoresponses through piecewise linearization using classification and hierarchical clustering models for accurate spectral reconstruction.
Asaf Albo
In this study we present an analysis of a novel practical m-plane GaN three and two quantum well terahertz quantum cascade lasers (THz QCLs) using Non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF). We examined the performance of this unique designs, exhibiting their capabilities for high-temperature operation and extended Terahertz frequency coverage. For the three quantum well structure, at low temperatures, a peak gain of 87 cm-1 was observed, which decreased to ~ 24 cm-1 at 300 K, still above the expected losses. The research shows lasing at ~6 THz, outperforming standard GaAs THz-QCLs’ frequency coverage. This work provides valuable insights into the development of advanced GaN-based THz QCLs with above room temperature performance and expanded frequency coverage, bridging the gap in Terahertz technology.
