Flip-chip underfilling is a technology by which silica-filled epoxy resin is used to fill the micro-cavity between a silicon chip and a substrate, by dispensing the liquid encapsulant at elevated temperatures along the periphery of one or two sides of the chip and then allowing capillary action to draw the material into the gap. Since the chip, underfill material, and substrate solidify together as one unit, thermal stresses on solder joints during the temperature cycling (which are caused by a mismatch in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the silicon chip and the organic substrate) can be redistributed and transferred away from the fragile bump zone to a more strain-tolerant region. Modeling of the flow behaviour of a fluid in the underfill process is the key to this technology. One of the most important drawbacks in the existing models is inadequate treatment of non-Newtonian fluids in the underfill process in the development of both analytical models and numerical models. Another important drawback is the neglect of the presence of solder bumps in the existing analytical models. This thesis describes a study in which a proper viscosity constitutive equation, power-law model, is employed for describing the non-Newtonian fluid behaviour in flip-chip package. Based on this constitutive equation, two analytical models with closed-form solutions for predicting the fluid filling time and fluid flow front position with respect to time were derived. One model is for a setting with two parallel plates as an approximate to flip-chip package, while the other model is for a setting with two parallel plates within which an array of solder bumps are present. Furthermore, a numerical model using a general-purpose finite element package ANSYS was developed to predict the fluid flow map in two dimensions. The superiority of these models to the existing models (primarily those developed at Cornell University in 1997) is confirmed based on the results of the experiments conducted in this study. This thesis also presents a finding of the notion of critical clearance in the design of a flip-chip package through a careful simulation study using the models developed. The flip-chip package design should make the clearance between solder bumps larger than the critical clearance.

Flip-chip underfilling is a technology by which silica-filled epoxy resin is used to fill the micro-cavity between a silicon chip and a substrate, by dispensing the liquid encapsulant at elevated temperatures along the periphery of one or two sides of the chip and then allowing capillary action to draw the material into the gap. Since the chip, underfill material, and substrate solidify together as one unit, thermal stresses on solder joints during the temperature cycling (which are caused by a mismatch in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the silicon chip and the organic substrate) can be redistributed and transferred away from the fragile bump zone to a more strain-tolerant region. Modeling of the flow behaviour of a fluid in the underfill process is the key to this technology. One of the most important drawbacks in the existing models is inadequate treatment of non-Newtonian fluids in the underfill process in the development of both analytical models and numerical models. Another important drawback is the neglect of the presence of solder bumps in the existing analytical models. This thesis describes a study in which a proper viscosity constitutive equation, power-law model, is employed for describing the non-Newtonian fluid behaviour in flip-chip package. Based on this constitutive equation, two analytical models with closed-form solutions for predicting the fluid filling time and fluid flow front position with respect to time were derived. One model is for a setting with two parallel plates as an approximate to flip-chip package, while the other model is for a setting with two parallel plates within which an array of solder bumps are present. Furthermore, a numerical model using a general-purpose finite element package ANSYS was developed to predict the fluid flow map in two dimensions. The superiority of these models to the existing models (primarily those developed at Cornell University in 1997) is confirmed based on the results of the experiments conducted in this study. This thesis also presents a finding of the notion of critical clearance in the design of a flip-chip package through a careful simulation study using the models developed. The flip-chip package design should make the clearance between solder bumps larger than the critical clearance.

In the process of blood analysis, for biomarker detection, blood plasma or serumis analyzed, while Red blood cells (RBCs) are usually considered waste. A recentstudy has found that cytokine concentrations in RBC lysate are on average 12-fold higher than in plasma. Microfluidic devices for the extraction of plasma fromwhole blood and containers of dried blood spots have already been developed.They o↵er a small tool size, low required sample volume, and low productioncost, which makes them suitable for point-of-care applications.In this thesis, an approach of isolating and lysing RBCs in a commercial bloodfilter using a microfluidic device was investigated. The design is based on a previouslydeveloped microfluidic device for plasma extraction. It was used for plasmaextraction, washing, and RBC lysing with RBC lysis bu↵er. The device’s functionalitywas examined, and the output lysate analyzed through measurements ofhemoglobin concentration, optical microscopy and an Elisa test of the cytokineIL-3.The results show that 48% of the devices were subject to one of two problems.One was slow filling of the capillary channel, and the other was the lysate beingvisibly clear. These problems were attributed to blood cells obstructing the filtersand increasing flow resistance. The device lysate viewed through an optical microscopewas shown to contain a significant amount of blood cells in some cases,suggesting that cells were passing through the filters. The mean lysis efficiency ofthe devices was determined to be 20%, which with the Elisa test results, suggeststhat there is low rates of mixing between the RBCs and the lysate within the filtermatrix. In conclusion, the tested method of isolating and lysing RBCs needs tobe improved in terms of reliability and efficiency. It was shown to work in someof the cases, and so shows promise for future development. / Röda blodkroppar (RB) ses vanligtvis som avfall vid blodmatningar av biomarköreri plasma eller serum. Men en ny studie har funnit att koncentrationerna av cytokiner i lyserade RB är i snitt 12 gånger högre än i plasma. Mikrofluidiska apparater som extraherar plasma från helblod har redan utvecklats. Deras fördelarär att de är små, använder små provvolymer och är billiga att producera. Detta gör dem lampliga for patientnara analyser, eller s.k. point-of-care-användning.I det här arbetet prövas en metod för att isolera och lysera RB i ett kommersiellt blodfilter, med hjälp av en mikrofluidisk apparat. Designen av apparaten är baserad på en mikrofluidisk apparat som utvecklats för plasmaextrahering. Den används för plasmaextraktion, tvätt och lysering med lyseringsbu↵ert. Appa-ratens funktionalitet undersöktes, och RB-lysatet analyserades med mätningar avhemoglobinvärden, ljusmikroskopi och en Elisa-mätning av cytokinet IL-3.Resultaten visar att 48 % av apparaterna hade något av två problem. Det ena problemet var att den kapillära kanalen fylldes långsamt, och det andra var att lysatet var till synes ofärgat. Dessa problem tillskrivs att blodceller blockerar filtren och ökar flödesmotståndet. I ljusmikroskop visade sig lysatet från apparaten i vissa fall innehålla stora mängder blodceller. Detta tyder på att celler passerat igenom filtret. Medelvärdet av lyseringse↵ektiviteten i apparaterna visades vara 20 %. Tillsammans med Elisa-resultaten tyder detta på att vätskan i filtret blandas i otillräcklig utsträckning. Sammanfattningsvis behöver metoden för att isolera och lysera RB förbättras gällande tillförlitlighet och e↵ektivitet. Den visadesig fungera i vissa fall och är därför lovande för framtida utveckling.

The use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic technology is steadily gaining traction in the modern automotive industry as a lightweight alternative to conventional materials. The versatile chemical resistance of polyamide resins combined with the high strength properties of carbon fibre filler content aims to meet this growing need in the industry. By employing a number of accelerated and amplified ageing techniques, this work hopes to assess the resilience of carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide composites in a variety of foreseeable chemical, temperature, moisture, and stress environments. The resins included in this characterization study include polyamide-6 (PA6) and polyamide-6,6 (PA6/6). The carbon fibre-reinforced composite specimens are subject to long term immersion in commercial automotive fluids at room and elevated temperatures. Results show that the mechanical properties of both polyamide resins are sensitive to windshield washer fluid exposure, regardless of temperature. The significant drop in glass transition temperature and greater elongation at break confirmed a plasticization effect. The Young’s modulus and tensile strength experienced a loss of approximately 40% at saturation. Elevated temperatures resulted in increased fluid sorption rates of antifreeze and E-20 gasoline into the PA6 composite specimens. Likewise, a corresponding drop in PA6 composite mechanical properties was noted for the antifreeze and E-20 gasoline at elevated temperatures. The mechanical properties of the PA6/6 composite were largely retained in all tested automotive fluids, except windshield washer fluid, at elevated temperatures. The effect of absorbed fluid on mechanical properties tended to increase with higher fibre loadings for the PA6/6 composite and lower fibre loadings for the PA6 composite. Finally, a single parameter acoustic emission testing technique was employed to assess internal damage of stressed PA6 composite specimens exposed to different temperature and humidity levels. However, there was no discernible correlation between environmental stress conditions and internal damage for short term exposure times. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / The use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic technology is steadily gaining traction in the modern automotive industry as a lightweight alternative to conventional materials. The versatile chemical resistance of polyamide resins combined with the high strength properties of carbon fibre filler content aims to meet this growing need in the industry. By employing a number of accelerated and amplified ageing techniques, this work assessed the resilience of carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide composites in a variety of foreseeable chemical, temperature, moisture, and stress environments. The composite only showed significant sensitivity to windshield wiper fluid in the tests.

Dernière étape avant l'atomisation d'un volume de liquide, les ligaments sont présents dans de nombreuses applications industrielles, de même que dans le monde qui nous entoure ; leur dynamique demeure mal comprise. L'étirement, qui permet de leur donner naissance, affecte leur évolution et la manière dont ils se fragmentent (ou non). Pour quantifier l'effet de ce dernier, nous avons choisi d'étudier des configurations modèles dans lesquelles plusieurs paramètres peuvent être bien contrôlés. Une configuration de type pont liquide permet notamment de contrôler l'étirement via le déplacement de l'un des supports solides (mors). Lorsque l'étirement imposé est modéré, il est possible de prévoir analytiquement la déviation entre la forme dynamique et la forme d'équilibre correspondante, quelle que soit la loi de déplacement du mors. Cette prédiction montre en particulier qu'un pont liquide étiré peut s'épaissir appréciablement en son centre, suggérant un retardement de la rupture. Elle montre également que l'étirement axial est réparti de manière très inhomogène. Lorsque l'étirement est suffisamment vigoureux, les résultats expérimentaux montrent que le détachement capillaire du ligament peut être significativement hâté. Le temps de rupture est relié à la masse emportée par le mors en mouvement et dépend du protocole d'étirement. Les résultats suggèrent également la possibilité d'obtenir des ligaments démesurément longs et fins sans l'intervention d'effets visqueux. / Liquid ligaments represent the last step before atomization of a liquid volume, and are encountered in a variety of industrial applications, as well as the world around us; yet, there is much to learn about their dynamics and breakup. Stretching is an essential ingredient of ligaments formation, and affect their subsequent dynamics as well as the way they break (or not). In order to quantify its action, we choose model configurations where parameters can be controlled. Liquid bridges, in particular, provide a way to impose stretching by moving one of the solid rod supporting the bridge. When stretching is not too strong, it is possible to predict analytically the shift between the dynamical shape of the bridge and the corresponding static shape, for any given rod displacement. Particularly, this prediction show that the central section of a stretched liquid bridge tend to be thicker, which could delay breakup. It also show that the axial elongation rate is far from being uniform. When stretching is vigorous, experimental results show that the ligament initial breakup can be considerably sped up. Breakup time shows to be linked to the mass taken away by the moving rod and depend on stretching protocol. Finally, results suggest that it is possible to generate infinitely long ligaments without the mediation of viscous effects.

Les simulations numériques à l'échelle du pore sont fréquemment utilisées pour étudier le comportement des écoulements multiphasiques largement rencontrées dans phénomènes naturels et applications industrielles. Dans ce travail, la morphologie de structures liquides et l'action capillaire sont examinées à l'échelle des pores par la méthode de Boltzmann sur réseau (LBM) à plusieurs composants selon le modèle de Shan-Chen. Les résultats numériques obtenus sont en bon accord avec les solutions théoriques. Les simulations numériques sont étendues à microstructures complexes au-delà du régime pendulaire.La LBM a été utilisée pour modéliser l'écoulement multiphasique à travers un milieu poreux idéalisé dans des conditions de drainage primaire quasi-statique. Les simulations LBM ont fourni une excellente description du déplacement de l'interface fluide-fluide à travers les grains. Pendant le drainage, les simulations LBM sont capables de reproduire la déconnexion d'une phase dans le milieu granulaire sous la forme de ponts pendulaires ou structures liquides complexes. Malheureusement, le temps de calcul nécessaire pour ce type de simulations est assez élevé. Afin d’optimiser les ressources de calcul, nous présentons un modèle 2D (modèle Throat-Network) basé sur des solutions analytiques pour décrire l'écoulement biphasique à travers un ensemble de disques dans un temps de calcul très réduit, donc le modèle 2D est susceptible de remplacer les simulations LBM lorsque les ressources de calcul sont limitées. L'approche souligne l'importance de simuler le problème a l'échelle de la gorge du pore pour obtenir les relations volume - pression capillaire locales. Le modèle Throat-Network est un point de départ pour le modèle hybride proposé pour résoudre les problèmes en 3D. Le modèle hybride combine l’efficacité de l’approche réseau de pores et la précision du LBM à l’échelle des pores. Le modèle hybride est basé sur la décomposition de l’échantillon en petits sous-domaines, dans lesquels des simulations LBM sont effectuées pour déterminer les propriétés hydrostatiques principales (pression capillaire d'entrée, courbe de drainage primaire et morphologie du liquide pour chaque gorge du pore). Malgré la réduction significative des temps de calcul obtenus avec le modèle hybride, le temps n’est pas négligeable et les modélisations numériques d'échantillons de grandes tailles ne sont pas réalistes. Les approximations données par les méthodes Incircle et MS-P, qui prédisent les propriétés hydrostatiques, sont comparées à celles de LBM et du modèle hybride. / Numerical simulations at the pore scale are a way to study the behavior of multiphase flows encountered in many natural processes and industrial applications. In this work, liquid morphology and capillary action are examined at the pore-scale by means of the multicomponent Shan-Chen lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The accuracy of the numerical model is first contrasted with theoretical solutions. The numerical results are extended to complex microstructures beyond the pendular regime.The LBM has been employed to simulate multiphase flow through idealized granular porous media under quasi-static primary drainage conditions. LBM simulations provide an excellent description of the fluid-fluid interface displacement through the grains. Additionally, the receding phase trapped in the granular media in form of pendular bridges or liquid clusters is well captured. Unfortunately, such simulations require a significant computation time. A 2D model (Throat-Network model) based on analytical solutions is proposed to mimic the multiphase flow with very reduced computation cost, therefore, suitable to replace LBM simulations when the computation resources are limited. The approach emphasizes the importance of simulating at the throat scale rather than the pore body scale in order to obtain the local capillary pressure - liquid content relationships. The Throat-Network model is a starting point for the a hybrid model proposed to solve 3D problems. The hybrid model combines the efficiency of the pore-network approach and the accuracy of the LBM at the pore scale to optimize the computational resources. The hybrid model is based on the decomposition of the granular assembly into small subsets, in which LBM simulations are performed to determine the main hydrostatic properties (entry capillary pressure, capillary pressure - liquid content relationship and liquid morphology for each pore throat). Despite the reduction of computation time, it is still not negligible and not affordable for large granular packings. Approximations by the Incircle and the MS-P method, which predict hydrostatic properties, are contrasted with the results provided by LBM and the hybrid model. Relatively accurate predictions are given by the approximations.

Lab-on-a-chip devices, also known as micro total analysis systems (μTAS), are implementations of chemical analysis systems on microchips. These systems can be fabricated using standard thin film processing techniques. Microfluidic and nanofluidic channels are fabricated in this work through sacrificial etching. Microchannels are fabricated utilizing cores made from AZ3330 and SU8 photoresist. Multi-channel electroosmotic (EO) pumps are evaluated and the accompanying channel zeta potentials are calculated. Capillary flow is studied as an effective filling mechanism for nanochannels. Experimental departure from the Washburn model is considered, where capillary flow rates lie within 10% to 70% of theoretical values. Nanochannels are fabricated utilizing cores made from aluminum, germanium, and chromium. Nanochannels are made with 5 μm thick top layers of oxide to prevent dynamic channel deformation. Nanochannel separation schemes are considered, including Ogston sieving, entropic trapping, reptation, electrostatic sieving, and immutable trapping. Immutable trapping is studied through dual-segment nanochannels that capture analytes that are too large to pass from one channel into a second, smaller channel. Polymer nanoparticles, Herpes simplex virus type 1 capsids, and hepatitis B virus capsids are trapped and detected. The signal-to-noise ratio of the fluorescently-detected signal is shown to be greater than 3 for all analyte concentrations considered.

INTRODUÇÃO: A punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ecoendoscopia (PAAF-EE) é método consagrado para o diagnóstico de lesões sólidas de pâncreas. A aplicação de pressão negativa (PN) durante a PAAF-EE tem objetivo de manter o tecido junto à ponta cortante da agulha durante sua passagem através da lesão, resultando no desprendimento e retenção de células. A capilaridade (CP) é outra técnica que utiliza a retirada gradual do estilete durante a PAAF-EE e parece ser igualmente eficaz, além de evitar aspiração indesejada de hemácias e coágulos. OBJETIVO: Analisar o rendimento da ecopunção de lesões sólidas pancreáticas utilizando PN versus (vs) CP e os aspectos citológicos qualitativos e semiquantitativos da celularidade e contaminação por sangue dos grupos estudados. MÉTODO: No estudo, foram randomizados 50 pacientes com lesões sólidas de pâncreas para realização de PAAF-EE. Cada paciente foi submetido a quatro punções, intercalando as duas técnicas. A ordem das punções foi randomizada por computador. O grupo A (PN, CP, PN, CP) e o grupo B (CP, PN, CP, PN). RESULTADOS: As sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia da PN vs CP foram 95,2% vs 92,3%; 100% vs 100%; 95,7% vs 93%, respectivamente. Quando foi considerada a associação das duas técnicas (PN+CP), os resultados da sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram 95,6%, 100% e 96%. O valor preditivo positivo (VPP) foi alto para todas técnicas (100%) e os valores preditivos negativos (VPN) para PN, CP e associação dos métodos foram de 66,7% vs 57,1% vs 66,7%, respectivamente. Não houve diferença estatística no rendimento diagnóstico entre a PN e CP: 88% vs 80% (p=0,344), entretanto as técnicas somadas (PN+CP) foi superior à CP isolada: 94% vs 80% (p=0,016). A avaliação citológica qualitativa e semi-quantitativa de celularidade e contaminação por sangue no esfregaço e emblocado pelas técnicas de PN e CP não apresentou diferença estatística (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O rendimento diagnóstico da PAAF-EE pela técnica de PN versus CP de massas sólidas de pâncreas não apresenta diferença estatística, entretanto a utilização das técnicas combinadas é superior, particularmente em relação à CP isolada. A celularidade e contaminação por sangue é semelhante independente da técnica utilizada (PN ou CP) ou do tipo de preparação citológica (esfregaço ou emblocado) / BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is an established diagnostic method for solid pancreatic masses. Application of negative pressure (NP) during EUS-FNA has the purpose of holding tissue against the cutting edge of the needle as it is moved through the lesion leading to cell detachment and drawing them up. Capillary (CP) sampling is another technique that removes the needle stylet gradually and continuously during the EUS-FNA and seems to have comparable results with less blood and clot aspiration. AIM: Analyze diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA of pancreatic solid mass using NP versus CP and evaluate cytological qualitative and semi-quantitative features of cellularity and blood contamination of each group. METHOD: A total of 50 patients were randomized for NP or CP EUSFNA with a standard 22G needle. Each patient had four passes using NP and CP in an alternate fashion. Computer randomization generated two groups. Group A (NP, CP, NP, CP) and group B (CP, NP, CP, NP). RESULTS: Diagnostic yield of NP versus CP had no statistical difference (p=0.344). Both techniques (NP+CP) was superior to CP alone (p=0.016), but not to NP alone (p=0.25). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of NP vs CP were 95.2% vs 92.3%; 100% vs 100%; 95.7% vs 93%, respectively. Results for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of both NP+CP were 95.6%, 100% and 96%. Positive predictive value was high for all techniques (100%) and Negative predictive value for NP, CP and both techniques were 66.7%, 57.1% and 66.7%, respectively. NP and CP smears and cell blocks had no statistical differences in qualitative and semi-quantitative citological evaluation for cellularity and bloodiness (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NP versus CP in EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic mass yielded similar overall outcomes in terms of diagnostic performance, however the combination of both techniques is superior, particularly compared to CP alone. Cellularity and bloodiness are equivalent no matter which technique (NP or CP) or type of cytological preparation (smear or cell block) is used

INTRODUÇÃO: A punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ecoendoscopia (PAAF-EE) é método consagrado para o diagnóstico de lesões sólidas de pâncreas. A aplicação de pressão negativa (PN) durante a PAAF-EE tem objetivo de manter o tecido junto à ponta cortante da agulha durante sua passagem através da lesão, resultando no desprendimento e retenção de células. A capilaridade (CP) é outra técnica que utiliza a retirada gradual do estilete durante a PAAF-EE e parece ser igualmente eficaz, além de evitar aspiração indesejada de hemácias e coágulos. OBJETIVO: Analisar o rendimento da ecopunção de lesões sólidas pancreáticas utilizando PN versus (vs) CP e os aspectos citológicos qualitativos e semiquantitativos da celularidade e contaminação por sangue dos grupos estudados. MÉTODO: No estudo, foram randomizados 50 pacientes com lesões sólidas de pâncreas para realização de PAAF-EE. Cada paciente foi submetido a quatro punções, intercalando as duas técnicas. A ordem das punções foi randomizada por computador. O grupo A (PN, CP, PN, CP) e o grupo B (CP, PN, CP, PN). RESULTADOS: As sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia da PN vs CP foram 95,2% vs 92,3%; 100% vs 100%; 95,7% vs 93%, respectivamente. Quando foi considerada a associação das duas técnicas (PN+CP), os resultados da sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia foram 95,6%, 100% e 96%. O valor preditivo positivo (VPP) foi alto para todas técnicas (100%) e os valores preditivos negativos (VPN) para PN, CP e associação dos métodos foram de 66,7% vs 57,1% vs 66,7%, respectivamente. Não houve diferença estatística no rendimento diagnóstico entre a PN e CP: 88% vs 80% (p=0,344), entretanto as técnicas somadas (PN+CP) foi superior à CP isolada: 94% vs 80% (p=0,016). A avaliação citológica qualitativa e semi-quantitativa de celularidade e contaminação por sangue no esfregaço e emblocado pelas técnicas de PN e CP não apresentou diferença estatística (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O rendimento diagnóstico da PAAF-EE pela técnica de PN versus CP de massas sólidas de pâncreas não apresenta diferença estatística, entretanto a utilização das técnicas combinadas é superior, particularmente em relação à CP isolada. A celularidade e contaminação por sangue é semelhante independente da técnica utilizada (PN ou CP) ou do tipo de preparação citológica (esfregaço ou emblocado) / BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is an established diagnostic method for solid pancreatic masses. Application of negative pressure (NP) during EUS-FNA has the purpose of holding tissue against the cutting edge of the needle as it is moved through the lesion leading to cell detachment and drawing them up. Capillary (CP) sampling is another technique that removes the needle stylet gradually and continuously during the EUS-FNA and seems to have comparable results with less blood and clot aspiration. AIM: Analyze diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA of pancreatic solid mass using NP versus CP and evaluate cytological qualitative and semi-quantitative features of cellularity and blood contamination of each group. METHOD: A total of 50 patients were randomized for NP or CP EUSFNA with a standard 22G needle. Each patient had four passes using NP and CP in an alternate fashion. Computer randomization generated two groups. Group A (NP, CP, NP, CP) and group B (CP, NP, CP, NP). RESULTS: Diagnostic yield of NP versus CP had no statistical difference (p=0.344). Both techniques (NP+CP) was superior to CP alone (p=0.016), but not to NP alone (p=0.25). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of NP vs CP were 95.2% vs 92.3%; 100% vs 100%; 95.7% vs 93%, respectively. Results for sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of both NP+CP were 95.6%, 100% and 96%. Positive predictive value was high for all techniques (100%) and Negative predictive value for NP, CP and both techniques were 66.7%, 57.1% and 66.7%, respectively. NP and CP smears and cell blocks had no statistical differences in qualitative and semi-quantitative citological evaluation for cellularity and bloodiness (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NP versus CP in EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic mass yielded similar overall outcomes in terms of diagnostic performance, however the combination of both techniques is superior, particularly compared to CP alone. Cellularity and bloodiness are equivalent no matter which technique (NP or CP) or type of cytological preparation (smear or cell block) is used