The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. For example, the entities may be separated by a distance of less than about 1000 nm, or less than about 300 nm for visible light. In one set of embodiments, the entities may be selectively activatable, i.e., one entity can be activated to produce light, without activating other entities. A first entity may be activated and determined (e.g., by determining light emitted by the entity), then a second entity may be activated and determined. The entities may be immobilized relative to each other and/or to a common entity. The emitted light may be used to determine the positions of the first and second entities, for example, using Gaussian fitting or other mathematical techniques, and in some cases, with sub-diffraction limit resolution. The methods may thus be used, for example, to determine the locations of two or more entities immobilized relative to a common entity, for example, a surface, or a biological entity such as DNA, a protein, a cell, a tissue, etc. The entities may also be determined with respect to time, for example, to determine a time-varying reaction. Other aspects of the invention relate to systems for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, computer programs and techniques for sub-diffraction limit image resolution, methods for promoting sub-diffraction limit image resolution, methods for producing photoswitchable entities, and the like.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. A particle imaging system or analyzer can include a flowcell through which a urine sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis. A contrast pattern for autofocusing is provided on the flowcell. The image processor assesses focus accuracy from pixel data contrast. A positioning motor moves the microscope and/or flowcell along the optical axis for autofocusing on the contrast pattern target. The processor then displaces microscope and flowcell by a known distance between the contrast pattern and the sample stream, thus focusing on the sample stream. Cell or particle images are collected from that position until autofocus is reinitiated, periodically, by input signal, or when detecting temperature changes or focus inaccuracy in the image data.

The present invention relates to a method for analyzing urine sample, a reagent for the analysis of a urine sample and a reagent kit for the analysis of a urine sample, which are used for detecting at least casts and erythrocytes as urinary particles.

The disclosure relates to a method for determining a hydrodynamic size of an object, such as a nano-sized object, said method comprising the steps of: providing a fluid interface, linking said object to said fluid interface thereby providing a linked object, whereby the movement of said linked object is restricted by virtue of being linked to said fluid interface, providing and determining a hydrodynamic shear force that acts on said linked object, tracking the movement of said linked object, and calculating the hydrodynamic size of the object using the Einstein-Smoluchowski relation.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

Systems and methods are provided herein for facilitating the scheduling and controlling the presentation of media content at one or more Venues (e.g., bars, restaurants). The scheduling and presentation is coordinated by a distributed system including a scheduling management server and a local subsystem at the Venue. The system is also configured to receive information from remote devices including electronic media guides as well as user devices enabling venue managers or the public to interact with the system. The system is configured to maintain a content presentation schedule and coordinate presentation at a Venue based on parameters obtained from remote devices including: the requirements of the Venue, requests from Patrons, programming available for presentation and the availability of resources at the venue (e.g., televisions). Moreover, the exemplary system is configured to implement/execute the schedule in view of the specific technological systems and requirements of the Venue's particular media presentation systems.

A particle detector that includes a housing defining a chamber, and an air stream injector, producing an airstream with entrained particles, in the chamber. A light source produces a light beam that intersects with and is wider than the air stream. A light detection assembly detects light generated by scattering of the light beam, by particles in the air stream. A digitizer produces a sequence of scattering digital values, each representing light detected per a first unit of time duration. Additionally, a summing assembly produces a sequence of summed scattering digital values, each equaling a sum of a sequential set of n of the digital values, and wherein successive summed digital values are offset by a the first unit of time duration and overlap by n1 of the first units of time duration with a nearest neighbor. Finally, a detection assembly processes the summed scattering digital values to detect particles.

Among other things, two or more different antibodies are caused to bind to one or more units of a chemical component in a sample. Each of the antibodies is attached to one or more beads (e.g., microbeads). The sample is situated on a surface of an image sensor. At the image sensor, light is received originating at a light source that is other than the beads. The received light includes light reflected by, refracted by, or transmitted through the beads. At least one image of the sample is processed to separately enumerate individual beads and complexes of two or more of the beads attached to the two or more antibodies that are bound to a unit of the chemical component. The results of the processing are used to identify a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample.

A system, method, and apparatus are provided for cytometry with dual laser beams. In one example, the method includes directing an incident light beam from a source to enter an optical waveplate; polarizing the incident light beam into a polarized light beam in response to the incident light beam entering through the optical waveplate; directing the polarized light beam to enter a birefringent crystal; separating the polarized light beam into an ordinary light beam and an extraordinary light beam in response to the polarized light beam entering the birefringent crystal; directing the ordinary light beam and the extraordinary light beam to enter a lens; focusing the ordinary light beam and the extraordinary light beam into dual light beams separated by a beam displacement; and coupling the dual light beams to form a sample region having substantially uniform light intensity to analyze moving particles in the particle analyzer.

The present invention relates to methods of detecting one or more targets of interest in a sample. In one instance, the target can be correlated to an active infection (e.g., by a virus and/or a bacterium). Methods can include treating the sample with a dissociation agent, thereby releasing the target of interest for more accurate detection (e.g., by use of a sedimentation-based centrifugal microfluidic devices). Also described herein are microfluidic devices and systems for use with a dissociation agent.