Systems for operating a microfluidic device are described. The systems comprise a first surface configured to interface and operatively couple with a microfluidic device and a lid configured to retain the microfluidic device on the first surface. The lid comprises a first portion having a first fluid port configured to operatively couple with and flow fluidic medium into and/or out of a first fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device and a second portion having a second fluid port configured to operatively couple with and flow fluidic medium into and/or out of a second fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device. The second portion of the lid is separable from the first portion and movable between a closed position in which the second fluid port of the second portion of the cover is operatively coupled with the second fluid inlet/outlet of the microfluidic device and an open position in which a portion of the microfluidic device that contains the second fluid inlet/outlet is exposed. Other embodiments are described.

A microscope includes an illumination unit for illuminating a region of a specimen to generate an illuminated region, an imaging optical unit for magnified imaging of the illuminated region, an image sensor disposed downstream of the imaging optical unit for capturing the magnified image of the illuminated region, a camera for recording an overview region of the specimen without using the imaging optical unit and a control unit for controlling the image sensor and the camera. The overview region includes a part of the illuminated region and a non-illuminated region of the specimen. The control unit actuates the camera to make a recording of the overview region. The control unit actuates the image sensor to cause a recordation of the magnified image of the illuminated region. The control unit generates an overview image based on the recording of the overview region and the recording of the magnified image.

A microscope includes an illumination unit for illuminating a region of a specimen to generate an illuminated region, an imaging optical unit for magnified imaging of the illuminated region, an image sensor disposed downstream of the imaging optical unit for capturing the magnified image of the illuminated region, a camera for recording an overview region of the specimen without using the imaging optical unit and a control unit for controlling the image sensor and the camera. The overview region includes a part of the illuminated region and a non-illuminated region of the specimen. The control unit actuates the camera to make a recording of the overview region. The control unit actuates the image sensor to cause a recordation of the magnified image of the illuminated region. The control unit generates an overview image based on the recording of the overview region and the recording of the magnified image.

Provided is a solid-state illumination system for use in a microscopy system utilizing a light sensor of a mobile phone camera module. The system includes a bright-field illumination source with an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The array of LEDs is configured to produce transmission light within a range of view of the light sensor of the mobile phone camera module. The system also includes a dark-field illumination source including a ring of LEDs. The ring of LEDs is configured to produce light outside of the range of collection of the camera module lens. The system also includes a diffuser configured to diffuse the transmission light and a diffusive black material coupled to the diffuser. The diffusive black material is configured to pass through at least some of the transmission light while blocking reflections of the scattering light.

Provided is a solid-state illumination system for use in a microscopy system utilizing a light sensor of a mobile phone camera module. The system includes a bright-field illumination source with an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The array of LEDs is configured to produce transmission light within a range of view of the light sensor of the mobile phone camera module. The system also includes a dark-field illumination source including a ring of LEDs. The ring of LEDs is configured to produce light outside of the range of collection of the camera module lens. The system also includes a diffuser configured to diffuse the transmission light and a diffusive black material coupled to the diffuser. The diffusive black material is configured to pass through at least some of the transmission light while blocking reflections of the scattering light.

An imaging apparatus includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, a Fourier transform optical system, a photodetector, and a control unit. The control unit sets a first region and a second region on a modulation plane of the spatial light modulator, sequentially sets a plurality of light phase modulation patterns in the first region, sequentially sets a plurality of uniform phase shifts in a region other than the first region when setting each light phase modulation pattern in the first region to acquire a light intensity value, and acquires a phase image of a region of an object corresponding to the first region using a phase shift method.

An imaging apparatus includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, a Fourier transform optical system, a photodetector, and a control unit. The control unit sets a first region and a second region on a modulation plane of the spatial light modulator, sequentially sets a plurality of light phase modulation patterns in the first region, sequentially sets a plurality of uniform phase shifts in a region other than the first region when setting each light phase modulation pattern in the first region to acquire a light intensity value, and acquires a phase image of a region of an object corresponding to the first region using a phase shift method.

An observation device includes an illumination optical system provided on a lower side of an installation position of a multi-well plate, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the illumination optical system, the reflector being provided on an upper side of the installation position, and an observation optical system that condenses the light reflected by the reflector, the observation optical system being provided on the lower side of the installation position. The reflector includes a plurality of curved surfaces where the light emitted from the illumination optical system enters. Each of the plurality of curved surfaces corresponds to one or more wells included in the multi-well plate, has positive power in a first direction in which the illumination optical system and the observation optical system are aligned, and has a center of curvature at a position deviating from a central axis of a well of the multi-well plate.

An observation device includes an illumination optical system provided on a lower side of an installation position of a multi-well plate, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the illumination optical system, the reflector being provided on an upper side of the installation position, and an observation optical system that condenses the light reflected by the reflector, the observation optical system being provided on the lower side of the installation position. The reflector includes a plurality of curved surfaces where the light emitted from the illumination optical system enters. Each of the plurality of curved surfaces corresponds to one or more wells included in the multi-well plate, has positive power in a first direction in which the illumination optical system and the observation optical system are aligned, and has a center of curvature at a position deviating from a central axis of a well of the multi-well plate.

An array of more than one digital micro-camera, along with the use of patterned illumination and a digital post-processing operation, jointly create a multi-camera patterned illumination (MCPI) microscope. Each micro-camera includes its own unique lens system and detector. The field-over-view of each micro-camera unit at least partially overlaps with the field-of-view of one or more other micro-camera units within the array. The entire field-of-view of a sample of interest is imaged by the entire array of micro-cameras in a single snapshot. In addition, the MCPI system uses patterned optical illumination to improve its effective resolution. The MCPI system captures one or more images as the patterned optical illumination changes its distribution across space and/or angle at the sample. Then, the MCPI system digitally combines the acquired image sequence using a unique post-processing algorithm.