A microscope objective for imaging a specimen using a microscope, the microscope objective having a front lens enclosed by a surround and being designed for microscopy with an immersion liquid. In the microscope objective, the front lens and/or the surround thereof is provided with a coating which can be switched between a state which repels the immersion liquid and a state which does not repel the immersion liquid.

A mobile phone-based dark field microscope (MDFM) apparatus suitable for quantifying nanoparticle signals is provided. The MDFM apparatus includes an electrically operated light source, a dark-field condenser, a slide housing configured to receive an analytical slide, and an adapter housing configured to receive an objective lens and receive a portable electronic communication device. The slide housing positions the analytical slide between the objective lens and the dark-field condenser. The adapter housing registers the objective lens with a camera lens of the portable electronic communication device. A method for performing a biological quantitative study using the dark-field microscope apparatus is further provided.

An example fluidic device includes an elastic tube, a first actuator coupled to an outer surface of the elastic tube between a first end and a second end of the elastic tube, and a second actuator coupled to the outer surface of the elastic tube between the first actuator and the second end of the elastic tube. The first actuator and the second actuator are configured to move apart from one another to transition a portion of the elastic tube positioned between the first actuator and the second actuator from a first condition to a second condition. A diameter of the elastic tube is greater in the first condition than in the second condition. The fluidic device also includes one or more rotatable components coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator which are configured to rotate the portion of the elastic tube positioned between the first actuator and the second actuator.

A system is capable of detecting substrates and can differentiate between zero, one, or multiple transparent or semi-transparent substrates in a stack. The system can include an optical sensor, an optically anti-reflective element, and a detector. The optical sensor outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element. The light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by substrates, if any, positioned within a detection zone between the optically anti-reflective element and the detector.

A system is capable of detecting substrates and can differentiate between zero, one, or multiple transparent or semi-transparent substrates in a stack. The system can include an optical sensor, an optically anti-reflective element, and a detector. The optical sensor outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element. The light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by substrates, if any, positioned within a detection zone between the optically anti-reflective element and the detector.

Laser emission based microscope devices and methods of using such devices for detecting laser emissions from a tissue sample are provided. The scanning microscope has first and second reflection surfaces and a scanning cavity holding a stationary tissue sample with at least one fluorophore/lasing energy responsive species. At least a portion of the scanning cavity corresponds to a high quality factor (Q) Fabry-Pérot resonator cavity. A lasing pump source directs energy at the scanning cavity while a detector receives and detects emissions generated by the fluorophore(s) or lasing energy responsive species. The second reflection surface and/or the lasing pump source are translatable with respect to the stationary tissue sample for generating a two-dimensional scan of the tissue sample. Methods for detecting multiplexed emissions or quantifying one or more biomarkers in a histological tissue sample, for example for detection and diagnosis of cancer, or other disorders/diseases are provided.

A coupling element for a positioning device, which includes a first and second linear guides for guiding first and second carriages respectively along first and second linear directions, is configured to create a coupling between the first carriage and the second linear guide. The coupling element includes a central part and a surrounding part spaced at a distance therefrom. The surrounding part has a central portion surrounding the central part, and has two end portions adjoining the central portion in the first linear direction. Connecting flat springs are disposed to create the distance and connect together the central part and the central portion of the surrounding part. The connecting flat springs lie in planes which intersect at a center of the central part. A vertical flat spring is disposed parallel to the first linear direction at each of the two end portions of the surrounding part.

A method (400) for microscopic examination of a sample (1) includes applying (410) the sample (1) to a sample holder (10) having a transparent carrier material, capturing (420) a first image (210, 220) of the sample (1) applied to the sample holder (10) using a first light-microscopy method, cryofixing, freeze-substituting, and subsequently infiltrating and embedding (430) the sample (1) together with the sample holder (10) with an embedding medium (20) in an embedding mold (90, 100), curing (440) the embedding medium (20), removing the sample (1) from the embedding mold (90, 100) together with the embedding medium (20) and the sample holder (10), capturing (450) a second image (230) of the sample (1) embedded in the cured embedding medium (20) using a second light-microscopy method, wherein at least partially identical regions of the sample (1) are captured in the first and second images, and identifying (460) at least one portion of the first image (210, 220) and one portion of the second image (230) which show identical regions of the sample (1).

An adapter which controls rotation of a microscope on which a slide is placed and an imaging unit and which easily performs correction of a rotation shift is provided. The adapter includes a first connection member connected to a microscope, a second connection member connected to an imaging unit, a rotation member arranged between the first and second connection members and configured to rotate the second connection member relative to the first connection member using optical axes of the microscope and the imaging unit at a center, a control member configured to be fixed on one of the first and second connection members and control the rotation of the connection member, and a driving member configured to be engaged with the first connection member or the second connection member and change a position of the second connection member relative to the first connection member around the optical axes.

Paraffin-embedded tissue is prepared removing paraffin from the tissue. The paraffin is removed by generating an electric field effective to produce plasma and direct charged species of the plasma to the paraffin, thereby rendering the paraffin responsive to the electric field. The electric field may move the paraffin out from the tissue due to electrostatic force. Movement of the paraffin may be assisted by moving an electrode utilized to generate the electric field relative to the paraffin. Movement of the paraffin also may be assisted by applying a solvent and/or heat energy to the tissue.