A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.

Endotoxin detection systems and corresponding detection methods integrate an optical path detection system based on a conventional laser particle size detector and detect the particle size distribution characteristics of the endotoxin colloidal particles in an aqueous solution by using laser light scattering. One system calculates the concentration of the endotoxin by fitting the correlation of the astigmatism with the concentration of the endotoxin based on scattering intensity of the endotoxin particles at more than three different angles via a quantitative operator. A second system tests the detection parameters of the concentration limits of a series of concentrations of endotoxin standard solutions by the laser light source intensity adjustment, the scanning mode adjustment and the detection parameter adjustment, then selects a corresponding detection parameter to test a sample, and determines whether the sample is satisfactory according to the range of particle size distribution peaks in the detection result.

A particle control method is provided which can prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows as in a RABS or isolator device from descending to a specific position or can guide it so as to descend to the specific position by controlling movement of the particles. A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for detecting microbiological activity in an industrial process may include a plurality of satellite units, a processing unit, and a main analysis unit. Each satellite unit may be configured to sample a liquid from the industrial process at a plurality of respective locations, periodically analyse a sample, carry out an impedance analysis to count and measure the size of particles passing through an orifice, and generate sample results data corresponding to the number and size of particles in each sample. The processing unit may be configured to compare the sample results data to a predetermined criterion and to generate an alert signal if the particle data is outside of the predetermined criterion. The main analysis unit may be configured to carry out a combined impedance and electromagnetic emission analysis of a sample of liquid from the industrial process following generation of the alert signal.

This invention provides microfabricated devices and methods for detecting, analyzing and sorting biological materials and particles. Droplets containing the particles are provided in an extrusion fluid, passed through a detection region, and then directed into a branch channel according to predetermined characteristics. For example, cells or viral particles contained in droplets of aqueous solvent are flowed past a detector in the nonpolar extrusion fluid decane, and routed into a selected branch channel for subsequent analysis or use.

A microviable particle counting system includes: a microviable particle counting instrument configured to detect autofluorescence of a microviable particle in a sample as fluid, thereby counting the microviable particle in the sample; and a former-stage irradiator provided at a former stage of the microviable particle counting instrument to irradiate the sample with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light contains first ultraviolet light having such a wavelength that a carbon-carbon covalent bond is disconnected, and the first ultraviolet light has a wavelength shorter than 200 nm.

An optical sensor may have multiple detection channels to detect different characteristics of a fluid. For example, an optical sensor used in industrial cleaning and sanitizing applications may have multiple detection channels to detect when a system is both clean and properly sanitized. In one example, an optical sensor includes an optical emitter that directs light into a fluid, a first optical detector that detects light transmitted through the fluid, a second optical detector that detects light scattered by the fluid, and a third optical detector that detects fluorescent emissions emitted by the fluid. The optical emitter and optical detectors can be positioned around an optical analysis area. The optical sensor may include filters that control the characteristics of light detected by each of the optical detectors.

Methods for using focused light scattering techniques for the optical sensing of biological particles suspended in a liquid medium are disclosed. The optical sensing enables one to characterize particles size and/or distribution in a given sample. This, in turn, allows one to identify the biological particles, determine their relative particle density, detect particle shedding, and identify particle aggregation. The methods are also useful in screening and optimizing drug candidates, evaluating the efficacy and dosage levels of such drugs, and in personalized medicine applications.

A portable apparatus for estimating air quality is provided. The portable apparatus includes a light source unit suitable for emitting incident light having a predetermined wavelength toward air to generate scattered light which is reflected by particles in the air, a light detection unit suitable for collecting information on the scattered light, and an arithmetic unit suitable for analyzing the information on the scattered light which is collected by the light detection unit. The arithmetic unit generates information on a size and a concentration of the particles in the air. Related methods are also provided.

A particle detection apparatus and method includes an excitation source having a first emission band that excites a sample and a second emission band; a first optical device connected to the excitation source and attenuates radiation emitted in the second emission band; an optical cavity adjacent to the first optical device, which includes a sample excited by radiation from the excitation source; a substrate coupled to the optical cavity and exposed to the radiation from the excitation source; a binding compound coupled to the substrate, which includes a ligand coupled to the substrate; and a capture material coupled to the ligand and capturing the sample; a second optical device connected to the substrate and attenuates radiation emitted in the first emission band; and an optical detector connected to the second optical device and detects radiation emitted in the second emission band.