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 centrifugal pump assembly includes an electric motor (2) driving a centrifugal pump (1) and includes an electronics casing (8). In the electronics casing (8), the control electronics (10, 11) for the pump and motor are integrated. A device for detecting particles in a fluid fed via a bypass (6, 7) of a delivery conduit (3) is also in the electronics casing (8).

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.

Apparatus and methods for size-specific detection of particles entrained in fluids are provided. A particle size selector separates particles entrained in a sample fluid stream using a curved channel. Shroud fluid streams are interposed between the sample fluid stream and walls of the channel. Centrifugal forces arising from fluid flow through the curved channel separate differently-sized particles into different transverse sections of the channel. A detector downstream from the particle size selector specifically detects particles in one or more transverse sections of the channel.

Disclosed is a method of detecting filarial larvae in blood. The method comprises preparing a measurement sample from a blood sample collected from an animal; flowing the prepared measurement sample through a flow cell; irradiating light on the measurement sample flowing through the flow cell; detecting light given off from the irradiated measurement sample; and detecting filarial larvae contained in the measurement sample based on characteristic parameter of the detected light.

Disclosed herein are devices and systems for detecting microbial activity. A device (100) for detecting microbial contamination comprises a light source (20) that is configured to be optically coupled to an optical element (10), the optical element comprising a waveguide (2) and a diffraction grating (4), that together support a plurality of guided mode resonances at selected wavelengths of light from the light source. The device also comprises a condensing wall (40) having a condensing surface (50) on which liquid in gas (vapour) can condense, wherein the condensing surface is shaped, or engineered, to support flow of condensed liquids under gravity towards a collecting point (55) where the liquid can pool (6) around the optical element. The device further comprises a detector (30) configured to detect a property of a resonant guided mode of the plurality of resonant guided modes thereby to detect the presence or absence of microbes in the liquid that pools around the optical element.

A cassette for use in concentrating matter in a sample suspension, the cassette comprising a housing having a support and an enclosed sample-receiving channel, the enclosed sample-receiving channel having an upper portion and a base connected by at least two walls; in which the upper portion is configured to have a width less than a width of the base and a depth greater than 400 m.

Provided is an accurate turbidity measurement system and method, using a speckle pattern, in which a speckle pattern may be used for turbidity measurement, thereby enabling turbidity and bacterial or microbial contamination to be measured with high accuracy. The system may include: a measuring container which has a light input part formed in one side thereof, has a light scattering space formed therein, and has a light output part formed in the other side thereof; and an optical dilution member which is formed in at least a portion of the light scattering space, has a sample receiving part formed in one side thereof, and comprises an optical dilution medium having a role of optically diluting a speckle pattern of the sample.

An autoclaving microplate washing system for cells and non-adhering three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures includes one or more pumps for controlling the dispensing of washing fluid and the evacuation of fluid from microwells to gently wash the cells. A method of controlling the autoclaving microplate washing system includes controlling the one or more pumps for dispensing and evacuation.