A system for imaging particles in a fluid includes a substrate holder for holding a substrate comprising a channel or reservoir for containing the fluid in the substrate, a radiation source for providing irradiation in the substrate and a radiation detection unit for detecting particles in the fluid in the substrate. At least one of the radiation source and the radiation detection unit) are configured to obtain detection in one or more distinct detection sheets in the substrate. The system further comprises an actuator configured for imparting an oscillating mechanical movement of the substrate holder regarding the radiation detection unit and the radiation source, the oscillating mechanical movement being a movement comprising a movement component in a direction perpendicular to the plane wherein the one or more detection sheets are extending.

Disclosed are calibration techniques that can be implemented by a device that conducts biological tests. In certain embodiments, the device for testing a biological specimen includes a receiving mechanism to receive a carrier, a camera module arranged to capture imagery of the carrier, and a processor. Some examples of the processor can detect a calibration mode trigger. In calibration mode, the processor can divide the captured imagery into segments and selectively perform one or more calibration procedures for each segment. Then, the processor records a calibration result for each segment.

The invention relates to a method for determining a charge characteristic (K) of electrical charges of particles (16) in a fluid stream comprising the steps (a) directing the fluid stream, which contains particles (16), through a fluid line (20), (b) spatially-resolved determination of a measuring field-less particle velocity (v) in a measurement area without an electrical measuring field, (c) applying an electrical measuring field transverse to the flow direction (S) in the measurement area, (d) spatially-resolved determination of a midfield particle velocity (v.sub.E) in the measurement area and (e) determining the at least one charge characteristic (K), which denotes an electrostatic charge of the particles (16), from the spatially-resolved particle velocities.

Disclosed are verification techniques that can be implemented by a device that conducts biological tests to verify that the specimen holding area carries a valid biological specimen. In certain embodiments, the testing device includes a receiving mechanism to receive a carrier, and the carrier includes a holding area that is to carry or to be exposed to a biological specimen. The device can also include a camera module arranged to capture imagery of the carrier, and a processor. In some examples, the processor can capture the imagery of the carrier and identify a visual cue on the carrier. Then, the processor can verify, based on a manner of how the visual cue is displayed in the captured imagery, whether the holding area carries a valid biological specimen.

A method for characterizing a mobile particle in a sample includes acquisition of at least one image of the sample during an acquisition period, using an image sensor and formation of a series of images, the series of images comprising at least one image; use of each image of the series of images as input image of a detection convolutional neural network, the detection convolutional neural network being configured to detect the particles and to produce, from each image, an output image on which each detected particle is assigned a distribution of intensity, centered on the particle and extending around the particle; for each detected particle, from each output image, estimation of a position of each detected particle in each image of the series of images; and characterization of each detected particle from the estimation of the position established from each image of the series of images.

The support comprises an object-carrying slide (11) and a cover glass (12) secured by lines of adhesive (13) peripherally defining individual compartments (14) for receiving a sample of the biological substance; characterised in that the upper face (17) of the object-carrying slide is bare and uncovered over at least one front marginal region (41) and at least one rear marginal region (42), each having an extension in the front-rear direction equal to at least 2.5 mm and an extension in the left-right direction equal to at least the distance between the respective axes of the two individual compartments furthest apart from one another. The system comprises the support (40) and a microscope for enclosing the support between a stage and a support plate provided with fingers, the distal ends of which are in contact with the marginal regions (41, 42) exclusively.

The present invention relates to a biosensor device for sensing an analyte over a period of time using particle motion, the biosensor device having a surface and a particle, wherein the particle and/or the surface are functionalized, and wherein the biosensor device has a first state in which the particle is associated with the surface and a second state in which the particle is not associated with the surface, and wherein switching between the first and second states depends on the presence, absence and/or concentration of the analyte, whereby motion characteristics of the particle change depending on the presence, absence and/or concentration of the analyte, thereby allowing sensing of the analyte by measuring changes in a spatial coordinate parameter of the particle relative to the surface, and wherein the properties of the particle and surface are selected such that in the second state the particle is within the vicinity of the surface such that the biosensor is able to measure changes in a spatial coordinate parameter of the particle relative to the surface, preferably wherein the distance between the particle and the surface in the second state is within the range of 5 nm to 10 m and wherein the particle is not conjugated to the surface.

Technique includes acquiring first contact data of first time, associated with first particle in first region; calculating first position data on particles in the first region at second time, and receiving second position data on particles in second region at the second time; detecting second particle being in contact with the first particle and in the first region at the first time and being in the first region at the second time; copying, when the first and second particles are in contact at the second time, displacement of the second particle from the first contact data to second contact data of the second time; detecting third particle being in the first or second region at the second time and in contact with the first particle; and copying, when the third particle is listed in the first contact data, displacement of the third particle to the second contact data therefrom.

Apparatus and method for separating whole cells from a mixture, e.g., including liquid, other cell types, nucleic acid material, or other components. Focused acoustic energy may be used to move whole cells in a chamber so that the cells exit the chamber via a first outlet rather than a second outlet. A filter may, or need not, be used to assist in separation.

Particle processing systems and methods utilize a sort monitoring system to monitor an operational characteristic for a particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be related to the performance and operation of a sorter or a group of sorters in the particle sorting system. The operational characteristic may be monitored based on monitoring particles for an output of a sorter or of a group of sorters. Operational characteristics which may be monitored include sort error, sort fraction, yield, purity and recovery percentage. The sort monitoring system may evaluate the monitored operational characteristic, for example, as related to sort performance, and take an action, for example, a corrective action or a notifying action, based on the evaluation of the operational characteristic.