Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

The present invention generally relates to the generation of tunable coloration and/or interference from, for example, surfaces, emulsion droplets and particles. Embodiments described herein may be useful for generation of tunable electromagnetic radiation such as coloration (e.g., iridescence, structural color) and/or interference patterns from, for example, surfaces (e.g., comprising a plurality of microdomes and/or microwells), emulsion droplets and/or particles. In some embodiments, the surfaces, interfaces, droplets, and/or particles produce visible color (e.g., structural color) without the need for dyes.

Systems and methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) are provided in which variances in anionic charge of microbes are taken into account. Cationic surfactants may be used to sensitize otherwise resistant microorganisms to polycationic antibiotics, such as polymyxins. Since microorganisms gain polycationic antibiotic resistance through mutations that decrease surface anionic charge, the susceptibility of a microorganism to a polycationic antibiotic may be indicative of its surface charge. In order to enable electrostatic interactions with the microorganism surface, a cationic surfactant may be applied to increase the anionic charge of the microorganism.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based sensing systems and methods for sensing rhythmic beating characteristics of living cells are provided. An SPR based sensing system can include: an SPR sensing surface capable of generating SPR upon stimulation by incident light and configured to sense contractions, expansions, and/or movements of a plurality of living cells on the SPR sensing surface; and a cell culture module for culturing the living cells on the SPR sensing surface. In addition, the SPR based sensing system can perform a real-time analysis of one or more analytes secreted from the living cells by including a coating on the SPR sensing surface.

An electro-optical stimulation and recording system is disclosed, including a substrate and a plurality of wells coupled to the substrate. The system also includes at least one electrode set disposed proximate a respective one of the plurality of wells, wherein the electrode set comprises at least one electrode configured to collect an electric signal associated with at least a portion of the respective well. The system also includes a light-emitting element set corresponding to a respective one of the wells and configured to deliver optical stimulation to at least a portion of the respective well.

Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

An optofluidic diagnostic system and methods for rapid analyte detections. The system comprises an optofluidic sensor array, a test plate and an optical detection cartridge. The sensor array supports one or more distinct sensor units, each having a reactor section designed to temporarily enter a series of different kinds of wells in the test plate. One kind of well is a sample reservoir that holds reagent solution to be transferred into the reactor section. Another kind of well is a drainage chamber that removes reagent solution from the reactor section. A third kind of well is a colorant reservoir that holds a colorant reagent transferable into a reactor section. Finally, the sensor unit is transferred to the optical detection cartridge where it is placed into an isolation booth during the optical detection process so that its flat observation face is stationed in a viewing window opposite an optical detector lens.

Provided herein is a stimulation and measurement device. The stimulation and measurement device includes a microwell plate having a top side, a bottom side, and at least one well extending from the top side towards the bottom side; a first assembly removably positioned on the top side of the microwell plate; a second assembly removably positioned on the bottom side of the microwell plate; and a microcontroller. The first assembly includes a first printed circuit board having at least one pair of stimulating light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned thereon to align with one of the wells. The second assembly includes a second printed circuit board having at least one photodiode positioned thereon to align with one of the pairs of stimulating LEDs, and at least one excitation LED paired with each of the photodiodes. The microcontroller is configured to control the stimulating LED(s), the photodiode(s), and the excitation LED(s).

34 P2418PC00 Abstract Optical diffraction tomography microscope (2) comprising an illumination system (4) configured for transmitting a sample beam through a sample observation zone, a detection 5 system (8) comprising at least one image sensor (54), and a wave collection system (6) comprising a lens (16) downstream of the sample observation zone configured for directing the sample beam towards the at least one image sensor.

The method of analyzing absorbance of one or more liquid samples (3) arranged in the wells (2) of a microplate (1) comprises the steps of setting a desired wavelength falling within the wavelength range of 380 nm-750 nm for absorbance measurement (101), illuminating the samples (3) using electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth of at most 20 nm around the set wavelength (102), measuring radiant flux transmitted through each sample (3) (103), on the basis of measured radiant flux values, determining an absorbance value for each sample (3) (104), and visualizing the absorbance values on a display (12) as a matrix comprising a plurality of cells (23), each cell (23) corresponding to a well (2) of the microplate (1) (105). The set wavelength is used as an input for determining the visual properties of the cells (23).