A system and method for the real time determination of microbial growth in or on perishable products. The system can predict the extent of microbial growth, e.g., whether food is spoiled, in real time by measuring chemicals released, e.g., CO.sub.2, from the perishable product during microbial growth. The output from a sensor can be correlated to the extent of microbial growth, i.e., spoilage, and provide information about the extent of microbial growth to the user, for example, through their smart devices.

The present disclosure is drawn to microfluidic devices. The microfluidic device includes a substrate, an optically translucent lid, an adhesive securing the substrate to the lid, and an optical barrier material between the substrate and the optically translucent lid.

Described herein are techniques to reduce or remove the impact of secondary path photons and/or charge carriers on storage bins of an integrated device to improve noise performance, and thus, sample analysis. Some embodiments relate to optical rejection techniques such as including an optical barrier positioned to block at least some photons from reaching the storage bins. Some embodiments relate to electrical rejection techniques such as including an electrical barrier configured to block at least some charge carriers from reaching the storage bins along at least one secondary path. Some embodiments relate to an integrated device in which at least one storage bin is shaped and/or positioned relative to the photodetector to facilitate receipt of some charge carriers (e.g., fluorescent emission charge carriers) and/or photons and to impede receipt of other charge carriers (e.g., noise charge carriers) and/or photons.

An optical measuring device for measuring light emitted from a sample includes a container cavity for receiving a container in which the sample is enclosed; a light detection unit for detecting light from the sample; a light guide path for guiding the light from the sample to the light detection unit; and a light absorbing unit for absorbing incident light. An end of the light guide path to receive the incident light faces the container cavity, a light exit end of the light guide path faces the light detection unit, and the light absorbing unit covers the perimeter of the light guide path other than the light-receiving-end and the light exit end thereof.

The optical reader for analyzing biological samples comprises a reading plane (3) for receiving a microplate (1), an illuminating arrangement (4) configured to illuminate samples in the wells (2) of the microplate (1), an imaging device (6) arranged to receive light from the microplate (1), a beam splitter (7), which is arranged to direct light from the illuminating arrangement (4) towards the reading plane (3) and to direct light received from the microplate (1) to the imaging device (6), and a lens system (8) arranged between the beam splitter (7) and the reading plane (3) to focus the light received from the illuminating arrangement (4) to a sample and to focus an image of the sample to the imaging device (6). The optical reader is configured to transmit from the illuminating arrangement (4) to the lens system (8) only light having a specific polarization, and the optical reader comprises a polarizer (10, 19) that is arranged between the lens system (8) and the imaging device (6) and configured to block polarized light reflected from the surfaces of the lens system (8).

The method of analyzing samples (3) in the wells (2) of a microplate (1) comprises the steps of producing electromagnetic radiation having a first predetermined wavelength or wavelength range (101), illuminating a sample (3) by said radiation by transmitting the radiation to the sample (3) from above the microplate (1) via the upper end of the well (102), transmitting light emitted by the sample (3) and having a second predetermined wavelength or wavelength range via the upper end of the well (2) to detection means (13) (103), determining intensity of light emitted by one or more predetermined measurement areas (23) of the sample (3) (104), based on the determined intensities, determining a result value representing the total amount of light emitted by the sample (3), and counting the number of spots emitting light having the second predetermined wavelength or wave-length range (106).

A terahertz wave camera that acquires information on a measurement target includes: a sensor unit in which a plurality of elements having spectral sensitivity to the terahertz wave are arranged; a readout circuit unit that reads out signals from the elements; a first light-shielding portion; and an optical unit. The first light-shielding portion reduces disturbance light to which the readout circuit unit has spectral sensitivity. The optical unit guides a terahertz wave from the measurement target to the sensor unit.

A pistachio sorting device capable of accurately detecting BGY fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent material adhered to a shell of an in-shell pistachio to perform pass/fail determination and sort out defective products at high speed is provided. The pistachio sorting device comprises a lighting device 11 for irradiating in-shell pistachios which are objects to be sorted in an inspection region with ultraviolet light having a maximum peak wavelength within a range of 345 nm to 390 nm, an optical filter 12 for selectively transmitting light within a wavelength range of 500 nm to 600 nm, a sensor 13 for detecting a two-dimensional intensity distribution of the fluorescence transmitted through the optical filter 12 to generate two-dimensional image data indicating a two-dimensional intensity distribution of fluorescence in the inspection region, and a determining device for determining a pass/fail of for each object to be sorted 10 based on the two-dimensional image data.

An optical cell for performing light spectroscopy (including absorbance, fluorescence and scattering measurements) on a liquid sample in microfluidic devices is disclosed. The optical cell comprises an inlaid sheet having an opaque material inlaid in a clear material, and a sensing channel that crosses the clear material and the opaque material provides a fluidic path for the liquid sample and an optical path for probe light. Integral optical windows crossing a clear-opaque material interface permit light coupling into and out of the sensing channel, and thus light transmission through the sensing channel is almost entirely isolated from background light interference. A microfluidic chip comprising one or more optical cells is also disclosed. The optical cells may have different lengths of sensing channels, and may be optically and fluidly coupled. A method of manufacturing an optical cell in a microfluidic chip is also disclosed.

System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes at least one waveguide configured to propagate excitation energy to the sample wells from a region of the integrated device configured to couple with an excitation energy source. A pixel may also include at least one element for directing the emission energy towards a sensor within the pixel. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device. One of multiple markers distinguishable by temporal parameters of the emission energy may label the sample and configuration of the sensor within a pixel may allow for detection of a temporal parameter associated with the marker labeling the sample.