In one embodiment, an optical spectroscopy probe includes an optical fiber having a distal tip and a microfluidic filtering chamber attached to the distal tip of the optical fiber, the chamber comprising a microfluidic membrane adapted to enable liquid to enter the chamber but prevent particles from entering the chamber.

Apparatus for laser induced ablation spectroscopy (LIBS) is disclosed. An apparatus can have a computer, a pulsed laser and a lightguide fiber bundle that is subdivided into branches. One branch can convey a first portion of the light to a first optical spectrometer and a different branch can convey a second portion of the light to another optical spectrometer. The first spectrometer can be relatively wideband to analyze a relative wide spectral segment and the other spectrometer can be high dispersion to measure minor concentrations. The apparatus can further comprise an unbranched lightguide fiber bundle to provide more light to a low sensitivity spectrometer. The apparatus can include an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer ICP-MS and a computer instructions operable to provide normalized LIBS/ICP-MS composition analyses.

An optical measurement device is provided. The device includes first and second optical fibers; first and second reaction vessels, and a light guide stage coupled to the first and second optical fibers. The light guide stage is driven to simultaneously optically connect the first and second optical fibers with the first and second reaction vessels. The device includes a measurement device for receiving emissions from the first and second reaction vessels, and a connecting end arranging body that supports the first and second optical fibers along a path. The arranging body is driven along the path between a first position, in which the first optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the first reaction vessel, and a second position, in which the second optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the second reaction vessel.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substrate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substrate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

The present disclosure provides modes of relative motion between a solid surface and a solution, and the related motion apparatuses. In an interaction between the solid surface and a target object, the target object is dissolved or dispersed in the solution, and the solid surface and the solution make a relative motion, with the relative motion including a relative movement perpendicular to the solid surface, in order to improve at least one of the following: binding rate, dissociation rate, binding uniformity, binding directionality and binding density of the target object to the solid surface. Compared with the traditional modes of relative motion in which the relative motion is parallel to a sensor surface, the modes of relative motion of the present disclosure can effectively improve the binding efficiency and dissociation efficiency between a ligand and an analyte given the same relative motion velocity between the sensor and the solution.

A spectroscopic system may include: a probe having a probe tip and an optical coupler, the optical coupler including an emitting fiber group and first and second receiving fiber groups, each fiber group having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the fiber groups are formed into a bundle and optically exposed through the probe tip; a light source optically coupled to the second end of the emitting fiber group, the light source emitting light in at least a first waveband and a second waveband, the second waveband being different from the first waveband; a first spectrometer optically coupled to the second end of the first receiving fiber group and configured to process light in the first waveband; and a second spectrometer optically coupled to the second end of the second receiving fiber group and configured to process light in the second waveband.

Provided is a spectroscopic analysis apparatus including: an optical probe; and a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached. The optical probe includes an optical fiber that guides illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target and an optical member that is disposed at least at a distal end of the optical fiber. The spectroscopic analysis portion includes an information separation portion that generates wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and that separates, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member and information about second return light returning from the optical fiber, a problem determining portion that determines a problem occurring at the optical probe based on the separated first return light and second return light, and a notification portion that notifies information about the determined problem.

A method of detecting fluorescence from bacteria suitable for determining the presence of faeces or other fluorophores, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating a target with fluorescence excitation light having an excitation wavelength and monitoring for the emission of fluorescence light from the target at wavelengths longer than the excitation wavelength.

A photoacoustic remote sensing system (PARS) for imaging a subsurface structure in a sample has an excitation beam configured to generate ultrasonic signals in the sample at an excitation location; an interrogation beam incident on the sample at the excitation location, a portion of the interrogation beam returning from the sample that is indicative of the generated ultrasonic signals; an optical system that focuses at least one of the excitation beam and the interrogation beam with a focal point that is below the surface of the sample; and a detector that detects the returning portion of the interrogation beam.