Provided are a photoacoustic apparatus and method of operating the same. The photoacoustic apparatus includes: a laser module that generates laser light and transmits a laser state signal indicating a state of a laser module; a probe including an optical output unit for irradiating laser light generated by the laser module onto an object and a scanner for detecting a photoacoustic signal that is generated from the object; a scanner controller for controlling a position of the scanner; a sequence controller for controlling acquisition of the photoacoustic signal based on the laser state signal; a signal receiver that is controlled by the sequence controller to acquire the photoacoustic signal; and a photoacoustic image generator for generating a photoacoustic image based on the photoacoustic signal. The laser state signal includes a lasing ready state signal and a laser exposure state signal.

A system to generate multiple beam lines in an oblique angle multi-beam spot scanning wafer inspection system includes a beam scanning device configured to scan a beam of illumination, an objective lens oriented at an oblique angle relative to the surface of a sample and with an optical axis perpendicular to a first scanning direction on the sample, and one or more optical elements positioned between the objective lens and the beam scanning device. The one or more optical elements split the beam into two or more offset beams such that the two or more offset beams are separated in a least a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The one or more optical elements further modify the phase characteristics of the two or more offset beams such that the two or more offset beams are simultaneously in focus on the sample during a scan.

A spot scanning imaging system with run-time alignment includes a beam scanning device configured to linearly scan a focused beam of illumination across a sample, one or more detectors positioned to receive light from the sample, and a controller communicatively coupled to the beam scanning apparatus, the sample stage, and the one or more detectors. The controller is configured to store a first image, transmit a set of drive signals to at least one of the beam scanning device, the sample stage, or the one or more detectors, compare at least a portion of the second sampling grid to at least a portion of the first sampling grid to determine one or more offset errors, and adjust at least one drive signal in the set of drive signals based on the one or more offset errors such that the second sample grid overlaps the first sample grid.

The present disclosure provides a method for detection of an analyte in a sample, where the sample is introduced into an analytic chamber along with droplets of an emulsion or gel beads. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides designs for formulations of emulsion drops or gel beads such that they are useful for detection of analytes in a massively parallel manner. Formulations that contain specific combinations of fluorescent particles allow optical determination of the identity of each fluorescent particle. The combinations are based on particle fluorescence emission wavelength, fluorescence excitation wavelength, and particle count.

Methods, devices, apparatus, and systems for three-dimensional (3D) contoured scanning photoacoustic imaging and/or deep learning virtual staining.