Methods and apparatuses are disclosed whereby structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is applied to a scanning microscope, such as a confocal laser scanning microscope or sample scanning microscope, in order to improve spatial resolution. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the discovery of important advances in the ability to (i) increase light throughput to the sample, thereby increasing the signal/noise ratio and/or decreasing exposure time, as well as (ii) decrease the number of raw images to be processed, thereby decreasing image acquisition time. Both effects give rise to significant improvements in overall performance, to the benefit of users of scanning microscopy.

A method of modifying a liquid sample containing an analyte so as to increase SERS signal intensity of the analyte is provided. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: providing the liquid sample to be analyzed using SERS; and adding an oxygen scavenger to the liquid sample so as to remove dissolved oxygen from the liquid sample. A probe for remote sensing of an analyte in a liquid sample using SERS is also provided. The probe of the present invention comprises a detection chamber having a window that is transparent to SERS excitation light and Raman scattered signal, and tubing with a first and a second end, the first end of the tubing being flowably connected to the detection chamber and the second end of the tubing being configured to be placed in contact with a liquid sample.

An Attenuated total reflection measuring apparatus capable of Raman spectral measurement has an infrared optical instrument and a Raman module. The infrared optical instrument is disposed on an ATR prism side of a sample, and is provided to irradiate the ATR prism with an infrared light, and collect the infrared light from the ATR prism. The Raman module is disposed on a side opposite to the ATR prism side relative to the sample, and has a guide tube that outputs an excitation light from an excitation light source to the sample, and a lens portion disposed inside thereof. An end of the guide tube is in a position to push the sample to the ATR prism. The Raman module has a lens position adjustment mechanism that moves the lens portion along an optical axis, and a spectroscope that detects a Raman scattering light collected by the lens portion.

A method for sensing an analyte uses tethered particle motion. A functionalized particle [500] has a first state [504] in which the functionalized particle is bound to the surface and a second state [502] in which the functionalized particle is not bound to the surface, where the functionalized particle switches between the first and second states depending on the presence and absence of the analyte, thereby changing motion characteristics of the functionalized particle depending on the presence of the analyte. A spatial coordinate parameter of the functionalized particle is measured by a detector [516], and a processor [518] determines the presence/concentration of the analyte from changes in the measured spatial coordinate parameter.

A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroseopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.

A system and method for assaying high and low abundant biomolecules within a biological fluid sample is provided. The method includes: a) placing a biological fluid sample in contact with a first nanostructure surface; b) interrogating the sample with a light source, the sample in contact with the first nanostructure surface, the interrogation using a SERS technique; c) detecting an enhanced Raman scattering from at least one high abundant biomolecule type and producing first signals representative thereof; d) placing the sample in contact with a second nanostructure surface having a targeting agent that targets a low abundant biomolecule; e) interrogating the sample with the light source using the SERS technique; f) detecting the enhanced Raman scattering from the low abundant biomolecules and producing second signals representative thereof; and g) assaying the biological fluid sample using the first signals and the second signals.

Performing a procedure based on monitored properties of at least one ocular component of an eye includes: performing a procedure on at least one section of a first ocular component of the eye; providing at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the at least one section so as to interact with at least one acoustic wave in the first ocular component, wherein at least one second electro-magnetic radiation is produced based on the interaction; receiving multiple portions of the at least one second electro-magnetic radiation, each portion having been emitted from a different corresponding segment of the at least one section; monitoring a visco-elastic modulus of the at least one section based on the multiple portions during the procedure; and applying feedback to the procedure based at least in part on the monitored visco-elastic modulus.

An optical detector device may receive a spectroscopic measurement from a multispectral sensor. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, a particulate size of a particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, an identification of the particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the particulate size and the identification of the particulate, that an alert condition is satisfied. The optical detector device may trigger an alert based on determining that the alert condition is satisfied.

In a Raman microscope, a depth measurement processor performs depth measurement by changing a focal position of laser light along a depth direction of a sample which is an irradiation direction of the laser light with respect to the sample, and meanwhile, acquiring a Raman spectrum of the sample at a plurality of points in the depth direction. The display processor causes Raman spectra obtained at the plurality of points by the depth measurement to be displayed. The display processor can display a surface image of the sample on the stage and a depth image representing a plurality of points in the depth direction and causes, in a case where at least one point of the plurality of points in the depth image is selected, the Raman spectrum corresponding to the at least one point to be displayed.

In a Raman microscope, a depth measurement processor performs depth measurement by changing a focal position of laser light along a depth direction of a sample which is an irradiation direction of the laser light with respect to the sample, and meanwhile, acquiring a Raman spectrum of the sample at a plurality of points in the depth direction. A display processor displays an input screen used to input a parameter at a time of performing the depth measurement on the sample in association with a surface image of the sample on a stage. The parameter includes a range in which the focal position of the laser light is changed along the depth direction and an interval between the plurality of points within the range.