A particulate matter sensor device comprising an enclosure (21) that comprises a flow inlet (11), a flow outlet (12) and a flow channel (2) extending therebetween, a radiation source for emitting radiation into the flow channel (2) for interaction of the radiation with the particulate matter in the flow (20) of an aerosol sample when guided through the flow channel (2), a radiation detector (4) for detecting at least part of said radiation after interaction with the particulate matter. The sensor device comprises a flow modifying device (511) arranged upstream of the radiation detector (4) and/or of the radiation source (3) for modifying the flow (20) for reducing particulate matter precipitation onto the radiation detector (4) and/or onto the radiation source (3) and/or the channel wall sections in close proximity to the detector (4) and/or source (3). The invention also relates to a method of determining parameters of particulate matter in an aerosol sample by using such a particulate matter sensor device.

A particulate matter sensor device comprises an enclosure (21) defining a flow channel (2), a radiation source (3) for emitting radiation into the flow channel for interaction of the radiation with particulate matter in an aerosol sample in the flow channel, and a radiation detector (4) for detecting at least part of said radiation after interaction with the particulate matter. The sensor device comprises a flow modifying device (511) arranged upstream of the radiation detector and/or radiation source so as to reduce particulate matter precipitation onto the radiation detector, the radiation source and/or the channel wall sections in their proximity. The invention also relates to a method of determining parameters of particulate matter in an aerosol sample by using such a particulate matter sensor device.

An apparatus is provided for determining particle characteristics, in which a flow path is generated containing particles to be analyzed. A light detection system detecting light received from a measurement zone which has been scattered by the particles. A time duration for which a particle remains in the measurement zone is measured to determine an effective aerodynamic particle diameter and a peak detected received light intensity is measured to determine an effective optical particle diameter. A further particle parameter is also obtained relating to the shape and/or density of the particle. This approach enables more information than only a particle size to be obtained using a single-stage optical analysis system. The additional information may be used to characterize the particles more accurately.

A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analysing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a novel optical particle characterization system and method of use that can be applied to harsh environments. By separating the sensing components from the electronics unit and using optical fibers for interconnection, only the sensing components need to endure harsh environmental conditions. This reduces the design constraints on the electronics unit and permits the incorporation of optical components into the sensing probe that can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

Disclosed herein is a novel optical particle characterization system and method of use that can be applied to harsh environments. By separating the sensing components from the electronics unit and using optical fibers for interconnection, only the sensing components need to endure harsh environmental conditions. This reduces the design constraints on the electronics unit and permits the incorporation of optical components into the sensing probe that can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

A particle detector, e.g. a smoke detector is described. In one form the detector includes a detection chamber and radiation source emitting a single beam of radiation. The detector also includes a radiation receiving system and an imaging system arranged to receive radiation from a common region of interest. Methods and systems for analyzing the output of a particle detector are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a common-path interferometric scattering imaging system and a method of using such a system, where the system includes an illuminating unit for emitting an illumination beam; a light collecting arrangement for collecting through a common collection optical path a scattered beam provided by the light scattering on an object of the illumination beam and a reference beam provided by the reflection on or transmission through an interface of the illumination beam; an image sensor (D) for receiving and sensing the collected scattered and reference beams interfering thereon as an interferometric light signal; an attenuation mechanism arranged in the common collection optical path for attenuating the reference beam before it arrives at the image sensor; and a processor to process data corresponding to the interferometric light signal.

A method of selecting a type of particle for use in standardisation and/or calibration of a flow cytometer. The method includes determining the location of two or more particle focal points of particles flowing through a cross section of a channel in the flow cytometer; for each type of particle, determining for each particle focal point, for a beam of light directed at a type of particle at said particle focal point from a first direction, the total intensity of light scattered along a second direction; determining the difference between the highest and lowest determined light intensities of the light intensities determined at the two or more particle focal points; and selecting a type of particle for which the difference between the highest and lowest determined light intensities at the two or more particle focal points is below a predetermined threshold.

Device and method for detecting dispersed extracellular vesicles in a liquid dispersion sample, said method using an electronic data processor for classifying the sample as having, or not having, extracellular vesicles present, the method comprising the use of the electronic data processor for pre-training a machine learning classifier with a plurality of extracellular vesicle liquid dispersion specimens comprising the steps of: emitting a laser modulated by a modulation frequency onto each specimen; capturing a temporal signal from laser light backscattered by each specimen for a plurality of temporal periods of a predetermined duration for each specimen; calculating specimen DCT or Wavelet transform coefficients from the captured signal for each of the temporal periods; using the calculated coefficients to pre-train the machine learning classifier; wherein the method further comprises the steps of: using a laser emitter having a focusing optical system coupled to the emitter to emit a laser modulated by a modulation frequency onto the sample; using a light receiver to capture a signal from laser light backscattered by the sample for a plurality of temporal periods of a predetermined duration; calculating sample DCT or Wavelet transform coefficients from the captured signal for each of the temporal periods; using the pre-trained machine learning classifier to classify the calculated sample coefficients as having, or not having, extracellular vesicles present.