A photothermal deflection measuring system includes a substrate, a detecting light source, a detecting unit, and a processor. The substrate includes a plurality of positioning structures, on each of which supports a cell emitting heat outside a surface thereof. The detecting light source is utilized to project a detecting light passing through a specific position outside the surface whereby the detecting light is deflected due to a thermal gradient caused by the emitted heat. The detecting unit is arranged at a side of the cell for receiving the deflected detecting light thereby generating an optical deflection signal corresponding to a deflection of the deflected detecting light. The processor is configured to receive the optical deflection signal, analyze the optical deflection signal and determine a heat value corresponding to the specific position out side the surface of the cell according to the optical deflection signal.

Provided is a gas concentration length measurement device into which image data (moving image data) representing a plurality of infrared images is input, the image data being obtained by taking infrared images of a gas leakage monitoring target at a plurality of times. The gas concentration length measurement device generates chronological pixel data in which pieces of pixel data for pixels that are at the same positions in the plurality of infrared images are arranged chronologically, then uses the chronological pixel data for a predetermined pixel among the plurality of pixels constituting the infrared images as a basis to determine a with-gas background temperature indicating the background temperature when a gas is present in a predetermined region corresponding to the predetermined pixel and a without-gas background temperature indicating the background temperature when gas is not present in the predetermined region.

Disclosed is a low-cost, portable photo thermal spectroscopy (PTS) reader for use in detecting the presence of diseases in the bodily fluid of affected patients. The PTS reader is designed to be durable, easy to use and provide readings from the Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) with rapid results. Also provided are methods of use.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a photothermal spectroscopy assay reader including a light source configured to emit light in the red range of the light spectrum. Methods of operating such photothermal spectroscopy assay readers are also disclosed. Assay kits including a lateral flow assay and a photothermal spectroscopy assay reader configured to read the photothermal spectroscopy assay reader are also disclosed.

Mid-infrared photothermal heterodyne imaging (MIR-PHI) techniques described herein overcome the diffraction limit of traditional MIR imaging and uses visible photodiodes as detectors. MIR-PHI experiments are shown that achieve high sensitivity, sub-diffraction limit spatial resolution, and high acquisition speed. Sensitive, affordable, and widely applicable, photothermal imaging techniques described herein can serve as a useful imaging tool for biological systems and other submicron-scale applications.

Provided are a hydrogel-based microfluidic chip for cell co-culture and a use thereof, wherein the microfluidic chip allows the co-culture of cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells; can be widely applied in various studies associated with cancer; is suitable in studies on the photothermal therapy effect on, especially, cancer cells; and has excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and economical feasibility.

Assays used in conjunction with a thermal contrast reader are disclosed. In the assay, the test strip includes materials that can develop a thermal response if a target analyte is present in a sample. Linear flow assays include nanoparticles with high affinity binding to the analyte. Binding of the nanoparticles with an analyte in the sample is detected using thermal contrast. Analytes over a broad range of concentrations are detected in the linear flow assays. Methods of detecting target analytes and kits comprising lateral flow assays and thermal contrast reader are also disclosed.

A non-destructive method for chemical imaging with 1 nm to 10 m spatial resolution (depending on the type of heat source) without sample preparation and in a non-contact manner. In one embodiment, a sample undergoes photo-thermal heating using an IR laser and the resulting increase in thermal emissions is measured with either an IR detector or a laser probe having a visible laser reflected from the sample. In another embodiment, the infrared laser is replaced with a focused electron or ion source while the thermal emission is collected in the same manner as with the infrared heating. The achievable spatial resolution of this embodiment is in the 1-50 nm range.

System for performing chemical spectroscopy on samples from the scale of nanometers to millimeters or more with a multifunctional platform combining analytical and imaging techniques including dual beam photo-thermal spectroscopy with confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence detection, various vacuum analytical techniques and/or mass spectrometry. In embodiments described herein, the light beams of a dual-beam system are used for heating and sensing.

A wide-field bond-selective optical coherence tomography (OCT) system and method for imaging a sample includes generating infrared light and directing the infrared light onto the sample to selectively heat the sample. Probe light is also directed onto the sample. A first actuator provides sample depth scanning with respect to a first objective in a reference arm of the system, and a second actuator provides sample depth scanning with respect to a second objective in a sample arm of the system. A detection system receives scattered probe light reflected from the sample. A change in the received probe light from the sample that is indicative of absorption of infrared light.