An opto-magnetic device includes an integrated optical circuit having an input for an input optical radiation and at least one output for an output optical radiation. The optical circuit defines an area sensible to the variations of a local refraction index probed by the optical radiation, destined to come in contact with the sample. A plurality of probe molecules are included to anchor to the sensible area, and a plurality of magnetic particles are included to anchor to molecules of the analyte, bound to the probe molecules upon a molecular recognition. A magnetic actuator is configured to generate a variable magnetic field and oscillate the magnetic particles to cause variation of the refraction index probed by the optical radiation in the sensible area, and a variation of at least one characteristic parameter of the output optical radiation correlated to a concentration of the molecules of the analyte.

A point-of-care diagnostic system that includes a cartridge and a reader. The cartridge can contain a patient sample, such as a blood sample. The cartridge is inserted into the reader and the patient sample is analyzed. The reader contains various analysis systems, such as a magneto-optical system that measures a light transmission differential through the patient sample in varying magnetic fields. The reader can process data from the various patient sample analysis to provide interpretative results indicative of a disease, infection and/or condition of the patient.

There is provided a method of detecting a change of a state of a liquid comprising the steps of: providing a liquid detection medium (12) comprising a liquid and having a plurality of anisotropic magnetic particles suspended therein; applying a modulated magnetic field across at least a portion of the liquid detection medium (12), wherein the magnetic field induces an alignment of the magnetic particles; introducing electromagnetic radiation (22) into the liquid detection medium (12); detecting a variable which is modulated by the applied magnetic field, wherein the variable is associated with the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation (22) with the magnetic particles and wherein the change in the state of the liquid causes a variation in the detected variable; and correlating the variation in the detected variable with the change in the state of the liquid.

A gas sensing element reflects light incoming along an optical path on a sensing face. The light reflected by the gas sensing element changes in a characteristic depending on quantity of a specific gas that is in contact with the gas sensing element. Each of a first optical element and a second optical element bends the optical path. The gas sensing element, a light source, a photodetector, and a magnetic field applicator are disposed on the same side with respect to a virtual plane that is perpendicular to an incident plane of the incoming light to the sensing face of the gas sensing element and includes a point on the optical path where light goes out from the first optical element and a point on the optical path where light enters the second optical element.

A point-of-care diagnostic system that includes a cartridge and a reader. The cartridge can contain a patient sample, such as a blood sample. The cartridge is inserted into the reader and the patient sample is analyzed. The reader contains various analysis systems, such as a magneto-optical system that measures a light transmission differential through the patient sample in varying magnetic fields. The reader can process data from the various patient sample analysis to provide interpretative results indicative of a disease, infection and/or condition of the patient.

Imaging systems and methods using fluorescent nanodiamonds are disclosed. The imaging systems and methods including applying a time-varying magnetic field to a specimen containing fluorescent nanodiamonds and comparing the fluorescence obtained with different magnetic fields to provide an image of the specimen.

An optical system uses a sample medium disposed within an optical cavity, receives an input beam that may be non-coherent or coherent, and produces an optical energy from the input beam, by creating birefringent-induced beam components each cavity traversal, forming a mixed quantum state beam for the input beam. The mixed quantum state beam exits the cavity, and the energy distribution of the exiting beam is analyzed over a range of tuned input beam frequencies to uniquely identify circularly birefringent the materials within the sample medium, e.g., amino acids, proteins, or other circular birefringent molecules, biological or otherwise.

According to the invention there is provided a method of detecting an analyte including the steps of: i) providing a sample which contains the analyte and magnetic nanoparticles, in which the magnetic nanoparticles include a magnetic body portion which acts as a signalling vector and at least one receptor moiety attached to the body portion for binding to the analyte; ii) applying a magnetic field across at least a portion of the sample to orient the magnetic nanoparticles with respect to the applied magnetic field; iii) introducing electromagnetic radiation into the sample; iv) detecting a physical property which varies in dependence on the orientation of the magnetic nanoparticles with respect to the applied magnetic field, wherein the physical property is associated with the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the magnetic body portion which thereby acts as a signalling vector; and v) correlating the detected physical property with the presence of the analyte.

An optical system uses a sample medium disposed within an optical cavity, receives an input beam that may be non-coherent or coherent, and produces an optical energy from the input beam, by creating birefringent-induced beam components each cavity traversal, forming a mixed quantum state beam for the input beam. The mixed quantum state beam exits the cavity, and the energy distribution of the exiting beam is analyzed over a range of tuned input beam frequencies to uniquely identify circularly birefringent the materials within the sample medium, e.g., amino acids, proteins, or other circular birefringent molecules, biological or otherwise.

A gas sensor includes: a gas chamber with a supply opening and a discharge opening, so as to permit gas to flow through the gas chamber; a magnetic field device for providing a magnetic field in the gas chamber; a light source for generating a light beam that extends through the gas chamber; and a detector for detecting the light beam, which detector is arranged opposite the light source.