The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

An assembly for optical preconditioning of an optically activatable biological sample comprising of cells suspended in a liquid, with a reservoir which stores the sample from which the sample are conveyed a conveying unit through a hollow channel sequentially one after the other. An illumination unit illuminates the cells contained in the sample which flow through the hollow channel at a flow rate that can be specified by the conveying unit as set by a controllable illumination intensity and illumination period and at least one of a cell analysis and sorting device in fluid communication downstream of the hollow channel.

The disclosed flow cytometer includes a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The WDM includes an extended light source providing light that forms an object, a collimating optical element that captures light from the extended light source and projects a magnified image of the object as a first light beam, and a first focusing optical element configured to focus the first light beam to a size smaller than the object of the extended light source to a first semiconductor detector. The disclosed flow cytometer further includes a composite microscope objective to direct light emitted by a particle in a flow channel in a viewing zone of the composite microscope to the extended light source, a fluidic system and a peristaltic pump configured to supply liquid sheath and liquid sample to the flow channel, and a laser diode system to illuminate the particle in the flow channel.

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

In an illustrative configuration, a method for monitoring air quality is disclosed. The method includes accepting analyte gas into a cell and reflecting light rays into the analyte gas repeatedly across the cell into at least one sensor. The light scattered by particulate matter in the analyte gas and amount of spectra-absorption due to presence of a gaseous chemical is then measured. Based on the determined amount of spectra-absorption and the measured scattered light the gaseous chemical is then measured.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and techniques for optical detection of analytes (e.g., biomarkers or other objects) using a liquid-core waveguide in which the analytes are suspended in a high-index liquid inside a liquid channel of the waveguide. The term “high-index” may indicate a refractive core index of the carrier liquid that is higher than or equal to that of one or more surrounding cladding layer(s) (e.g., ethylene glycol liquid inside a glass channel). In some embodiments, a method includes illuminating, by a light-source, one or more particles in a liquid-core waveguide, wherein the liquid-core waveguide comprises a first cladding layer having a first index of a refraction, and a hollow core comprising a liquid inside the hollow core, wherein the liquid has a second index of refraction higher than the first index of refraction; and detecting, by a detector, light emitted from the one or more particles.

An observation apparatus includes a light source unit, an irradiation optical system, an imaging optical system, a modulation unit, an imaging unit, an analysis unit, beam splitters and, and mirrors. The analysis unit obtains a real part of a function χ(t)=log [1+U.sub.obj(t)/U.sub.ref(t)], defined by time series data U.sub.obj(t) of a complex amplitude image of object light on an imaging plane and time series data U.sub.ref(t) of a complex amplitude image of reference light on the imaging plane, based on time series data I(t) of an intensity image of interference light on the imaging plane and time series data I.sub.ref(t) of an intensity image of the reference light on the imaging plane. Further, the analysis unit obtains an imaginary part of χ(t) from the real part of χ(t) using the Kramers-Kronig relations, and further obtains U.sub.obj(t).

A measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a light source, a filling portion, and a detector. The light source emits illumination light. The filling portion includes a first surface portion and a second surface portion which are provided on an optical path of the illumination light and are opposite to each other, the filling portion enabling a cavity between the first and second surface portions to be filled with liquid including a cell. The detector detects an interference fringe of the illumination light passing through the cavity, the interference fringe being caused by the liquid including the cell.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for differential phase contrast microscopy by transobjective differential epi-detection of forward scattered light are provided. In some embodiments, a microscope objective comprises: a housing with mounting threads at a second end; optical components defining an optical axis, comprising: an objective lens mounted at a first end, configured to collect light from a sample placed in a field of view, the plurality of optical components create a pupil plane at a first distance along the optical axis at which rays having the same angle of incidence on the objective lens converge at the same radial distance from the optical axis; a photodetector within the housing offset from the optical axis at a second distance along the optical axis; and another photodetector within the housing at second distance along the optical axis and offset from the optical axis in the opposite direction from the first photodetector.

A flow cytometer of a blood analyzer including a transverse-electric (TE) laser diode, a flow cell, a quarter wave plate (QWP), a plurality of lenses, and a side scatter detector. The TE laser diode is configured to output a laser beam along an optical axis and has a fast axis full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence of from about 16 degrees to about 25 degrees. The QWP is disposed along the optical axis between the TE laser diode and the flow cell and configured to circularly polarize the laser beam. The plurality of lenses is disposed between the TE laser diode and the flow cell and configured to focus the laser beam at the flow cell.