Aspects of the present disclosure include reconfigurable integrated circuits for characterizing particles of a sample in a flow stream. Reconfigurable integrated circuits according to certain embodiments are programmed to calculate parameters of a particle in a flow stream from detected light; compare the calculated parameters of the particle with parameters of one or more particle classifications; classify the particle based on the comparison between the parameters of the particle classifications and the calculated parameters of the particle; and adjust one or more parameters of the particle classifications based on the calculated parameters of the particle. Methods for characterizing particles in a flow stream with the subject integrated circuits are also described. Systems and integrated circuit devices programmed for practicing the subject methods, such as on a flow cytometer, are also provided.

This relates to acoustic microfluidic systems that can generate emulsions/droplets or encapsulate particles of interest (including mammalian cells, bacteria cells, or other cells) into droplets upon detection of the particles of interest flowing in a stream of particles. The systems operate on the detect/decide/deflect principle wherein the deflection step, in a single operation, not only deflects particles of interest from a stream of particles but also encapsulates the particles of interest in an emulsion droplet. The microfluidic systems have an abrupt transition in the channel geometry from a shorter channel to a taller channel (i.e., in the shape of a ‘step’) to break the stream of the dispersed phase into a droplet upon acoustic actuation. When there is no acoustic wave present, no droplets/emulsions are generated and the stream of particles proceeds uninterrupted. The rapid actuation and post-actuation recovery employed by the microfluidic systems taught herein ensure that the vast majority of selected particles are properly deflected, that few or no empty droplets are produced, and that total throughput remains high.

A particle sizing method which allows for counting and sizing of particles within a colloidal suspension flowing through a single-particle optical sizing sensor SPOS apparatus using pulse height detection and utilizing non-parallel and non-uniform illumination within the sensing region of the flow cell. The method involves utilizing a deconvolution process which requires the SPOS apparatus to be characterized during a calibration phase. Once the SPOS apparatus has been characterized, the process of deconvolution after a data collection run, recursively eliminates the expected statistical contribution to the pulse height distribution PHD histogram in all the lower channels from the highest channel height detected, and repeating this for all remaining channels in the PHD, removing the contributions from largest to smallest sizes.

A method for determining a particle velocity of an aerosol by means of an aerosol measuring device. Aerosol particles flow through a measuring cell and are illuminated with an electromagnetic beam. The scattered light is registered and detected by a sensor. The temporal signal durations of the scattered light signals are determined, and the particle velocity of the aerosol is determined on the basis of the signal durations. Furthermore, the invention provides an aerosol measuring device designed to carry out the steps of the method according to the invention for determining the particle velocity of an aerosol. In addition, a computer program having program code means is provided, which computer program is configured to carry out the steps of the method according to the invention.

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.

An observation device includes an illumination optical system and an observation optical system. The illumination optical system includes a light source and an aperture member. The observation optical system includes an objective lens, an optical structure, and a detector. The optical structure is disposed at a first position which is the position conjugate with the aperture member. The optical structure includes a blocking portion that blocks light and a transmitting portion that transmits light, the blocking portion having a shape including the shape of an image of an aperture of the aperture member which is formed on the optical structure. The detector detects dark-field light passing through the optical structure.

Disclosed are a microfluidic system and method for isolating target cells or vesicles in a fluid. The system of the present invention comprises a fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet; one or more ultra-high frequency acoustic resonator capable of generating bulk acoustic waves in the fluid passageway at a frequency of about 0.5-50 GHz; a power regulator which adjusts the power of the bulk acoustic waves generated by the ultra-high frequency resonator; and a flow rate regulating device that regulates the velocity of the solution flowing through the bulk acoustic wave region. Adjusting the power of the generated bulk acoustic waves by means of the power regulator and/or adjusting the velocity of the solution flowing through the bulk acoustic wave region by means of the flow rate regulating device allow cells or vesicles to stay in a bulk acoustic wave-affected region. The system and method of the present invention can capture and release cells or vesicles in a solution, and further process and analyze the obtained cells or vesicles.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for determining photodetector gain for a plurality of photodetectors in a light detection system. Methods according to certain embodiments include applying a reference voltage to each photodetector in the light detection system, generating a reference data signal for each photodetector at the reference voltage, irradiating with a light source the photodetectors at a plurality of different applied voltages, generating output data signals for each photodetector at each of the plurality of different voltages and calculating gain of the photodetectors at each of the plurality of different applied voltages based on the output data signals for each photodetector at each applied voltage and the reference data signal. Systems (e.g., particle analyzers) having a light source and a light detection system that includes a plurality of photodetectors for practicing the subject methods are also described. Non-transitory computer readable storage medium are also provided.

A particle detection device includes a detection tube, a light emitter, a light receiver, and a processing unit. The detection tube is for a detection solution to pass through. The light emitter generates a detection light and emits the detection light to the detection solution. The light receiver receives the detection light scattered from the detection solution. The processing unit generates a received light intensity value according to the detection signal generated by the light receiver, and determines whether the received light intensity value is greater than a first threshold value: if greater, generating a detection result of particles; otherwise, generating a detection result of no particles. Then it provides a basis for semiconductor manufacturing companies to evaluate whether the detection solution can be used in a high-precision manufacturing processes, thereby optimizing the manufacturing process and improving the yield rate of the high-precision manufacturing process.

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.