An analyzer of a component in a sample fluid includes an optical source and an optical detector defining a beam path of a beam, wherein the optical source emits the beam and the optical detector measures the beam after partial absorption by the sample fluid, a fluid flow cell disposed on the beam path defining an interrogation region in the a fluid flow cell in which the optical beam interacts with the sample fluid and a reference fluid; and wherein the sample fluid and the reference fluid are in laminar flow, and a scanning system that scans the beam relative to the laminar flow within the fluid flow cell, wherein the scanning system scans the beam relative to both the sample fluid and the reference fluid.

A fluorescence image analyzer, analyzing method, and pretreatment evaluation method capable of determining with high accuracy whether a sample is positive or negative are provided. A pretreatment part 20 performs pretreatment including a step of labeling a target site with a fluorescent dye to prepare a sample 20a. A fluorescence image analyzer 10 measures and analyzes the sample 20a. The fluorescent image analyzer 10 includes light sources 121 to 124 to irradiate light on the sample 20a, imaging part 154 to capture the fluorescent light given off from the sample 20a irradiated by light, and processing part 11 for processing the fluorescence image captured by the imaging part 154. The processing part 11 extracts the bright spot of fluorescence generated from the fluorescent dye that labels the target site from the fluorescence image for each of a plurality of cells included in the sample 20a, and generates information used for determining whether the sample 20a is positive or negative based on the bright spots extracted for each of the plurality of cells.

A seed imaging system for imaging seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a first camera mounted relative to the seed transfer station and configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A second camera is mounted relative to the seed transfer station and is configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. The second camera has an imaging modality different from an imaging modality of the first camera. First and second cameras may be disposed above and below the seed transfer stations, such as a transparent belt.

The invention relates to a method for determining the particle size distribution of parts of a bulk material (2) fed onto a conveyor belt (1), wherein a depth image (6) of parts of the bulk material (2) is captured in a capturing region (4) by means of a depth sensor (3). In order to reliably classify bulk material at conveying speeds of more than 2 m/s even if there are overlaps, without having to take structurally complicated measures for this purpose, according to the invention, the captured two-dimensional depth image (6) is fed to a convolutional neural network, which has been trained in advance and which has at least three convolutional layers lying one behind the other and one downstream amount classifier (22) per class of a particle size distribution, the output values (21) of which amount classifiers are output as the particle size distribution of the bulk material present in the capturing region (4).

An imaging flow cytometer includes: a flow channel in which an observation object flows and a length in a width direction is longer than a length in a height direction; an acoustic element configured to apply acoustic waves as standing waves to the flow channel; a light source that irradiates the flow channel with illumination light; an image sensor configured to image at least a line included in a cross section of the observation object crossing a flow line direction which is a direction in which the observation object flows in the flow channel by measuring or imaging the observation object passing through a position irradiated with the illumination light; and circuitry configured to generate an image in which the observation object is scanned in the flow line direction on the basis of a plurality of captured images acquired by the imaging unit imaging the line in a time series.

Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are capable of rapid analysis and classification of cellular samples based on cytomorphological properties. In several embodiments, cells suspended in a fluid medium are passed through a microfluidic channel, where they are focused to a single stream line and imaged continuously. In a number of embodiments, the microfluidic channel establishes flow that enables individual cells to each be imaged at multiple angles in a short amount of time. A pattern recognition system can analyze the data captured from high-speed images of cells flowing through this system and classify target cells. In this way, the automated platform creates new possibilities for a wide range of research and clinical applications such as (but not limited to) point of care services.

A method includes calibrating a cytometric device for analysis of a target cell, by inserting, into the cytometric device, a hydrogel particle. The hydrogel particle has at least one of a background fluorescent property or a spectral property that is substantially similar to the at least one of a background fluorescent property or a spectral property of the target cell. The method also includes measuring at least one property of the hydrogel particle using the cytometric device.

Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for imaging and image-based sorting of particles in a flow system, including cells in a flow cytometer. In some aspects, a system includes a particle flow device to flow particles through a channel, an imaging system to obtain image data of a particle during flow through the channel, a processing unit to determine a property associated with the particle and to produce a control command for sorting the particle based on sorting criteria associated with particle properties, and an actuator to direct the particle into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device in real-time.

A mask structure optimization device includes a classification target image size acquisition unit that is configured to acquire a size of a classification target image which is an image including a classification target, a mask size setting unit that is configured to set a size of a mask applied to the classification target image, a brightness detection unit that is configured to detect a brightness of each pixel within the classification target image at a position on an opposite side of the mask from the classification target image, a sum total brightness calculation unit that is configured to calculate the sum total brightness of the each pixel within the classification target image detected by the brightness detection unit, an initial value setting unit that is configured to set an initial value for a mask pattern of the mask, and a movement unit that is configured to relatively move the mask with respect to the classification target image. The sum total brightness calculation unit is configured to calculate the sum total brightness of the each pixel within the classification target image every time the movement unit relatively moves the mask by a predetermined movement amount. The mask structure optimization device further includes a mask pattern optimization unit that is configured to optimize the mask pattern of the mask on the basis of the sum total brightness.

A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.