An imaging system for imaging a sample in a medium carried in a container as an imaging object, in which the imaging system includes an imager which obtains an original image by imaging the imaging object; and a data processor which generates multi-gradation image data by performing a gradation correction on the original image, wherein the data processor associates a luminance value corresponding to a luminance of the medium in the original image with a maximum gradation value in the gradation correction.

A method for identifying a state of a cell contained in a sample, including: illuminating the sample using a light source by producing an incident light wave propagating toward the sample; then acquiring, using a matrix-array photodetector, an image of the sample, the sample being placed between the light source and the matrix-array photodetector such that the matrix-array photodetector is exposed to a light wave resulting from interference between the incident light wave and a diffraction wave produced by each cell; applying a numerical reconstruction algorithm to the image acquired by the matrix-array photodetector, to estimate a characteristic quantity of the light wave reaching the matrix-array detector, at a plurality of distances from the matrix-array photodetector. The value of the characteristic quantity, or its variation as a function of distance, allows the state of the cell to be determined from among predetermined states.

A method includes attaching two or more beads to each unit of one or more units of a chemical component in a sample, to form, for each unit of the chemical component, a multi-bead complex including two or more beads and the unit of the chemical component; placing the sample on a surface of an image sensor; at the image sensor, receiving light originating at a light source, the received light including light reflected by, refracted by, or transmitted through the beads of the multi-bead complexes; at the image sensor, capturing one or more images of the sample from the received light; and identifying, in at least one of the images of the sample, separate multi-bead complexes, the identifying of the separate multi-bead complexes including associating the two or more beads of each of the multi-bead complexes based on proximity to one another.

A detecting device for a medium inside a tube portion comprises at least one light source being arranged at a first position relative to the tube portion adapted to be transilluminated with light and being configured to irradiate light onto the tube portion, a detector unit being arranged at a second position relative to the tube portion and being configured to receive light from the at least one light source passed through the tube portion and to analyze a medium inside the tube portion in a spatially resolving manner, and a homogenizing device being arranged at a position between the at least one light source and the tube portion and being configured, for detecting and quantifying differences in brightness due to local differences of the medium inside the tube portion, to create a homogenous and/or isotropic distribution of the light from the at least one light source before the light enters into the tube portion.

Provided herein are methods of detecting single molecules that include binding single molecules in a sample solution to a first surface of an optically transparent substrate include the optically transparent substrate is free of a metallic coating. In some embodiments, the methods include irradiating the first surface of the substrate with an incident light having an incident angle selected to achieve total internal reflection of the incident light, thereby scattering light from the first surface and from the single molecules bound to the surface in which a wavelength of the incident light is between 10 nm and 350 m and the optically transparent substrate has a refractive index at the wavelength of the incident light exceeding that of the sample solution, and collecting an image that captures interference between evanescent light scattered from the single molecules and the first surface. Systems and additional methods are also provided.

A rapid method for characteterizing and identifying micsoorganisims using Focal-Plane Array (FPA)-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is disclosed. Multi-pixels spectral images of unknown microorganisms spectra are analyzed and compared to spectra of reference microorganisms in databases. The method allows rapid and highly reliable identification of unknown microorganisms for the purpose of medical diagnosis, food and environmental control.

An imaging system 100 for imaging a sample in a medium carried in a container WP as an imaging object comprises: an imager 21 which obtains an original image by imaging the imaging object; and a data processor 33 which generates multi-gradation image data by performing a gradation correction on the original image, wherein the data processor 33 associates a luminance value corresponding to a luminance of the medium in the original image with a maximum gradation value in the gradation correction.

An imaging system 100 for imaging a sample in a medium carried in a container WP as an imaging object comprises: an imager 21 which obtains an original image by imaging the imaging object; and a data processor 33 which generates multi-gradation image data by performing a gradation correction on the original image, wherein the data processor 33 associates a luminance value corresponding to a luminance of the medium in the original image with a maximum gradation value in the gradation correction.

An imaging system 100 for imaging a sample in a medium carried in a container WP as an imaging object comprises: an imager 21 which obtains an original image by imaging the imaging object; and a data processor 33 which generates multi-gradation image data by performing a gradation correction on the original image, wherein the data processor 33 associates a luminance value corresponding to a luminance of the medium in the original image with a maximum gradation value in the gradation correction.

A method includes attaching two or more beads to each unit of one or more units of a chemical component in a sample, to form, for each unit of the chemical component, a multi-bead complex including two or more beads and the unit of the chemical component; placing the sample on a surface of an image sensor; at the image sensor, receiving light originating at a light source, the received light including light reflected by, refracted by, or transmitted through the beads of the multi-bead complexes; at the image sensor, capturing one or more images of the sample from the received light; and identifying, in at least one of the images of the sample, separate multi-bead complexes, the identifying of the separate multi-bead complexes including associating the two or more beads of each of the multi-bead complexes based on proximity to one another.