Provided is an apparatus for measuring particulate matter, the apparatus including an air inflow device configured to receive air including particulate matter particles, two or more light sources configured to respectively emit light of different wavelengths to the air received, a pattern measuring device configured to measure scattering patterns for each wavelength of light based on detecting light that is forward-scattered by the particulate matter particles and light that is back-scattered by the particulate matter particles, and a processor configured to obtain a size of the particulate matter particles and a concentration of the particulate matter particles based on the scattering patterns for each wavelength of light.

Embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for detecting particulate matter in the air. A particulate matter sensor may comprise an airflow channel; a light source configured to pass light through the airflow channel; an airflow generator configured to generate airflow into the airflow channel; a waveguide configured to direct light from the light source after it passes through the airflow channel and scatters off of particulate matter within the airflow channel; a photodiode configured to receive light scattered by the waveguide; and a computing device coupled to the photodiode having a processor and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, determines a mass concentration of particles in the airflow channel based on an output of the photodiode.

A system for the identification of micro-organisms includes an irradiation unit adapted to sequentially provide coherent electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths along a common optical path. A holder is adapted to retain a substrate having a surface adapted for growth of a micro-organism colony. A beamsplitter is adapted to direct the coherent electromagnetic radiation from the common optical path towards the retained substrate. An imager is arranged opposite the beamsplitter from the retained substrate and is adapted to obtain images of backward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the respective wavelengths of the directed coherent electromagnetic radiation. Some examples provide radiation of multiple wavelengths and include an imager arranged optically downstream of the retained substrate to obtain images of forward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the wavelengths of radiation. Organism identification methods are also described.

Provided are methods of assessing the cleanliness of a flow cell of a flow cytometric system. The provided methods include computing a ratio of post-flow cell and pre-flow cell light beam intensities and using such a ratio to assess the cleanliness of the flow cell. Flow cytometric systems capable of monitoring the cleanliness of a flow cell contained within the system are also provided.

An optical measurement instrument is an integrated instrument that includes an optical cavity with a light source, a sample cuvette, and an optical sensor. The instrument can be used for taking measurements of organism concentration in one or more samples. Preferably, the instrument holds multiple, individually-loaded, independent fluid samples and determines bacteria concentration via a forward-scattering signal. The instrument can incorporate onboard incubation to promote bacterial growth in the samples such that, once a certain bacterial concentration is achieved, the higher concentration sample can be used with a mass spectrometer to identify the type of bacteria. The instrument and mass spectrometer can be a part of a network for medical diagnostic testing data where data is stored in a manner that is inherently untainted by patient identifiable information.

Methods and systems for detecting the presence of irregularities in milk, and for assessing a health state of a lactating mammal, are provided. A sample of milk is illuminated with a light beam. Scattering data resulting from an interaction between the light beam and the sample of milk is collected. The scattering data is processed to detect the presence or absence of light scattered at a predetermined angle relative to a normal orientation, for instance to determine at least one characteristic of the sample of milk. Based on the presence or absence of light, the presence of irregularities in the sample of milk can be determined, for instance to assess the health state of the lactating mammal based on the at least one characteristic of the sample of milk.

Described herein is a sensor for a virtually simultaneous measurement of transmission and/or forward scattering and/or remission and for a simultaneous measurement of the transmission and forward scattering or the transmission and remission of a liquid sample. Further described herein is a method for a virtually simultaneous measurement of transmission and/or forward scattering and/or remission and for a simultaneous measurement of the transmission and forward scattering or the transmission and remission of a liquid sample using a sensor according to the invention. Further described herein is a method for using the sensor according to the invention in order to determine the color properties of painting agents such as lacquers, dyes, pastes, and pigments or dilutions thereof.

Provided are methods of assessing the cleanliness of a flow cell of a flow cytometric system. The provided methods include computing a ratio of post-flow cell and pre-flow cell light beam intensities and using such a ratio to assess the cleanliness of the flow cell. Flow cytometric systems capable of monitoring the cleanliness of a flow cell contained within the system are also provided.

Light detection systems for measuring light (e.g., in a flow stream) are described. Light detection systems according to embodiments include a light scatter detector, a brightfield photodetector and an optical adjustment component configured to convey light to the light scatter detector and to the brightfield photodetector. Systems and methods for measuring light emitted by a sample (e.g., in a flow stream) and kits having a light scatter detector, a brightfield photodetector and a beam splitter component are also provided.

A small angle laser scatterometer with a temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell and a characterization method, the scatterometer formed by sequentially arranging a laser source, an adjustable attenuator, a beam expanding lens, a polarizer, the temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell, an analyzer, a transmission-type projection screen and an image acquisition device. The temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell is composed of a visual autoclave, a temperature control component, a rapid cooling component and a pressure control component. An evolution process of microstructures of polymer materials in specific atmosphere and rapid temperature and pressure changing environments on a scale of 0.5 m to 10 m. Researching a condensed state evolution law of the polymer materials in high-pressure environments can provide a process solution for regulating crystallization and phase separation of the polymer materials and new thought for further and deep reveal of a polymer material crystallization mechanism.