A device for dark-field optical inspection of a substrate comprises: a light source for generating an incident beam that is projected onto an inspection zone of the substrate and that is capable of being reflected in the form of diffuse radiation; at least one first and one second collecting device; and a reflecting device for directing at least a portion of the diffuse radiation originating from a focal point of collection coincident with the inspection zone in the direction of the collecting devices, with a first and second reflective zone from which a first portion of the diffuse radiation is directed toward a first focal point, which is optically conjugated with the focal point of collection, and a second portion of the diffuse radiation is reflected toward a second focal point, which is optically conjugated with the collection focal point and distinct from the first focal point of detection.

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.

An optical sensor and airborne pathogen proliferation assembly for remote, optical detection and monitoring of pathogens is disclosed.

Early warning of changing health and robustness is given by tracking of ease of morphological changes in blood cells obtained by comparing intensities in a first scattered light intensity angular distribution and intensities in a second scattered light intensity angular distribution, with the light being scattered by blood cells into very narrowly forward scattered light intensity angular range.

A detection system for a multilayer film is provided. The detection system for a multilayer film includes a light source device, a first image capture device, a second image capture device and an image processing device. The light source device projects a pair of parallel incident light to a transparent multilayer film obliquely. The pair of parallel incident light is projected onto the transparent multilayer film for producing and enabling a forward scattered light and a back scattered light to be projected therefrom. The first image capture device captures the back scattered light to produce a first image. The second image capture device captures the forward scattered light to produce a second image. The image processing device is coupled to the first image capture device and the second image capture device. The image processing device is used to compares and detect the differences between the second image and the first image.

Systems and methods for uniquely identifying fluid-phase products by endowing them with fingerprints composed of dispersed colloidal particles, and by reading out those fingerprints on demand using Total Holographic Characterization. A library of chemically inert colloidal particles is developed that can be dispersed into soft materials, the stoichiometry of the mixture encoding user-specified information, including information about the host material. Encoded information then can be recovered by high-speed analysis of holographic microscopy images of the dispersed particles. Specifically, holograms of individual colloidal spheres are analyzed with predictions of the theory of light scattering to measure each sphere's radius and refractive index, thereby building up the distribution of particle properties one particle at a time. A complete analysis of a colloidal fingerprint requires several thousand single-particle holograms and can be completed in ten minutes.

A molecular nanotag is disclosed that includes a core nanoparticle with a diameter of less than about 100 nm, with an optional shell surrounding the core, and an armor bound to the surface of the core nanoparticle, or if present, to the surface of the shell. The molecular nanotag also includes a functionalized end with a fixed number of binding sites that can selectively bind to a molecular targeting ligand. Any one of, or any combination of, the core, the shell and the armor contribute to fluorescence, light scattering and/or ligand binding properties of the molecular tag that are detectable by microscopy or in a devices that measures intensity or power of fluorescence and light scattering. The light scattering intensity or power of the assembled structure is detectable above the specific level of the reference noise of a device detecting the light scattering intensity or power, its fluorescence intensity or power has sufficient brightness for detection above the limit of detection for the instrument, and ligand specificity is conferred by the ligand binding component. Methods of biomarker and biosignature detection using the molecular tags are also disclosed.

A particle characterisation instrument, comprising a light source, a sample cell, an optical element between the light source and sample cell and a detector. The optical element is configured to modify light from the light source to create a modified beam, the modified beam: a) interfering with itself to create an effective beam in the sample cell along an illumination axis and b) diverging in the far field to produce a dark region along the illumination axis that is substantially not illuminated at a distance from the sample cell. The detector is at the distance from the sample cell, and is configured to detect light scattered from the effective beam by a sample in the sample cell, the detector positioned to detect forward or back scattered light along a scattering axis that is at an angle of 0 to 10 from the illumination axis.

The present relates to a chip assembly, a flow cell and a cytometer for characterizing particles in a sample solution. The chip assembly comprises a pair of chips, at least one of the chip defining on its inner surface at least two channels, the two channels defining therebetween a common intersecting area. Each channel is adapted for receiving one or more optical fibers. The chips define a through-hole extending throughout the chip assembly in a transverse direction relative to the channels and passing through the common intersecting area. The flow cell comprises the chip assembly, an excitation fiber and at least one collection fiber extending through respective channels; the collection fiber for collecting light scattered or emitted by particles flowing through the through-hole and excited by an excitation light transported by the excitation fiber. The flow cytometer comprises a light source for generating the excitation light and the flow cell.

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.