Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated sensor components are provided. The sensor components interact with a sensor system having disposable fluid conduit or bioreactor bag and a reusable sensor assembly. The components can include an optical bench or inset optical component or module designed to be integrated within the disposable fluid conduit or bioreactor bag, which provides an optical light path through the conduit or bag. The sensors systems are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the disposable fluid conduit or bag and on the reusable sensor assembly. Methods for calibrating the sensor and for determining a target property of an unknown fluid are also disclosed. The devices, systems and methods relating to the sensor are suitable for and can be outfitted for turbidity sensing.

A method and apparatus (1) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack are disclosed. The method comprises emitting light from a light source along an optical path for scattering from the particles, rotating a rotatable monitoring assembly (15) mounted in the optical path, and detecting the scattered light using a detector. The rotatable monitoring assembly (15) contains at least two in apertures, and the method further comprises rotating the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into a plurality of different configurations. In an operation configuration, light passes through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) and into the stack unimpeded. In a zero-check configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) blocks the light from reaching the stack. In a span-check configuration, light of varying intensity passes from the light source through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into the stack. In a contamination-check configuration, the light is reflected through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) onto the detector, without entering the stack. In the safety-shutter configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) protects optical components in the instrument from particles in the stack.

A method and apparatus (1) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack are disclosed. The method comprises emitting light from a light source along an optical path for scattering from the particles, rotating a rotatable monitoring assembly (15) mounted in the optical path, and detecting the scattered light using a detector. The rotatable monitoring assembly (15) contains at least two in apertures, and the method further comprises rotating the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into a plurality of different configurations. In an operation configuration, light passes through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) and into the stack unimpeded. In a zero-check configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) blocks the light from reaching the stack. In a span-check configuration, light of varying intensity passes from the light source through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) into the stack. In a contamination-check configuration, the light is reflected through the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) onto the detector, without entering the stack. In the safety-shutter configuration, the rotatable monitoring assembly (15) protects optical components in the instrument from particles in the stack.

A method and system for optical vortex transmissometry. The method uses optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) and optical vortices to discriminate coherent non-scattered light from incoherent scattered light. The system includes a laser which transmits a Gaussian laser beam through a medium. An OAM generating device is placed before a photodetector receiver. Coherent, non-scattered light passing through the OAM generating device forms an optical vortex, used to discriminate against the unwanted scattered signal that does not form a vortex. Alternatively, the system includes a transmitter, which generates one or more OAM modes, which are transmitted through a turbid medium. At the receiver, an OAM detection device analyzes the OAM mode spectrum of the received light. Coherent non-scattered light retains the OAM encoded at the transmitter, while scattered light does not. The attenuation of the channel is determined by comparison of the received OAM mode spectrum relative to the transmitted OAM mode spectrum.

A method of operating a detection system includes switching the system from a normal mode for sensing smoke to a high sensitivity mode for sensing airborne particles, such that in the high sensitivity mode the detection system is configured to discriminate between particles of diameters less than 2.5 micrometers and 10 micrometers. Transmitting light from one or more light sources of the detection system into a monitored space, and detecting scattered light at one or more light sensing devices of the detection system. The detection of scattered light is indicative of one or more indoor air quality conditions in the monitored space.

An optical detector device may receive a spectroscopic measurement from a multispectral sensor. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, a particulate size of a particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, an identification of the particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the particulate size and the identification of the particulate, that an alert condition is satisfied. The optical detector device may trigger an alert based on determining that the alert condition is satisfied.

An optical detector device may receive a spectroscopic measurement from a multispectral sensor. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, a particulate size of a particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the spectroscopic measurement, an identification of the particulate. The optical detector device may determine, based on the particulate size and the identification of the particulate, that an alert condition is satisfied. The optical detector device may trigger an alert based on determining that the alert condition is satisfied.

A detector device for the remote analysis of materials, in particular hazardous materials, including at least one laser, which is designed to emit pulsed laser light onto a sample located at a detection distance, and a telescope, which is designed to collect and/or focus laser light scattered on the sample and to forward the scattered laser light into an optical spectrometer. The optical spectrometer is designed for a spectral analysis of the laser light scattered on the sample. The laser is followed by a first beam path with a first reference beam and an additional beam path with a second reference beam for the scattered laser light. A unit is provided for determining a time difference between pulses of the first reference beam and pulses of the second reference beam, wherein the detection distance can be determined from the time difference. The unit is designed to determine the detection distance in real-time.

The present disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing particle analysis through flow cytometry at comparatively high event rates and for gathering high resolution images of particles.

A device for assessing changes in erythrocyte deformability, such as erythrocyte sickling tendency in a controlled hypoxic atmosphere, comprising: an at least partially transparent inner wall, an at least partially transparent outer wall extending parallel with the inner wall, wherein a gap is present between the inner and outer walls for receiving a blood sample, wherein one of said walls is movable parallel to and relative to the other one of said walls so as to exert a shear force to the sample in the gap, a light source arranged to emit light in a perpendicular direction through overlapping transparent parts of the inner and outer walls, a camera arranged to observe the light from the light source after it is emitted through said transparent parts of the inner and outer walls in order to detect and assess a diffraction pattern therein when a blood sample is present in said gap and the movable wall is being moved, and an oxygen sensor arranged to be in contact with the blood sample in the gap between the inner and outer walls and to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood sample when the blood sample is present in said gap and the movable wall is being moved. The device is in particular useful for research and development in the field of sickle cell disease and the efficacy of medication and treatments.