A non-invasive measurement of biological tissue reveals information about the function of that tissue. Polarized light is directed onto the tissue, stimulating the emission of fluorescence, due to one or more endogenous fluorophors in the tissue. Fluorescence anisotropy is then calculated. Such measurements of fluorescence anisotropy are then used to assess the functional status of the tissue, and to identify the existence and severity of disease states. Such assessment can be made by comparing a fluorescence anisotropy profile with a known profile of a control.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and systems for assaying a sample for an analyte. Methods according to certain embodiments include illuminating a sample with a slit-shaped beam of light, detecting light transmitted through the sample, determining absorbance of the transmitted light at one or more wavelengths and calculating concentration of the analyte based on the absorbance to assay the sample for the analyte. Systems for practicing the subject methods are also described.

A non-invasive measurement of biological tissue reveals information about the function of that tissue. Polarized light is directed onto the tissue, stimulating the emission of fluorescence, due to one or more endogenous fluorophors in the tissue. Fluorescence anisotropy is then calculated. Such measurements of fluorescence anisotropy are then used to assess the functional status of the tissue, and to identify the existence and severity of disease states. Such assessment can be made by comparing a fluorescence anisotropy profile with a known profile of a control.

A microdevice includes: a microchannel to which a measurement target solution containing a measurement target substance is introduced; an antibody being fixed to at least one sidewall surface of the microchannel and specifically binding to the measurement target substance; a fluorescence-labeled derivative being specifically bound to the antibody and being acquired by fluorescence-labeling the measurement target substance; and a light blocker blocking excitation light exciting fluorescent light radiated by the fluorescence-labeled derivative. The measurement target substance and the fluorescence-labeled derivative specifically bind to the antibody in a competitive manner, and the antibody is fixed to the sidewall surface of the microchannel in a state of specifically binding to the fluorescence-labeled derivative. The light blocker blocks the excitation light entering the fluorescence-labeled derivative specifically binding to the antibody.

The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays and combinatorial chemistry. The invention provides for aqueous based emulsions containing uniquely labeled cells, enzymes, nucleic acids, etc., wherein the emulsions further comprise primers, labels, probes, and other reactants. An oil based carrier-fluid envelopes the emulsion library on a microfluidic device, such that a continuous channel provides for flow of the immiscible fluids, to accomplish pooling, coalescing, mixing, sorting, detection, etc., of the emulsion library.

The invention generally relates to methods for quantifying an amount of enzyme molecules. Systems and methods of the invention are provided for measuring an amount of target by forming a plurality of fluid partitions, a subset of which include the target, performing an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the subset, and detecting the number of partitions in the subset. The amount of target can be determined based on the detected number.

Photoluminescence from a sample detector is detected using an array of photo-sensitive detectors. At least one first photo-sensitive detector of the array is provided with a first type of linear polarization filter and at least one second photo-sensitive detector is provided with a second type of linear polarization filter. The first type of linear polarization filter has a plane of polarization which is at angled with respect to a plane of polarization of said second type of polarization filter.

Techniques for enhanced fluorescence include a functionalized substrate for a target optical frequency comprising a one dimensional photonic crystal that is functionalized with a bioactive target molecule that has an affinity for a particular analytic. The one dimensional photonic crystal includes a plurality of dielectric layers including a plurality of high index of refraction layers alternating with a plurality of low index of refraction layers. The thickness of each layer is within a factor of four of a wavelength of the optical frequency in the layer. For emissions from a fluorophore bound to the target molecule and excited by incident light, there is an emission intensity maximum centered at an angle independent of the direction of the incident light.

An interrogation device for detecting luminescent light produced by analytes in a sample excited by multiple excitation light beams each having individual spectral contents, comprising a plurality of light sources each generating an excitation light beam; at least one detector for detecting the luminescent light produced by the sample; and an optical assembly defining distinct and fixed excitation light paths for each of the excitation light beams from the light sources to a common excitation site on the sample and defining a shared luminescence light path for the luminescent light from the excitation site on sample to the at least one detector, the excitation light paths and the luminescence light path being on a same side of the sample, the optical assembly including sample-side optics projecting the excitation light towards the sample and collecting luminescent light from the sample.

Stackable and/or nestable box having a bottom wall and a side wall which rises from the bottom wall and which is defined by side panels, a front panel and a rear panel. The side panels include at least one recessed portion which is recessing from the containment volume and at least one portion protruding towards the containment volume. The box is configured to be nested within another box and to be stacked with other boxes or other containers with dimensions compatible with, or close to, the dimensions of box.