One variation of a system includes a cartridge comprising: a substrate; a sample well integrated into the substrate, defining an upper opening and a lower opening, and configured to receive a test solution comprising a user sample and an amount of a fluorescent probe configured to bind with a target bioparticle to form a target complex; a filter membrane extending across the lower opening and defining a network of pores configured to convey fluid from the sample well and prevent passage of the target complex through the filter membrane. The system further includes a reader comprising: a housing; a cartridge receptacle configured to receive the cartridge; an excitation source configured to illuminate a detection region within the housing; and a detector defining a field of view intersecting the detection region and configured to detect a signal generated by fluid in the sample well and representing presence of the target bioparticle.

A nucleic acid sequencing system may include a substrate coupled to a rotating disk. The substrate may include a plurality of nucleic acid samples. A detection system, including for example an objective and a camera, may detect sequencing events on the substrate while the substrate is rotated relative to the detection system around a rotational axis of the substrate, perpendicular to a surface of the substrate, by the actuation system.

A fluorescence imaging device includes a microplate that holds a plurality of samples generating fluorescence, a lens assembly, and an imaging unit that collectively images the plurality of samples through the lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a Fresnel lens made of a resin, a second protective plate that protects the surface of the Fresnel lens facing the microplate, a spacer that forms a gap between the Fresnel lens and the protective plate, and a frame by which the Fresnel lens, the second protective plate, and the spacer are sandwiched.

Disclosed herein are systems for imaging and ablating a sample. An imaging/ablating device (110) includes an optical assembly (112), a sample stage (114), and a receiver (116). The optical assembly (112) is disposed in an inverted position below the sample stage (114) and the receiver (116) is positioned above the sample stage (112). The optical assembly enables imaging of a sample disposed on the sample stage (114). The optical assembly (112) also enables ablation of a region of interest within the sample. The laser light propagated from the optical assembly during ablation propagates substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the ablation plume (20) toward the receiver (116).

The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and kits for detecting molecules in a sample with a pre-equilibrium digital immunoassay. The methods and systems provide means for quantifying molecules in a biological sample of minimal volume in short amounts of time.

An observation device includes an illumination optical system provided on a lower side of an installation position of a multi-well plate, a reflector that reflects light emitted from the illumination optical system, the reflector being provided on an upper side of the installation position, and an observation optical system that condenses the light reflected by the reflector, the observation optical system being provided on the lower side of the installation position. The reflector includes a plurality of curved surfaces where the light emitted from the illumination optical system enters. Each of the plurality of curved surfaces corresponds to one or more wells included in the multi-well plate, has positive power in a first direction in which the illumination optical system and the observation optical system are aligned, and has a center of curvature at a position deviating from a central axis of a well of the multi-well plate.

The invention relates to a device for a light-spectroscopic analysis of a, for example, liquid sample. In particular, light should be guided through a sample and then detected and/or analyzed photometrically, spectrophotometrically, fluorometrically, spectrofluorometrically and/or by means of phosphorescence or luminescence.

An optical imaging system includes a light source, a light detector and an aperture plate. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting devices which emit light that is directed toward an object to be illuminated. The light detector is positioned to view the object illuminated by the light source. The aperture plate is positioned relative to the light source to block a first portion of the light emitted by the light source and to allow a second portion of the light emitted by the light source to pass therethrough to illuminate a pre-defined area of the object. The aperture plate includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed through the thickness thereof. Each aperture corresponds to a respective light emitting device. Each aperture of the aperture plate is defined by a first opening formed in the thickness of the aperture plate and a second opening formed in the thickness of the aperture plate. The second opening partially overlaps the first opening and is partially offset from the first opening. The first and second openings' planar shapes match the shape of the desired illumination area, with the first openings being smaller than the second openings. A method for illuminating a defined area of an object includes the steps of energizing one or more light emitting devices of a light source in an optical imaging system, which energized light emitting device or devices emit light that is directed toward the object to be illuminated. The light is passed through particularly-shaped apertures, such as described above, formed in an aperture plate positioned between the light source and the object to be illuminated. The apertures in the plate only allow light passing therethrough to impinge on the object at a pre-defined area thereof.

A system for characterizing at least one particle from a fluid sample is disclosed. The system includes a filter disposed upstream of an outlet, and a luminaire configured to illuminate the at least one particle at an oblique angle. An imaging device is configured to capture and process images of the illuminated at least one particle as it rests on the filter for characterizing the at least one particle. A system for characterizing at least one particle using bright field illumination is also disclosed. A method for characterizing particulates in a fluid sample using at least one of oblique angle and bright field illumination is also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to a method of measuring cell migration by measuring the invasion ratio of cells incubated on a pillar array inserted into a well structure, the method including steps of: preparing a pillar array having a plurality of micropillars and a well structure having a plurality of microwells into which the plurality of micropillars is insertable, respectively; forming cell spheroids by incubating cells in an extracellular matrix attached to the end contact surfaces of the micropillars; allowing the cells contained in the cell spheroids to invade the end contact surfaces; staining and scanning the cell spheroids, the cells contained in the cell spheroids, and the cells that invaded the end contact surfaces; and calculating the invasion ratio of cells by the following equation through a fluorescence image of the scanned cells:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Invasion}\mathrm{Ratio}=\frac{\mathrm{Invasion}\mathrm{cell}\mathrm{area}}{\mathrm{Total}\mathrm{cell}\mathrm{area}}=\frac{A_{\mathrm{Total}}-A_{\mathrm{spheroid}}}{A_{\mathrm{Total}}}& \left[\mathrm{Equation}\right]\end{array}$

wherein A.sub.total represents the total cell area, and A.sub.spheroid represents the spheroid area.