The present random access PCR reactor for biological analysis, comprises of a number of PCR reactors held on a platform, and one optical system to be shared by all of the PCR reactors on the platform. The optical system is held on a traverse mechanism to move it over any one of the PCR reactors that are ready to be imaged. Other PCR reactors on the platform can be accesses and replaced. The optical system has a lightpipe and a lightguide that distributes a uniform light over all the samples held on the reactor. The lightguide of the present optical system has a set of light reflecting structures that are strategically located to uniformly reflect an incoming light towards all the samples held in the PCR reactor that is being tested.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid analyzer which prevents an increase in reagent consumption caused by a branched channel structure and on which multiple kinds of substrates having different channel numbers can be mounted. The nucleic acid analyzer according to the present invention is provided with a first substrate that comprises an inlet section connected to an introduction path, a first outlet section connected to a first discharge path, a second outlet section connected to a second discharge path, a first channel guiding a reagent from the inlet section to the first outlet section, a second channel guiding the reagent from the inlet section to the second outlet section, and a branching section branching, from the inlet section, into the first and second channels, wherein the first and second channels are connected to each other exclusively at the branching portion.

An interoperative light therapy apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes an excitation light source, a plurality of light emitting devices and a plurality of light detecting fibers, wherein the plurality of light emitting devices produce a fluorescence light in cancerous cells of a patient treated with a photosensitizing medication. The fluorescence light is collected by the plurality of detector fibers and a digital spatial image of the cancerous cells is produced. The digital spatial image is useful for targeting the cancerous cells in a subsequent resection procedure. An interoperative light therapy apparatus is disclosed that further include a therapy light source that can deliver therapy light to the cancerous cells using the digital spatial image in the subsequent resection procedure.

The invention describes an iterative reconstructing method allowing a spatial distribution of fluorescence in an object to be obtained. The method comprises acquiring images of fluorescence in various planes at various depths in the object, so as to form a three-dimensional acquired image. It comprises an iterative reconstructing algorithm with, in each iteration, an initial fluorescence distribution or a fluorescence distribution resulting from a preceding iteration being taken into account, and the fluorescence light wave propagating through the object being simulated, so as to obtain a reconstruction of the acquired image. The acquired image, or a differential image corresponding to a comparison between the acquired image and the reconstructed image, is then back-propagated through the object, so as to update the fluorescence distribution. FIG. 5B.

An apparatus for analyzing a plant specimen is disclosed which includes a housing assembly adapted to be in i) an open configuration adapted to receive a plant specimen, and ii) a closed configuration wherein ambient light is controlled therein, a light source disposed in or coupled to the housing assembly, the light source adapted to shine light onto or through the plant specimen when the housing assembly is in the closed configuration, and a camera assembly coupled to the housing assembly, the camera assembly having an image sensor adapted to receive light from the plant specimen in i) a transmittance mode where light transmits through the plant specimen, or ii) a reflectance mode where light is reflected from the plant specimen, the image sensor adapted to thereby capture hyperspectral images of the plant specimen.

A hyperspectral detection approach is used in combination with narrow linewidth illumination for fluorescence excitation. A more efficient fluorophores excitation and image capturing may be provided, and thus high-quality data for subsequent hyperspectral analysis may be obtained. An apparatus, a method, a system and a computer program are disclosed.

Disclosed herein are systems for imaging and ablating a sample. An imaging/ablating device includes an optical assembly, a sample stage, and a receiver. The optical assembly 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 toward the receiver. A laser focus detection unit including at least one reference laser and photodetector generates at least one real-time detection signal indicative of one or more characteristics of the sample during ablation and/or of a distance from the objective to the sample stage or a surface of the sample. A controller coupled with the laser focus detection unit dynamically controls in real-time one or more parameters of the ablation laser and/or a position of the objective and/or a position of the receiver relative to the sample to improve MS imaging quality.

Provided herein is an apparatus for assessing a fluorescence characteristic of a gemstone. The apparatus comprises an optically opaque platform for supporting a gemstone to be assessed, one or more light source to provide uniform UV and non-UV illumination, an image capturing component, and a telecentric lens positioned to provide fluorescent images of the illuminated gemstone to the image capturing component. Also provided are methods of fluorescence analysis based on images collected using such an apparatus.

A device for luminescent imaging includes an array of imaging pixels, a photonic structure over the array of imaging pixels, and an array of features over the photonic structure. A first feature of the array of features is over a first pixel of the array of imaging pixels, and a second feature of the array of features is over the first pixel and spatially displaced from the first feature. A first luminophore is within or over the first feature, and a second luminophore is within or over the second feature. The device includes a radiation source to generate first photons having a first characteristic at a first time, and generate second photons having a second characteristic at a second time. The first pixel selectively receives luminescence emitted by the first and second luminophores responsive to the first photons at the first time and second photons at the second time, respectively.

The current invention relates to the use of a neural network to improve the quality of images obtained from light scattered by an intermediate object that scatters light, such as tissue or a frosted screen. The invention relates to a method of imaging a human or animal bode using a nanocrystal array capable of fluorescing upon excitation from light from a near-infrared light source. This invention also relates to detection means and apparatus used in said methods, as well as to quantum dots useful in said use.