The disclosed technology brings histopathology into the operating theatre, to enable real-time intra-operative digital pathology. The disclosed technology utilizes confocal imaging devices image, in the operating theatre, “optical slices” of fresh tissue—without the need to physically slice and otherwise process the resected tissue as required by frozen section analysis (FSA). The disclosed technology, in certain embodiments, includes a simple, operating-table-side digital histology scanner, with the capability of rapidly scanning all outer margins of a tissue sample (e.g., resection lump, removed tissue mass). Using point-scanning microscopy technology, the disclosed technology, in certain embodiments, precisely scans a thin “optical section” of the resected tissue, and sends the digital image to a pathologist rather than the real tissue, thereby providing the pathologist with the opportunity to analyze the tissue intra-operatively. Thus, the disclosed technology provides digital images with similar information content as FSA, but faster and without destroying the tissue sample itself.

The present disclosure provides an automated sample analyzer having a continuous scanning optical assembly for performing an assay. The optical assembly allows for robust detection of light emitted from a reaction mixture in a dynamically changing environment, such as detection of light from a reaction mixture that is being rotated about an axis at high rotational velocity.

Embodiments of a resolution enhancement technique for a light sheet microscopy system having a three objective lens arrangement in which one objective lens illuminates a sample and the second and third objective lenses collect the fluorescence emissions emitted by the sample are disclosed. The second objective lens focuses a first portion of the fluorescence emissions for detection by a second detection component, while the third objective lens focuses a second portion of the fluorescence emissions through a diffractive or refractive optic component for detection by a first detector component. A processor combines the images resulting from the first and second portions of the fluorescence emissions for generating composite images with increased axial and lateral resolution.

In one aspect, presence and/or level of an analyte within a sample is determined by use of a construct comprising a magnetic moiety and a fluorescent moiety. In one embodiment, the construct is magnetically migrated to a transparent surface and then dragged along the surface. In one aspect, an evanescent field is applied and changes in the diffusional or rotational properties of the fluorescent moiety as it migrates in and out of the evanescent field are measured by changes in its fluorescent emission, providing a measure of the interaction between the construct and a component of the sample.

An instrument is provided that can monitor nucleic acid sequence amplification reactions, for example, PCR amplification of DNA and DNA fragments. The instrument includes a multi-notch filter disposed along one or both of an excitation beam path and an emission beam path. Methods are also provided for monitoring nucleic acid sequence amplifications using an instrument that includes a multi-notch filter disposed along a beam path.

Fluorescence imaging system designs are described that provide larger fields-of-view, increased spatial resolution, improved modulation transfer and image quality, higher spatial sampling frequency, faster transitions between image capture when repositioning the sample plane to capture a series of images (e.g., of different fields-of-view), and improved imaging system duty cycle, and thus enable higher throughput image acquisition and analysis for genomics and other imaging applications.

Methods and systems for determining contamination in a petroleum-based sample, including irradiating the petroleum-based sample with a light beam from a light source such that a fluorescence signal is generated, guiding, by a mirror, the fluorescence signal to a gear-less rotating diffraction grating, the gear-less rotating diffraction grating spatially separating a fluorescence wavelength from the florescence signal, detecting, by an optical detector, fluorescence wavelength, transforming the fluorescence wavelength into a spectral contour diagram, the spectral contour diagram comprising a fluorescence wavelength variation over time, and determining, the contamination in the petroleum-based sample using the spectral contour diagram.

A laminated fluorescent sensor includes a sealable sensor housing and an optical sensing system embedded inside the sealable sensor housing. The optical sensing system includes a light source (7), a short wave pass filter (8), an air chamber (10), a sensing unit, a long wave pass filter set (12) and an optical signal collecting unit from top to bottom all of which are coaxially set. The optical signal collecting unit is connected with a signal processing system (14); the sealable sensor housing has air inlets (2, 201) and an air pumping port (3), the air inlets (2, 201) are communicated with the air chamber (10) through an air intake passage, the air chamber (10) is communicated with the air pumping port (3) through an air pumping passage.

An optical measuring device including a sample placement portion for a measurement sample to be placed therein; a light source portion for emitting a measurement beam toward the measurement sample that is placed in the sample placement portion; and a detector for detecting sample information from a measurement sample that is disposed in the sample placement portion; a cover portion that is able to open and close, for accessing the interior of the sample placement portion, is formed on the sample placement portion; an optical element member for not transmitting light of at least a prescribed wavelength band within the measurement beam; and a driving mechanism that is linked mechanically with the opening and closing of the cover portion to move the optical element member.

Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be provided that can efficiently detect the amplitude and phase of a spectral modulation. Such exemplary scheme can be combined with self-interference fluorescence to facilitate a highly sensitive depth localization of self-interfering radiation generated within a sample. The exemplary system and method can facilitate a scan-free depth sensitivity within the focal depth range for microscopy, endoscopy and nanoscopy.