A sensor is disclosed, comprising: a first optical reflector provided on a first support element; a second optical reflector provided on a second support element and arranged opposed to the first optical reflector along an optical axis, the opposed first and second optical reflectors being spaced from each other forming a sample space for containing a sample between the first and second optical reflectors; wherein the second optical reflector comprises a recess to provide an optical cavity with stable resonance in at least one mode and having an optical cavity length of at most 50 μm and/or an optical mode volume of 100 μm.sup.3 or less; at least one electromagnetic (EM) radiation source configured to illuminate the optical cavity with EM radiation; and a detector configured to detect EM radiation from the optical cavity; wherein the first support element and the second support element are bonded to each other and form a unitary structure.

In a method for measuring at least two different components of a fluid, the fluid is to a first measuring cell and a second measuring cell. In the first measuring cell, a first component of the fluid is excited by a first excitation to trigger a first light emission, and in the second measuring cell, a second component of the fluid is excited by a second excitation which is different from the first excitation, thereby triggering a second light emission. The first light emission and the second light emission are captured by an optical system facility and guided by the optical system facility in a direction of a detector facility which measures the first light emission and the second light emission.

A device for base calling is provided. The device includes a receptacle configured to hold a biosensor having a sample surface holding a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events, an array of sensors sensing information from clusters disposed in corresponding pixel areas of the sample surface during the sampling events and generate sequences of pixel signals and a communication port configured to output the sequences of pixel signals. The device also includes a signal processor coupled to the communication port and configured to receive and process at least one pixel signal in the sequences of pixel signals that mixes light gathered from at least two clusters in a corresponding pixel area, and to base call each of the at least two clusters using the at least one pixel signal.

A flow cell, for detecting a fluidic sample separated by a sample separation apparatus, includes a cuvette, a flow channel formed at least partially in the cuvette and configured to enable a flow of the separated fluidic sample through the flow channel, an electromagnetic radiation inlet at which an excitation electromagnetic radiation beam is couplable into the cuvette, and an electromagnetic radiation outlet at which an emission electromagnetic radiation beam, generated by an interaction between the excitation electromagnetic radiation beam and the separated fluidic sample, is couplable out of the cuvette. A geometry of the cuvette is configured so that at least one point at the excitation backside surface of the cuvette is outside of a direct field of view of the electromagnetic radiation outlet.

An optofluidic diagnostic system and methods for rapid analyte detections. The system comprises an optofluidic sensor array, a test plate and an optical detection cartridge. The sensor array supports one or more distinct sensor units, each having a reactor section designed to temporarily enter a series of different kinds of wells in the test plate. One kind of well is a sample reservoir that holds reagent solution to be transferred into the reactor section. Another kind of well is a drainage chamber that removes reagent solution from the reactor section. A third kind of well is a colorant reservoir that holds a colorant reagent transferable into a reactor section. Finally, the sensor unit is transferred to the optical detection cartridge where it is placed into an isolation booth during the optical detection process so that its flat observation face is stationed in a viewing window opposite an optical detector lens.

Sensor systems, and flow cells for use with them, which can provide for a universal sensor housing. The senor housing includes a first section which is designed to remain statically in position and a selectable sensor head that may be swapped out as necessary. The specific head is selected based on the types of measurement to be performed at the sensor location and the sensor head can integrate with the housing so only a single wire connection needs to be made to obtain all data from the housing.

The present application discloses a sensor system that includes a sensor having a sensor surface, a sample cartridge including one or more flexible membranes and a membrane frame, the membrane frame including one or more openings covered by the one or more flexible membranes defining one or more wells for holding one or more samples, the flexible membrane having a sample side supporting the sample and an opposite sensor side, the sample cartridge being removably insertable in the sensor system such that the sensor side of the flexible membrane is positioned above and faces the sensor surface, a displacement mechanism that can be actuated to displace the flexible membrane toward the sensor surface such that the sample is moved to a position closer to the sensor surface, and an optical imaging system that detects light emitted from the sensor. Disclosed also are a cartridge cassette and a method of use.

Arrays of integrated analytical devices are provided. The arrays are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. In particular, the arrays provide increased efficiency of optical collection and decreased background signal as the lateral dimensions of the unit cell of devices within the array are decreased, for example as they are decreased to 2 μm, or even less.

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.

Generation and use of a focus quality metric that is intensity independent is described. In one example, the focus quality metric is generated by acquiring an image, such as an image of a patterned surface of a flow cell, and processing all or part (e.g., a sub-region or sub-image) to generate a Fourier transform of the respective image data. By way of example, in one embodiment a discrete Fourier transform may be applied to a sub-region of an image of a patterned flow cell surface. A focus quality metric that is intensity independent may be derived from the Fourier transform of the image data.