Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

A sensor system includes a sensing element having a section of a layer assembly deposited onto a substrate. The layer assembly includes plural layers of different materials. The section of the layer assembly is configured to be etched to form plural individual pillars of the plural layers of the different materials. The individual pillars are configured to be in contact with a fluid to sense one or more analyte fluid components within the fluid. The sensing element is configured to generate a sensor signal responsive to the individual pillars being in contact with the fluid. The sensor system includes one or more processors configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensing element. The one or more processors may identify the one or more analyte fluid components within the fluid and an amount of each of the analyte fluid components within the fluid based on the sensor signal.

System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

A linear actuation screw having a first end portion, a second end portion on an opposite side as the first end portion, and a sloping intermediate portion between the first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant first diameter over at least a portion of its length and is configured to advance a nut or a sliding member along at least a portion of the first end portion. The second end portion has a threaded outer wall having a generally constant second diameter that is different from the first diameter and is configured to receive a motor fastening nut around it in order to secure the linear actuation screw to a motor. The sloping intermediate portion includes an outer wall that is generally smooth and continuous over at least a majority of the area of the outer wall.

A fluorescence immunoassay device based on integration of a photonic crystal and magnetic beads and a method thereof are provided. Magnetic beads with high surface-to-volume ratio are used as carriers of fluorescent molecules to obtain higher fluorescence density. The electric field on the surface of the photonic crystal is enhanced through excitation of photonic crystal resonance. The intensity of the fluorescence signal excited by the enhanced electric field is increased. Moreover, through interaction with the photonic crystal, some fluorescent signals that originally cannot be received by the fluorescent sensor are coupled to the photonic crystal resonant modes and reradiate toward the fluorescent sensor, thereby increasing collection efficiency. The fluorescence signals generated by fluorescent molecules on the magnetic beads are significantly intensified, which could lower the detection limit. Furthermore, the magnetic beads aggregation method can achieve the detection capability that cannot be achieved by the current fluorescent immunoassay.

System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

Devices and methods of providing a high-performance optical sensor disclose a sensor comprised of a porous material designed to have a multilayer rib-type or multilayer pillar-type waveguide geometry. The resulting porous nanomaterial multilayer-rib or multilayer-pillar waveguide design is optically capable of achieving ˜100% confinement factor while maintaining small mode area and single-mode character. Fabrication of the device is enabled by an inverse processing technique, wherein silicon wafers are first patterned and etched through well-established techniques, which allows porous nanomaterial synthesis (i.e., porous silicon anodization) either at the wafer-scale or at the chip-scale after wafer dicing. While ˜100% is an optimal target, typical devices per presently disclosed subject matter may operate with ˜98-99+%, while allowing for some design adjustments to be made if necessary, and still maintaining high sensitivity. i.e., >85-90% confinement suitable in some applications. In those instances, a primary benefit would still be use of the presently disclosed fabrication technology.