Embodiments disclose a device for testing biological specimen. The device includes a sample carrier and a detachable cover. The sample carrier includes a specimen holding area. The detachable cover is placed on top of the specimen holding area. The detachable cover includes a magnifying component configured to align with the specimen holding area. The focal length of the magnifying component is from 0.1 mm to 8.5 mm. The magnifying component has a linear magnification ratio of at least 1. Some embodiments further include a multi-camera configuration. These embodiments include a first camera module and a second camera module arranged to capture one or more images of the first holding area and the second holding area, respectively. The processor may perform different analytic processes on the captured images of different holding areas to determine an outcome with regard to the biological specimen.

According to one embodiment, an optical sensor includes a plurality of sensing parts two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix to form a sensor surface, and a phototransmissive sample-supporting plate arranged to be opposed to the sensing parts.

The invention relate to a light and temperature device for increasing and optimizing the production of biomass in bioreactors, said device comprising an LED light arrangement with LED light arrays and cooling fins facing away from the LED light arrays. The light and temperature device further comprising at least one fastening means for removably fastening the light arrangement to a transparent incubation vessel the LED light arrangement being oriented in relation to the incubation vessel such that light radiation emitted by the LED light arrangement in directed towards the incubation vessel.

Provided are systems and methods for spatially and temporally controlling light with an illumination device comprising a light source operably connected to a circuit board, one or more light guide plates, one or more optical masks, a controller, and a computer readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: illuminate a cell or a substrate with light from the light source, and spatially and temporally control illumination of light to the cell or the substrate with one or more illumination parameters, wherein the one or more light guide plates provides uniform illumination of the light. Also provided herein are methods of screening using the system and/or device of the present disclosure.

An imaging system and method for microbial growth detection, counting or identification. One colony may be contrasted in an image that is not optimal for another type of colony. The system and method provides contrast from all available material through space (spatial differences), time (differences appearing over time for a given capture condition) and color space transformation using image input information over time to assess whether microbial growth has occurred for a given sample.

A structure for culturing cells includes growth medium regions on a surface of the structure. Each of the growth medium regions includes a growth medium surface configured to receive and promote growth in a cell that is being cultured. The structure includes a non-growth medium. The non-growth medium includes a non-growth medium surface configured to receive the cell that is being cultured.

Micro-biological colony counters and more particularly, to a device and a method for lighting, conditioning and capturing image(s) of organic sample(s) such as but not limited to micro-organisms. The device (700) captures accurate image(s) of organic sample(s) and has a fixed focus imaging for repeatability in quality of images. The device (700) can capture images of organic sample in different lighting and color conditions thereby improving detection of microbiological colonies by increasing the contrast from the background medium. The color calibrated imaging device (700) provides diffused illumination by using polychromatic LED lights, light reflectors and light diffusers for optimal color reproduction of micro-biological colonies contained in organic sample(s). The device (700) is adapted for automatic capturing of images of organic sample(s) cultivated on petri dishes of different sizes.

An observation device includes: an illumination unit that generates illumination light to be radiated onto cells floating in a culture fluid inside a culture vessel; a light receiving unit that receives observation light coming from the cells that have been irradiated with the illumination light, the observation light being imaged by an image-forming optical system; and a casing that has a transmissive section so as to transmit the illumination light and the observation light and that accommodates the illumination unit and the light receiving unit, wherein the casing has an elongated cylindrical form that is configured to be inserted into the culture fluid via a port used to insert a tube into the culture vessel.

One or more light sources may apply stimuli to a colony of organisms. The stimuli may include visible and non-visible light. The stimuli, taken together, may tend to favor survival of organisms that are adapted to perform photosynthesis which involves absorbing energy from infrared or ultraviolet light. In some cases, the set of stimuli may include illuminating the entire colony of organisms with green light, illuminating only a first portion of the colony with pulsed ultraviolet light, and illuminating only a second portion of the colony with pulsed infrared light.

An optofluidic photoreactor including an optical waveguide having an input, characterized by an evanescent optical field confined along an outer surface of the optical waveguide produced by radiation propagating in the optical waveguide, means for inputting light to the input of the optical waveguide, and a photoactive material disposed substantially only within the evanescent field. A method for optically activating a photoactive material in an optofluidic photoreactor to convert carbon dioxide and water into other molecules that may be useful as a fuel or a chemical feedstock.