In a sensor device, a plurality of light guides having a respective first end and a respective second end are arranged on a common carrier, with the first end of each light guide of the plurality of light guides at a respective defined position on the carrier. At each of the second ends of the light guides there is provided at least one sensor element which exhibits an optical behavior dependent on an analyte. The second ends are at defined perpendicular distances to the carrier. At least two of the second ends differ with respect to the defined perpendicular distances.

A cell monitoring plate comprises a flat surface on which multiple cell culturing vessels may be stacked. The flats surface has multiple optical imaging systems embedded therein to fully image a cell culture vessels stacked on the plate. Each one of the multiple optical imaging systems provides both illumination and imaging through a single aperture in the surface of the monitoring plate.

A fine particle measurement device includes a support stand (20) that has a groove (F) extending in a predetermined direction and is configured to support in the groove an observation container (10), which has an elongate shape and accommodates a liquid sample containing a fine particle therein such that an extending direction of the groove (F) coincides with a longitudinal direction of the observation container (10); and an imaging unit (40) that is configured to capture an image of the fine particle in the observation container (10) at a position where the support stand is out of a field of view, the observation container (10) being supported by the support stand (20).

A cell monitoring plate comprises a flat surface on which multiple cell culturing vessels may be stacked. The flats surface has multiple optical imaging systems embedded therein to fully image a cell culture vessels stacked on the plate. Each one of the multiple optical imaging systems provides both illumination and imaging through a single aperture in the surface of the monitoring plate.

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.

A water filtering system includes providing light deep into a liquid used in applications such as the cultivation of both attached and suspended photosynthetic organisms. The system is configured to inject a stream of bubbles into the liquid and a light source is configured to shines light through the bubbles. The bubbles allow some light to travel deep into the liquid along the length of the bubble stream and scatter/deflect some light out of the bubble stream and into the surrounding liquid including screens for growing algae.

Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for forming discrete biomass receptacles from a base material that is created via cultivating or processing algae for biofuel production. The apparatus includes a supplier to supply heat softened biomaterial; a rotatable molder to receive the heat softened biomaterial that includes a heated hollow mold; a rotator configured to rotate the rotatable molder; and a controller configured to control the rotator to rotate the heated hollow mold such that the heat softened biomaterial disperses and adheres to walls of the heated hollow mold, the controller also being configured to control the rotator to continue rotating the heated hollow mold as the heat softened biomaterial cools so as to impede sagging and deformation of the biomass receptables being formed, such that the receptacles that are formed are configured to house algae via at least one of the cultivating and processing of the algae.

The present invention provides a cell culture base that avoids contact between a photoresponsive layer and cells. The cell culture base of the present invention includes: a support layer; a photoresponsive layer; and a cell culture layer, wherein the photoresponsive layer is laminated on the support layer, the cell culture layer is laminated on the photoresponsive layer, the photoresponsive layer contains a photoresponsive substance that causes at least one of heat and change in magnetism by light irradiation, and the cell culture layer is capable of culturing cells.

The present disclosure relates to bioreactors and bioreactor facilities that include a plurality of bioreactor tiles. One example system includes a system that includes a first bioreactor. The first bioreactor include a first housing. The first bioreactor also includes a plurality of first bioreactor tiles positioned within the first housing. Additionally, the first bioreactor includes a first fluid management system. Further, the first bioreactor includes a first illumination system. In addition, the first bioreactor includes a first environmental control system. Still further, the first bioreactor includes one or more first sensors positioned within the first housing. Yet further, the first bioreactor includes a first controller configured to receive data from the one or more first sensors and provided, based on the received data, one or more operating parameters to the first fluid management system, the first illumination system, or the first environmental control system.

Some embodiments are directed to a system for harvesting biomass, usable to manufacture biofuel, from discrete biomass receptacles in which the biomass has been cultivated. The system can include multiple harvesters disposed at least in part vertically above the receptacles and configured to simultaneously harvest the biomass from the receptacles. Each of the harvesters can include: multiple harvesting baskets configured to be lowered from above the receptacles and into each of the receptacles; multiple sensors disposed to sense growth conditions within the harvesting baskets; and a controller configured to communicate with each sensor of the multiple sensors, and based on data received from the sensors, configured to control harvesting patterns of each harvester to enhance biomass material growth within the receptacles.