Disclosed is a method for capturing target cells or molecules in solution, comprising steps of: (I) getting medium containing said target cells or molecules into an apparatus comprising a capturing device for capturing said target cells or molecules; (II) getting said medium flow through said capturing device; (III) removing unbound debris, cells and molecules; (IV) getting said target cells or molecules detached from the capturing device; and (V) collecting said target cells or molecules; wherein said capturing device comprises at least one functionalized mesh comprising a mesh substrate and a functional layer formed on said mesh substrate, wherein said functional layer comprises capturing substances that can specifically bind with said target cells or molecules. The method has high specificity, as well as high throughput, and is suitable for capturing cells or molecules in a solution or expressed at the surface of cell membranes. It is particularly suited to capture and sort circulating tumor cells.

A method and system for enabling the determination of kinetic rates of reaction within a fluid of interest including directing fluid flow exiting a test bed to a multi-port switching valve. The multi-port switching valve switches the fluid to a number of channels connected to a number of interchangeable in-flow extraction cartridges. Analytes of interest from the fluid flow are captured on an extraction medium to accumulate over time. Rates are determined by (i) sequentially channeling the fluid through each of the plurality of flow paths for a preselected time duration, (ii) analyzing the extraction cartridges, and computing the kinetic rate of reaction.

A system comprising a parts-per-million (PPM) analyzer configured to analyze a multiphase fluid, the fluid comprising water. The analyzer includes a mesh comprising first adsorbent materials that adsorb specific substances from the multiphase fluid. The system includes a mass meter configured to measure a mass of multiphase fluid passing through the PPM analyzer; a molecular sieve dryer comprising second adsorbent material configured to adsorb the water from the multiphase fluid; and a plurality of valves configured to couple the mass meter and the molecular sieve dryer to the PPM analyzer. During routine operation, the valves direct the multiphase fluid through the PPM analyzer. During a validation operation, the valves divert the multiphase fluid through the molecular sieve dryer prior to entering the PPM analyzer.

In some examples, a filter assembly includes a filter to remove particulates from a fluid flowing through the filter, electrodes attached to the filter, the electrodes spaced apart in a direction that is cross-wise to a direction of a flow of the fluid; and a sensor to measure an electrical characteristic of a space between the electrodes, wherein the measured electrical characteristic varies depending upon an amount of particulates in the space.

The invention, provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage,

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

A biological and non-biological aerosol real time monitor includes a laser light source assembly configured to emit a laser beam and generate a line-shaped laser spot at a particle excitation position of an air flow to be measured; a sealed photoelectric measurement chamber, wherein the laser light source assembly is assembled at a laser entrance port of the sealed photoelectric measurement chamber, the air flow intersects with the optical axis in the traveling direction of the laser beam-at the particle excitation position; a scattered light signal reflecting mirror and a fluorescence signal reflecting mirror bilaterally provided with a measurement point as the center which is formed by the intersection of the laser beam and the air flow; a scattered light signal detector and a fluorescence signal detector respectively mounted behind a center opening of the reflecting mirrors to detect a scattered light signal and a fluorescence signal.

A biological and non-biological aerosol real time monitor includes a laser light source assembly configured to emit a laser beam and generate a line-shaped laser spot at a particle excitation position of an air flow to be measured; a sealed photoelectric measurement chamber, wherein the laser light source assembly is assembled at a laser entrance port of the sealed photoelectric measurement chamber, the air flow intersects with the optical axis in the traveling direction of the laser beam-at the particle excitation position; a scattered light signal reflecting mirror and a fluorescence signal reflecting mirror bilaterally provided with a measurement point as the center which is formed by the intersection of the laser beam and the air flow; a scattered light signal detector and a fluorescence signal detector respectively mounted behind a center opening of the reflecting mirrors to detect a scattered light signal and a fluorescence signal.

Turbidity measurement systems and methods of using the same are described. A turbidity measurement system comprises a vessel configured to hold a wellbore fluid, wherein a porous media is positioned in the vessel; a light source positioned to direct light at the vessel; a light detector positioned to measure light intensity of light emitted by the light source and passing through the vessel; a backscatter detector configured to measure the light intensity of reflected light emitted from the light source; and a computer system communicatively coupled to at least one of the light source, light detector, or light detector.

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.