An imaging flow cytometer includes: a laser unit that emits first and second laser light to first and second spots; a first and second imaging sections that image the first and second spots; first and second detection devices that detect a particle that passes through the first and second spots; a first particle detection section that issues an imaging timing instruction signal to the first and second imaging sections; an image storage section that receives an image imaged by the first and second imaging sections; and a sorting determination section that determines whether the particle is an objective particle. The first and second imaging sections clip an image of the particle based on the imaging timing instruction signal.

A flow cell of the flow cytometer of the present invention includes: a sample flow path through which a sample fluid containing a sample flows; and a sample fluid supply portion which communicates with an upstream end of the sample flow path in the sample fluid flow direction and supplies the sample fluid to the sample flow path, wherein the sample fluid supply portion includes a plurality of sample opening portions which supply a sample fluid to the sample flow path, a cleaning liquid supply opening portion to which a second tube is connectable and which supplies a cleaning liquid for cleaning the sample fluid supply portion, and a cleaning liquid discharge opening portion to which a first tube is connectable and which discharges the cleaning liquid from the sample fluid supply portion.

The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System is a device that rapidly scans fluids to determine physical and chemical properties of the sample fluid. The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System can detect the presence of a sample fluid with various optical and electrical sensors, and determines physical and chemical properties. The system features several innovations that increase sample throughput, reduces sample cross contamination, and eliminates waste products typically used in chemical tests. The system may be applied to various industries including manufacturing quality control, and healthcare.

A method for analyzing microorganisms arranged in a sample is provided, the sample including a viability marker to modify an optical property of the microorganisms in different ways depending on whether they are dead or alive, the method including illumination of the sample and acquisition of an image of the latter by an image sensor, the image sensor then being exposed to an exposure light wave; determining positions of different microorganisms from the acquired image; applying a propagation operator to calculate at least one characteristic value of the exposure light wave at each radial position and at a plurality of distances from the detection plane representing a change in the characteristic value between the image sensor and the sample; and identifying living microorganisms according to each profile.

Disclosed in a light scattering detection apparatus, including a sample cell for holding a liquid sample therein, a light source for irradiating the sample cell with coherent light, a detector for detecting light that coming from the sample cell, and a pair of holders for holding ends of the sample cell. Either or both of the holders has a double flange structure. The double flange structure includes a first flange configured to receiving the sample cell and a second flange configured to hold a tube connected to the sample cell. The second flange is detachably attached to the first flange.

A system or method for detecting an immune system activation state in a patient can include a sample preparation system configured to isolate white blood cells from a sample of the patient, a cytometry module configured to determine biophysical properties of the white blood cells of the sample, and an analysis module configured to analyze the biophysical properties.

Light detection systems are provided. Aspects of the light detection systems include first and second light receivers in fixed positions relative to each other, a plurality of wavelength separators configured to pass light from the first and second light receivers having a predetermined spectral range, and a plurality of light detection modules. Baseplates having a stage for mounting a light receiver, a plurality of recesses for fixing a plurality of light detection modules in rigid alignment relative to the stage, and a heat dissipation opening positioned within each recess are also provided. In addition, particle analysis systems, methods and kits for practicing the invention are disclosed.

Described herein are apparatuses for analyzing an optical signal decay. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes: a source of a beam of pulsed optical energy; a sample holder configured to expose a sample to the beam; a detector comprising a number of spectral detection channels configured to convert the optical signals into respective electrical signals; and a signal processing module configured to perform a method. In some embodiments, the method includes: receiving the electrical signals from the detector; mathematically combining individual decay curves in the electrical signals into a decay supercurve, the supercurve comprising a number of components, each component having a time constant and a relative contribution to the supercurve; and numerically fitting a model to the supercurve.

A method and/or system can include processing a blood sample of a patient by degrading red blood cells of the blood sample using a lysing solution, quenching the degradation of the red blood cells after a threshold lysing time, centrifuging and aspirating the quenched solution to remove degraded red blood cell debris and concentrate white blood cells of the blood sample, and suspending the concentrated white blood cells in a buffer solution; within a threshold transfer time, deforming white blood cells, of the suspended white blood cells, within a microfluidic chip; and determining a probability that the patient is in an immune activation state based on images of the white blood cells acquired while deforming the white blood cells.

A method for observing a sample (10), the sample lying in a plane of the sample defining radial coordinates, the method comprising the following steps: a) illuminating the sample using a light source (11), able to emit an incident light wave (12) that propagates toward the sample along a propagation axis (Z); b) acquiring, using an image sensor (16), an image (I.sub.0) of the sample (10), said image being formed in a detection plane (P.sub.0), the sample being placed between the light source (11) and the image sensor (16), such that the incident light wave sees an optical path difference, parallel to the propagation axis (Z), by passing through the sample; c) processing the image acquired by the image sensor;
wherein the processing of the acquired image comprises taking into account vectors of parameters, respectively defined at a plurality of radial coordinates, in the plane of the sample, each vector of parameters being associated with one radial coordinate, and comprising a term representative of an optical parameter of the sample, at least one optical parameter being an optical path difference induced by the sample at the radial coordinate, the vectors of parameters describing the sample.