A particle sorting apparatus a channel that includes a trunk channel formed along a specific upper surface and deflection electrode pairs that sort a non-target minute particle and a target minute particle respectively in a direction substantially perpendicular to the specific upper surface and a direction along the specific upper surface by dielectrophoresis.

A flow cell for the analysis of objects in a liquid stream is provided, the flow cell comprising: a flow cell body having a chamber therein defined by an inner surface of the flow cell body, the flow cell body having an inlet end and an outlet end; the inlet end of the flow cell body being provided with a first fluid coupling member having a flow passage therethrough; the outlet end of the flow cell body being provided with a second fluid coupling member having a flow passage therethrough; the flow cell body comprising a first transparent portion, through which light may enter the chamber to illuminate objects within the chamber, and a second transparent portion through which objects within the chamber may be imaged; wherein the chamber comprises a first transition portion adjacent the inlet end of the flow cell body, the first transition portion comprising a smooth transition between the flow passage of the first fluid coupling member and the inner surface of the flow cell body defining the chamber; and wherein the chamber comprises a second transition portion adjacent the outlet end of the flow cell body, the second transition portion comprising a smooth transition between the flow passage of the second fluid coupling member and the inner surface of the flow cell body defining the chamber. An imaging apparatus comprising the flow cell is also provided. The flow cell and imaging apparatus find use in imaging such objects as plankton, detritus and bubbles in liquid streams.

Systems, methods and other embodiments associated with spatial-domain Low-coherence Quantitative Phase Microscopy (SL-QPM) are described herein. SL-QPM can detect structural alterations within cell nuclei with nanoscale sensitivity (0.9 nm) (or nuclear nano-morphology) for nano-pathological diagnosis of cancer. SL-QPM uses original, unmodified cytology and histology specimens prepared with standard clinical protocols and stains. SL-QPM can easily integrate in existing clinical pathology laboratories. Results quantified the spatial distribution of optical path length or refractive index in individual nuclei with nanoscale sensitivity, which could be applied to studying nuclear nano-morphology as cancer progresses. The nuclear nano-morphology derived from SL-QPM offers significant diagnostic value in clinical care and subcellular mechanistic insights for basic and translational research. Techniques that provide for depth selective investigation of nuclear and other cellular features are disclosed.

A method and system for particle detection and characterization including a current confining pixel and a light source. The pair of light detectors may comprise a first light detector and a second light detector electrically coupled to one another. Further, the first and the second light detectors may be situated in parallel and may have inverse polarities. Further, the particle detector method and system can comprise a boundary vernier-line having a width separating the first and the second light detectors. It may comprise a signal processor for processing an output waveform generated by a particle as it flows unobstructed on or near the detector surface; wherein the output waveform is bipolar and a polarity of the output waveform may flip when the particle crosses the boundary vernier-line; and wherein the signal processor may analyze the output waveform to ascertain at least one property of the particle. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

A system and method for optical perception can include a current confining pixel (CCP) that includes a detector pair, the detector pair including a first detector and a second detector, coupled together in an inverse polarity configuration such that the current confining pixel defines a sense node and a reference node together forming a differential output across the pair of detectors. The system and method can include a plurality of CCPs arranged in a CCP array, coupled together in any suitable manner; receiving, at a current confining pixel (CCP), an input signal; generating a differential output signal based on the input signal; and, analyzing an output of a CCP.

A system and method for optical perception can include a current confining pixel (CCP) that includes a detector pair, the detector pair including a first detector and a second detector, coupled together in an inverse polarity configuration such that the current confining pixel defines a sense node and a reference node together forming a differential output across the pair of detectors. The system and method can include a plurality of CCPs arranged in a CCP array, coupled together in any suitable manner; receiving, at a current confining pixel (CCP), an input signal; generating a differential output signal based on the input signal; and, analyzing an output of a CCP.

A system and method for optical perception can include a current confining pixel (CCP) that includes a detector pair, the detector pair including a first detector and a second detector, coupled together in an inverse polarity configuration such that the current confining pixel defines a sense node and a reference node together forming a differential output across the pair of detectors. The system and method can include a plurality of CCPs arranged in a CCP array, coupled together in any suitable manner; receiving, at a current confining pixel (CCP), an input signal; generating a differential output signal based on the input signal; and, analyzing an output of a CCP.

The present disclosure provides improved and useful techniques for cross-standardization of flow cytometry instruments and, particularly, spectral flow cytometry instruments. Aspects of the disclosure include methods of calibrating a flow cytometer having a plurality of fluorescence channels. Methods of interest utilize calibration sets of bead populations, wherein each bead population of the calibration set includes a different fluorophore attached to a surface thereof and the calibration set includes a number of bead populations that is less than the number of fluorescence channels of the flow cytometer. Flow cytometers, non-transitory computer-readable storage media, and kits including, e.g., calibration sets of bead populations for carrying out the subject methods are also provided.