A device (1) comprising an optical apparatus (2) for monitoring bacterial growth of a drug-dosed liquid biological sample. A sample container port for receiving a sample container (6), in use, is provided in the device, the sample container (6) having at least one detection chamber (20) for containing the drug-dosed sample. The optical apparatus (2) comprises a light source (22) configured to emit light along an incident beam axis that, in use, intersects with at least one detection chamber (20) of the sample container (6), and to illuminate the drug-dosed sample contained within the detection chamber (20). The optical apparatus (20) comprises a first photodetector (26) configured to receive light scattered by bacteria in the sample. The optical apparatus (2) comprises a light collection arrangement (24) configured to collect light exiting the detection chamber (20) that has been scattered in a forward direction by bacteria in the sample, in a range of scattering angles between about +/−4 and +/−20 degrees relative to the incident beam axis, and to direct the collected scattered light to the first photodetector (26); and prevent non-scattered light travelling parallel to the incident beam axis and exiting the detection chamber (20) from reaching the first photodetector (26). The optical apparatus (2) comprises at least one processor configured to: measure an intensity of the scattered light received by the first photodetector (26); determine a corresponding representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample based on the intensity of the scattered light; repeat the measuring and determining steps at a series of pre-determined intervals to determine changes in the representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample as a function of time; and determine a corresponding susceptibility of the bacteria in the sample to the respective drug.

A device for scattered light measurement of particles in a gas, comprising a light source, a beam splitter which splits a light beam emitted by the light source into a measuring beam and a reference beam, a light receiving device arranged at a distance from the beam splitter, which comprises at least one lens arranged in the reference beam with an optical axis aligned at an acute angle to the measuring beam, a first light receiver on the side of the lens facing away from the beam splitter, for receiving the scattered light imaged by the latter from a measurement volume in a gas-bearing region between the beam splitter and the lens, and a second light receiver on the side of the lens facing away from the beam splitter for receiving the reference beam imaged by the latter.

Devices and methods for detecting particulate matter are described herein. One device includes a laser, a reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector, and a detector, wherein the laser is configured to emit a beam, the reflector is configured to reflect the beam toward the ellipsoidal reflector, and the ellipsoidal reflector has a first focal region located on a path of the reflected beam, and a second focal region located at a surface of the detector.

A system for the identification of micro-organisms includes an irradiation unit adapted to sequentially provide coherent electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths along a common optical path. A holder is adapted to retain a substrate having a surface adapted for growth of a micro-organism colony. A beamsplitter is adapted to direct the coherent electromagnetic radiation from the common optical path towards the retained substrate. An imager is arranged opposite the beamsplitter from the retained substrate and is adapted to obtain images of backward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the respective wavelengths of the directed coherent electromagnetic radiation. Some examples provide radiation of multiple wavelengths and include an imager arranged optically downstream of the retained substrate to obtain images of forward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the wavelengths of radiation. Organism identification methods are also described.

A measurement method and a measurement apparatus are capable of measuring the transmittance of a quartz crucible accurately. A measurement method includes: emitting a parallel light from a light source disposed on a side of one wall surface of a quartz crucible toward a predetermined measurement point of the quartz crucible; measuring reception levels of light transmitted through the quartz crucible at a plurality of positions by disposing a detector at the plurality of positions on a circle centered around an exit point of the parallel light on the other wall surface of the quartz crucible; and calculating a transmittance of the quartz crucible at the predetermined measurement point based on a plurality of the reception levels of the transmitted light measured at the plurality of positions.

A molecular nanotag is disclosed that includes a core nanoparticle with a diameter of less than about 100 nm, with an optional shell surrounding the core, and an armor bound to the surface of the core nanoparticle, or if present, to the surface of the shell. The molecular nanotag also includes a functionalized end with a fixed number of binding sites that can selectively bind to a molecular targeting ligand. Any one of, or any combination of, the core, the shell and the armor contribute to fluorescence, light scattering and/or ligand binding properties of the molecular tag that are detectable by microscopy or in a devices that measures intensity or power of fluorescence and light scattering. The light scattering intensity or power of the assembled structure is detectable above the specific level of the reference noise of a device detecting the light scattering intensity or power, its fluorescence intensity or power has sufficient brightness for detection above the limit of detection for the instrument, and ligand specificity is conferred by the ligand binding component. Methods of biomarker and biosignature detection using the molecular tags are also disclosed.

A system for optical imaging of defects on unpatterned wafers that includes an illumination module, relay optics, a segmented polarizer, and a detector. The illumination module is configured to produce a polarized light beam incident on a selectable area of an unpatterned wafer. The relay optics is configured to collect and guide, radiation scattered off the area, onto the polarizer. The detector is configured to sense scattered radiation passed through the polarizer. The polarizer includes at least four polarizer segments, such that (i) boundary lines, separating the polarizer segments, are curved outwards relative to a plane, perpendicular to the segmented polarizer, unless the boundary line is on the perpendicular plane, and (ii) when the area comprises a typical defect, a signal-to-noise ratio of scattered radiation, passed through the polarizer segments, is increased as compared to when utilizing a linear polarizer.

A damage detection system includes one or more emitters, one or more receivers, and a controller. Emitters are arranged to transmit continuous beam or intermittent light pulses toward rotor blades during operation of a turbomachine. Light returns collected at the receivers define a light return amplitude profile. The controller analyzes the light return amplitude profile to identify light amplitude changes indicative of one or more damaged blades. When the light return profile satisfies one or more damage criteria, the controller outputs an indication of blade damage to another turbomachine controller, system, or display.

Blood analysis apparatus, method, and storage medium are provided, including: obtaining optical signals of a first test sample; determining a first test result of a blood sample from the optical signals of the first test sample; determining whether any one or a combination of reticulocytes, immature platelets and large-volume platelets in the blood sample is abnormal from the optical signals of the first test sample; outputting the first test result if it is determined that reticulocytes, immature platelets and large-volume platelets in the blood sample are normal; if it is determined that any one or a combination of reticulocytes, immature platelets and large-volume platelets in the blood sample is abnormal, preparing a second test sample and obtaining optical signals of the second test sample; and obtaining a second test result of the blood sample from the optical signals of the second test sample and outputting the first test result.

An aggregated cell evaluation apparatus includes a laser light source, a speckle image acquisition unit, an SC calculation unit, an evaluation unit, and a memory unit. The speckle image acquisition unit acquires a two-dimensional speckle image by forward scattered light generated in aggregated cells by irradiation of the aggregated cells with laser light output from the laser light source. The SC calculation unit calculates a speckle contrast value K.sub.n of a speckle image I.sub.n at each time t.sub.n, determines a maximum value K.sub.max among the speckle contrast values K.sub.1 to K.sub.N, and normalizes the speckle contrast value K.sub.n at each time t.sub.n by the maximum value K.sub.max to obtain a normalized speckle contrast value K.sub.n′. The evaluation unit evaluates motion of the aggregated cells, based on the normalized speckle contrast value K.sub.n′ at each time t.sub.n.