A method for optically detecting biomarkers in a biosensor is disclosed, wherein the optical detection obtains spatially and spectrally resolved optical signals from a sample on a biosensor, and one or more of these spatially and spectrally resolved optical signals can be analyzed in parallel with image acquisition. The image analysis comprises reading data of the acquired images, correcting them to reduce inhomogeneities and noise, localizing particles in the images, characterizing each particle individually to obtain its position and characterization parameters, and classifying the particles based on their characterization parameters. Using the number of particles per class for all the acquired images of the sample, a statistical value is calculated per sample and each statistical value is correlated with an indication of the presence of a biomarker in the sample.

A fiber-optic sensing apparatus is provided, including an outer sleeve, an optical fiber sensor arranged within the outer sleeve, and a filling medium. The optical fiber sensor is capable of detecting a change of a refractive index or a change of surface plasmon waves over an outer surface of the outer sleeve. The filling medium may have a matching refractive index with the outer sleeve and with the optical fiber sensor. The outer sleeve may be exposed directly to the outside medium, or may be coated with at least one functional film layer such as a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-active base film layer, or a reactive film layer that is reactive to a target molecule in the outside medium.

The present disclosure relates generally to a sensor chip and methods for the detection of an analyte. In particular, the disclosure relates to a sensor chip for detecting an analyte in a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. The sensor chip comprises a conductive layer on a membrane support layer, wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the conductive layer and the membrane support layer and are arranged such that illumination of the conductive layer and/or the membrane support layer produces a surface plasmon resonance.

A fluidic apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, a biosensor, and a method of fabricating the fluidic apparatus. The fluidic apparatus includes a fluidic structure arranged to receive a sample containing a target substance, and a trapping structure, in fluid communication with the fluidic structure and arranged to immobilize the target substance in a detection region, wherein the detection region of the trapping structure is arranged to alter a physical characteristic of an incident light signal which represents a concentration of the target substance contained in the sample.

An aspirating detection system for monitoring for the presence of a pathogen, the aspirating detection system including: a network of one or more pipes for sampling air from a plurality of locations monitored by the aspirating detection system; a sensor unit 3 comprising a housing 13 fluidly connected to the network of one or more pipes, and a biosensor 12 mounted within the housing, the biosensor being configured to monitor for the presence of the pathogen; and an aspirator 15 configured to draw airflow through the network of one or more pipes and through the biosensor 12.

An embodiment sensor includes a hybrid waveguide. The hybrid waveguide includes a first dielectric optical waveguide lying on and in contact with a dielectric support layer; a first surface waveguide optically coupled to the first dielectric optical waveguide, parallel to the first dielectric optical waveguide, and lying on the dielectric support layer. The first surface waveguide has a lateral surface configured to guide a surface mode. The hybrid waveguide includes a cavity intended to be filled with a dielectric fluid, separating laterally the first dielectric optical waveguide from the lateral surface of the first surface waveguide.

A two-piece optical prism includes a prism having a groove and prism having arc faces, where the prism having a groove has at least one first arc face and groove having at least one second arc face, and the prism having arc faces is placed in the groove of the prism having a groove and has at least one third arc face. The present invention can be used in the surface plasmon resonance optical system for the angle, range adjustment and control of incident light (e.g. laser light), capable of constituting an optical wide-angle, multi-angle incident system to carry out the wide-angle, multi-angle scanning detection of surface plasmon resonance, increasing the system dynamic detection range and sensitivity; and further reducing a detection chip.

A system in an embodiment can comprise an optical assembly, an surface-plasmon-resonance (SPR) light source, and an SPR camera. The optical assembly can comprise a hemispherical prism comprising a top surface configured to support a SPR sensor; and a high numerical aperture (NA) lens located distal from the top surface of the hemispherical prism. The SPR light source can be configured to emit a light beam for SPR imaging. The SPR camera can be configured to capture an SPR image. The SPR sensor further can comprise a surface configured to contact a sample. The high NA lens can be configured to refract the light beam toward the hemispherical prism. The hemispherical prism can be configured to collimate the light beam, as refracted by the high NA lens, toward the SPR sensor. The high NA lens further can be configured to receive and refract the light beam toward the SPR camera, after the light beam is reflected by the surface of the SPR sensor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Disclosed is a method for characterizing target compounds using an analyzing system comprising a measurement chamber intended to receive the target compounds contained in a fluid sample and in which a plurality of separate sensitive sites each comprise receivers able to interact with the target compounds. The method includes supplying a fluid sample, determining a measurement signal S.sub.k(t.sub.i) representative of the interactions between the target compounds and the receivers; computing a normed vector Sn(t.sub.i); and reiterating the determining and computing steps, while incrementing the measurement time, until a stability criterion is met, so as to obtain a characterization of the target compounds from the normed vector Sn(t.sub.i).

Systems and methods herein provide low power non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensors. The gas sensors comprise a thin film plasmonic light source that produces a time modulated parallel light beam at multiple selected wavelengths. The parallel light beam from the light source passes through a gas chamber without using focusing or collimating optical components. The gas sensors are continuously self-calibrated against environmental changes, such as temperatures and relative humidity, and aging. The gas sensors are suitable for use in hazardous environments because their low power and small thermal mass reduces the risk of explosion. The gas sensors can be integrated into conventional mobile device platforms.