A photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a light source portion and a signal processing portion. The signal processing portion is configured to perform imaging processing on the basis of either a first acoustic wave signal or a second acoustic wave signal by performing processing for disabling either the first acoustic wave signal corresponding to a rising edge of a pulse signal of pulsed light or the second acoustic wave signal corresponding to a falling edge of the pulse signal of the pulsed light.

The present invention provides a multichannel label-free biosensing fiber-optic system, which comprises one or more light sources coupled into optical fibers, one or more optical fiber circuits for performing coupling or/and directional transmission of optical-fiber guided lightwaves, one or more optical-fiber-input and optical-fiber-output optical switches, a plurality of optical fibers provided with label-free optical sensing elements working in the reflection manner on the optical fiber ends, and the light detection parts, wherein the optical-fiber-input and optical-fiber-output optical switch is provided with a plurality of outputs and/or a plurality of inputs, and with the plurality of outputs and/or plurality of inputs, by the switching function, the reflected light from the label-free optical sensing elements working in the reflection manner on the designated optical fiber ends is received by the light detection part, so that multichannel sensing is realized.

Described herein are systems and methods for improving light-sheet microscopy with cost-effective and simplified components. Such cost-effective and simplified components can be implemented in a light focusing system, a light generation system, and/or in imaging system. The light focusing system can be improved by attaching a voice coil motor to a focusing lens to increase the imagable field of view. The light generation system can be improved with a multimode laser diode to increase the uniformity of the beam profile and to increase the usable optical power. The imaging system can be improved by using a fluid chamber with positive cylindrical optical window for minimizing spherical aberrations.

Certain embodiments are directed to a low-cost battery-powered spectrophotometric system (BASS) coupled with a microfluidic chip for POC analysis, as well as methods of using the same.

A sensor platform for the assessment of the condition and quality of fluids while in service is based on a combination of solid-state light sources (LEDs) and detectors housed within a single integrated package. The sensor platform configured to be standalone in operation and comprises interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The sensor platform is configured to obtain inputs from multiple stimulus points and correlates these to changes in the overall composition or condition of the fluid. The sensing method can be described as a combination of a differential sensor, by monitoring changes from the normal status of the fluid, and an inferential sensor where changes are interpreted in terms of global impact rather than specific localized changes in component concentration.

A device for optical detection of analytes in a sample includes at least two optoelectronic components. The optoelectronic components include at least one optical detector configured to receive a photon and at least one optical emitter configured to emit a photon. The at least one optical emitter includes at least three optical emitters disposed in a flat, non-linear arrangement, and the at least one optical detector includes at least three optical detectors disposed in a flat, non-linear arrangement. The at least three optical emitters and the at least three optical detectors include at least three different wavelength characteristics.

A flow cell system for an optical fluid analysis comprises a disposable flow cell having at least one flow chamber comprising a fluid pathway, and at least one pair of opposed light transmitting windows along the fluid pathway, an external flow cell holder for holding the flow cell, at least one light source, and an external detection device couplable with at least one of the flow cell holder and the flow cell for bringing the external detection device in optical communication with the flow cell, the device having at least one optical detection unit. The external detection device is configured to conduct optical measurements of the fluid that flows in the flow cell through at least one pair of windows from externally under illumination by the at least one light source.

Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to evaluating and identifying cells by recording and interpreting a time-dependent signal produced by unique cell respiration and permeability attributes of isolated viable cells.

A compact optical imaging system including a single filter and a light source that provides lateral illumination for bead detection in digital assays. The light source is configured to emit light toward the detection vessel. The single filter is positioned to receive light reflected from a sample in the detection vessel, that originated from the light source, and receive an output from a sample in the detection vessel. A detector is configured to receive a portion of the reflected light and a portion of the output that passes through the single filter.

A method is proposed for ascertaining the quality and/or the composition of milk, in particular during a milking operation, in which the fill level of the milk in a chamber is determined. After the fill level of the milk in the chamber has been determined, the milk is irradiated using at least one radiation of a predefined wavelength. The intensity of the reflected radiation is measured. The fill level and the intensity of the reflected radiation represent a value pair. Characteristic values are stored in a memory. A characteristic value is assigned to the ascertained value pair. A statement about the quality and/or the composition of the milk can be made from the characteristic value thus ascertained.