Abstract: Provided are specific cell-fractionating and -capturing methods which can fractionate and capture, respectively, specific cells (e.g., many types of cancer cells, including cancer cells not expressing EpCAM, or peripheral blood stem cells). Included is a method for fractionating specific cells present in blood or biological fluid, the method including fractionating the blood or biological fluid by centrifugation to collect the specific cells in the blood or biological fluid, the centrifugation being carried out using a container having a low protein adsorbing layer at least partially formed on the inner surface thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for analysing a liquid sample comprising particles, comprises: a first chamber (12) and a second chamber (14), and an optical path between the first chamber (12) and the second chamber (14), wherein: the first chamber (12) is a sample chamber comprising: a sample space for receiving the sample; a light input (24) for input of light into the first chamber (12) for interaction with the sample; and an exit aperture (26) arranged for scattered and/or reflected light to pass from the first chamber via the optical path to the second chamber (14); the second chamber (14) is a detection chamber comprising: an input aperture (28) for receiving light from the optical path; and a detector (25) for detecting, or a detector aperture for receiving, light to be detected; wherein the first chamber (12) and the second chamber (14) provide at least one light integrating volume, and wherein the first chamber (12) is configured such that in operation the liquid sample is present in the first chamber (12) and isolate

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a light source, a modulator configured to modulate light irradiated from the light source to a target object, an imaging device configured to generate image data by capturing one or more images of the target object, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to drive the modulator by a first modulation signal, the first modulation signal being for irradiating a first pattern, drive the modulator by a second modulation signal, the second signal being for irradiating a second pattern, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are irradiated alternately, modulate reflected light from the target object, the reflected light from the target object being detected at a lock-in detector, and generate an image composed of image data from the reflected light of the plurality of localized illuminations.

Abstract: A multi-point detection system includes one or more light sources, one or more light sensors, and a controller. The light sources are configured to emit an array of collimated light beams, and the light sensors define an array of lines of view. Each of the lines of view intersect different ones of the collimated light beams at respective detection nodes. The light sensors are operable to emit sensor signals responsive to received scattered light from interaction of the collimated light beams with an analyte at the detection nodes. The controller is connected to receive the sensor signals and configured to determine from the scattered light whether the analyte contains a contaminant.

Abstract: 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 (I0) of the sample (10), said image being formed in a detection plane (P0), 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 para

Abstract: A laser measuring system including first and second laser base stations and a laser receiver is provided. The laser receiver detects a first laser signal from the first laser base station. Location information associated with the first laser base station is extracted from the detected first laser signal. The laser receiver detects a second laser signal from the second laser base station. Location information associated with the second laser base station is extracted from the detected second laser signal. A position of the laser receiver is determined based on the extracted location information associated with the first laser base station and the extracted location information associated with the second laser base station.

Abstract: A method of calculating a volume of a drop pendant using a microprocessor. Included in the method are generating a gravity vector based on a direction of gravity with respect to the drop pendant; establishing a reference frame of the drop pendant for an image processing based on a reference point of the drop pendant and the gravity vector; generating a first reference line associated with the reference frame for representing an actual orientation of the drop pendant; generating a second reference line associated with the reference frame for representing a longitudinal axis of a chamber in which the drop pendant is located; comparing the first and second reference lines with respect to the gravity vector; and calculating the volume of the drop pendant based on the comparison of the first and second reference lines and the gravity vector.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a substrate, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and an electronic circuit element. Light from the light emitting element is blocked by a detection object to detect the detection object. The light emitting element, the electronic circuit element and the light receiving element are mounted on the same surface of the substrate. The electronic circuit element is disposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element on a mounting surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A thickness estimating apparatus includes a transfer robot, a light source, a camera, a memory and a controller. The memory stores a thickness predicting model generated based on a data set including a thickness of at least one of a test wafer corresponding to the wafer or a test element layer formed on the test wafer, and the thickness predicting model being trained to minimize a loss function of the data set. The controller applies pixel data, which is acquired from at least one pixel selected from a plurality of pixels included in a captured image, to the thickness predicting model, to predict a thickness of at least one of the wafer or an element layer formed on the wafer in a position corresponding to a position of the selected pixel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing method for CDSEM for determining a measuring range of an image of a target pattern measured by a CDSEM machine. The image processing method of CDSEM comprises: obtaining a first gray scale image based on the image of the target pattern; performing Fourier transform to the first gray scale image to obtain a first frequency spectrum distribution; filtering out frequency spectrum components whose absolute values of ordinate are greater than preset threshold in the first frequency spectrum distribution to obtain a second frequency spectrum distribution, the preset threshold relates to the background noise and the signal frequency of SRAF features; and determining the measuring range based on the second frequency spectrum distribution.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring the dose remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources which are disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the container. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light sources. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A glass article (10) as a transparent article has a haze value of 15% or less and a clarity value of 9% or less. Preferably, the product of the haze value, the clarity value, and the sparkle value is 0.5 or less.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detecting device comprising: an emission unit configured to emit electromagnetic waves having coherence; an electromagnetic wave modulating unit configured to modulate one or both of a phase and an amplitude of the emitted electromagnetic waves and to change a state of the modulation relative to an imaging target; and a post-modulation electromagnetic wave intensity detecting unit configured to detect an intensity of post-modulation electromagnetic waves, which are the modulated electromagnetic waves acquired by modulating the electromagnetic waves emitted from the emission unit using the imaging target and the electromagnetic wave modulating unit, using one pixel.

Abstract: A wearable pollutant indicator, methods of making and using same. The indicator includes a polymeric film substrate having a first side and a second side, an adhesive disposed on the first side of the substrate, and a readily understood user interface disposed on the second side of the substrate, wherein the user interface comprises a qualitative indicator of the accumulated exposure to incident airborne particulate pollution as sensed through the reaction of the transition metal oxides therein.

Abstract: An apparatus, and related method, relates generally to a fiber-optic sensing system. In such a system, fiber-optic sensors are in a rosette or rosette-like pattern. An optical circulator is coupled to receive a light signal from a broadband light source, to provide the light signal to the fiber-optic sensors, and to receive a returned optical signal from the fiber-optic sensors. A spectral engine is coupled to the optical circulator to receive the returned optical signal and configured to provide an output signal.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system for inspecting a tubular device that includes an outer surface and a spatially-periodic supporting structure beneath the outer surface. The system includes an imaging device, configured to acquire an image of a reflection of light from the outer surface, and a processor, configured to ascertain a spatial frequency of the supporting structure by processing the image. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element.

Abstract: A system for irradiating a microplate may include a light engine with a plurality of light sources, such as light-emitting diodes, included in one or more linear arrays. The plurality of light sources are configured to emit germicidal irradiation, which is directed to the microplate by optical components, such as optical lenses positioned on top of each well of the microplate. The linear array is linearly movable so that as the linear array scans across the microplate, the optical components direct the germicidal irradiation to a plurality of surfaces of each well.

Abstract: A real-time ablation sensor uses an optical detector, such as a spectrometer or radiometer, to detect ablation of a material, for example by detecting a signal indicative of ablation of the material, which may be an engineered material. The optical detector may detect reflected light, either from the material being ablated, or from products of the ablation, such as in the vicinity of the material being ablated. A light source may be used to provide light that is reflected by the material and/or the ablation products, with the reflected light received by the detector. The light may be of a selected wavelength or wavelengths, with the selection made in combination with the selection/configuration of the material to be ablated, and/or the selection/configuration of the optical detector.