Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling heating of an objective in a linescanning sequencing system to improve resolution are disclosed. In accordance with a first implementation, an apparatus includes or comprises a beam source for providing input radiation and a beam shaping group including or comprising one or more optical elements positioned to receive the input radiation from the beam source, and to perform beam shaping on the input radiation to form a shaped beam. The apparatus further including or comprising an objective positioned to receive the shaped beam and to transform the shaped beam into a probe beam and configured to provide the probe beam to a focal plane of the objective for optically probing a sample. The beam shaping group is configured to adjust one or more properties of the shaped beam over time to generally uniformly heat the objective over a region of incidence for the shaped beam.

Abstract: A method comprises: directing, using an objective and a first reflective surface, first autofocus light toward a sensor, the first autofocus light reflected from a first surface of a substrate; preventing second autofocus light from reaching the sensor, the second autofocus light reflected from a second surface of the substrate; and directing, using the objective and a second reflective surface, emission light toward the sensor, the emission light originating from a sample at the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transmitting light are disclosed. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a collimator at an input end positioned to receive an input beam from a fiber beam source and to produce a collimated beam. The apparatus further includes a beam shaping group having one or more optical elements and positioned to receive the collimated beam from the collimator and format the collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section in a far field. The apparatus further includes an objective stage for optically probing a sample, such as a flow cell, using substantially rectangular cross-section sampling beam, where fluorescence from the sample is captured by a line sensor for detecting properties of the sample, such as chemical reactions therein.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a focus tracking module including: a light source to project a first pair of spots on a sample; and a first image sensor to obtain one or more first images of the first pair of spots; a second image sensor to obtain one or more second images of the sample; one or more mirrors optically coupled to the second image sensor, the one or more mirrors positioned in an optical path from the sample to the second image sensor; and a controller to: determine, using at least a first separation distance measurement of the first pair of spots from the one or more first images, a first sample tilt of the sample about a first axis of the imaging system; and actuate, based at least on the first sample tilt, the one or more mirrors to offset the first sample tilt about the first axis.

Abstract: Imaging systems and related methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, a system includes a flow cell receptacle to receive a flow cell that receives a sample and an imaging system having a light source assembly, and an imaging device. The light source assembly to form a substantially collimated beam. The optical assembly including an asymmetric beam expander group that includes one or more asymmetric elements or anamorphic elements disposed along an optical axis. The optical assembly to receive the substantially collimated beam from the light source assembly, and transform the substantially collimated beam into a shaped sampling beam having an elongated cross section in a far field at or near a focal plane of the optical assembly to optically probe the sample. The imaging device to obtain image data associated with the sample in response to the optical probing of the sample with the sampling beam.

Abstract: A system includes: an objective lens; a first light source to feed first illuminating light through the objective lens and into a flowcell (e.g., with a relatively thin film waveguide) to be installed in the system, the first illuminating light to be fed using a first grating on the flowcell; and a first image sensor to capture imaging light using the objective lens, wherein the first grating is positioned outside a field of view of the first image sensor. Dual-surface imaging can be performed. Flowcells with multiple swaths bounded by gratings can be used. An auto-alignment process can be performed.

Abstract: The technology relates in part to flow cytometry systems and methods of use for the analysis of cells and biological particles.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a sample stage comprising a surface to support a sample container, the sample container including a sample having a plurality of sample locations; an optical stage to image the sample at the plurality of sample locations; one or more actuators physically coupled to at least one of the sample stage and the optical stage to move the sample stage relative to the optical stage to focus the optical stage onto a current sample location of the plurality of sample locations; a first light source to illuminate the current sample location; a second light source to project a pair of spots on a next sample location of the plurality of sample locations; and a controller to determine, based on an image of the pair of spots projected on the next sample location, a focus setting for the next sample location.

Abstract: The presently described techniques relate generally to providing motion feedback (e.g., motion system calibration and/or sample alignment) in the context of an imaging system (such as a time delay and integration (TDI) based imaging system). The architecture and techniques discussed may achieve nanoscale control and calibration of a movement feedback system without a high-resolution encoder subsystem or, in the alternative embodiments, with a lower resolution (and correspondingly less expensive) encoder subsystem than might otherwise be employed. By way of example, certain embodiments described herein relate to ascertaining or calibrating linear motion of a sample holder surface using nanoscale features (e.g., sample sites or nanowells or lithographically patterned features) provided on a surface of the sample holder.

Abstract: A method comprises: directing, using an objective and a first reflective surface, first autofocus light toward a sensor, the first autofocus light reflected from a first surface of a substrate; preventing second autofocus light from reaching the sensor, the second autofocus light reflected from a second surface of the substrate; and directing, using the objective and a second reflective surface, emission light toward the sensor, the emission light originating from a sample at the substrate.

Abstract: A method comprises: directing, using an objective and a first reflective surface, first autofocus light toward a sensor, the first autofocus light reflected from a first surface of a substrate; preventing second autofocus light from reaching the sensor, the second autofocus light reflected from a second surface of the substrate; and directing, using the objective and a second reflective surface, emission light toward the sensor, the emission light originating from a sample at the substrate.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure relate to an imaging system, including: a sample holder to support a sample container having multiple sample locations; an optical stage having; an assembly comprising one or more actuators physically coupled to the sample holder to tilt the sample holder relative to the optical stage during imaging of the multiple sample locations to focus the optical stage onto a current sample location; a first light source to project a first pair of spots on the sample container; and a controller to control, based on a sample tilt determined from a first separation measurement of the first pair of spots from one or more images taken by an image sensor at one or more of the sample locations, the one or more actuators to tilt the sample holder along a first direction of the imaging or a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling heating of an objective in a linescanning sequencing system to improve resolution are disclosed. In accordance with a first implementation, an apparatus includes or comprises a beam source for providing input radiation and a beam shaping group including or comprising one or more optical elements positioned to receive the input radiation from the beam source, and to perform beam shaping on the input radiation to form a shaped beam. The apparatus further including or comprising an objective positioned to receive the shaped beam and to transform the shaped beam into a probe beam and configured to provide the probe beam to a focal plane of the objective for optically probing a sample. The beam shaping group is configured to adjust one or more properties of the shaped beam over time to generally uniformly heat the objective over a region of incidence for the shaped beam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transmitting light are disclosed. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a collimator at an input end positioned to receive an input beam from a fiber beam source and to produce a collimated beam. The apparatus further includes a beam shaping group having one or more optical elements and positioned to receive the collimated beam from the collimator and format the collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section in a far field. The apparatus further includes an objective stage for optically probing a sample, such as a flow cell, using substantially rectangular cross-section sampling beam, where fluorescence from the sample is captured by a line sensor for detecting properties of the sample, such as chemical reactions therein.

Abstract: A system includes: an objective lens; a first light source to feed first illuminating light through the objective lens and into a flowcell (e.g., with a relatively thin film waveguide) to be installed in the system, the first illuminating light to be fed using a first grating on the flowcell; and a first image sensor to capture imaging light using the objective lens, wherein the first grating is positioned outside a field of view of the first image sensor. Dual-surface imaging can be performed. Flowcells with multiple swaths bounded by gratings can be used. An auto-alignment process can be performed.

Abstract: A system includes: an objective lens; a first light source to feed first illuminating light through the objective lens and into a flowcell (e.g., with a relatively thin film waveguide) to be installed in the system, the first illuminating light to be fed using a first grating on the flowcell; and a first image sensor to capture imaging light using the objective lens, wherein the first grating is positioned outside a field of view of the first image sensor. Dual-surface imaging can be performed. Flowcells with multiple swaths bounded by gratings can be used. An auto-alignment process can be performed.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method includes: providing a sample, the sample including a first nucleotide and a second nucleotide; contacting the sample with a first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent dye, the first fluorescent dye emitting first emitted light within a first wavelength band responsive to a first excitation illumination light, the second fluorescent dye emitting second emitted light within a second wavelength band responsive to a second excitation illumination light; simultaneously collecting, using one or more image detectors, multiplexed fluorescent light comprising the first emitted light and the second emitted light, the first emitted light being a first color channel corresponding to the first wavelength band and the second emitted light being a second color channel corresponding to the second wavelength band; and identifying the first nucleotide based on the first wavelength band of the first color channel and the second nucleotide based on the second wavelength band of the second color ch

Abstract: The disclosure provides for structured illumination microscopy (SIM) imaging systems. In one set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a multi-arm SIM imaging system, whereby each arm of the system includes a light emitter and a beam splitter (e.g., a transmissive diffraction grating) having a specific, fixed orientation with respect to the system's optical axis. In a second set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a multiple beam splitter slide SIM imaging system, where one linear motion stage is mounted with multiple beam splitters having a corresponding, fixed orientation with respect to the system's optical axis. In a third set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a pattern angle spatial selection SIM imaging system, whereby a fixed two-dimensional diffraction grating is used in combination with a spatial filter wheel to project one-dimensional fringe patterns on a sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include an imaging system that may include a laser diode source; an objective lens positioned to direct a focus tracking beam from the light source onto a location in a sample container and to receive the focus tracking beam reflected from the sample; and an image sensor that may include a plurality of pixel locations to receive focus tracking beam that is reflected off of the location in the sample container, where the reflected focus tracking beam may create a spot on the image sensor. Some examples may further include a laser diode light source that may be operated at a power level that is above a power level for operation at an Amplified Spontaneous Emission (“ASE”) mode, but below a power level for single mode operation.

Abstract: An imaging system including a light source; a first focusing lens positioned to focus a beam from the light source to a beam waist at a predetermined location along an optical path of the beam in the imaging system; a beam splitter positioned relative to the first focusing lens to receive the beam from the first focusing lens and to create first and second beams; a second focusing lens positioned to receive the first and second beams output by the beam splitter, to focus the received first and second beams to a spot sized dimensioned to fall within a sample to be image, and further positioned to receive first and second beams reflected from the sample; an image sensor positioned to receive the light beams reflected from the sample; and a roof prism positioned in the optical path between the second focusing lens and the image sensor.