Abstract: An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the R

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: An optical sample characterization method is disclosed comprising: holding a sample in a sample container proximate at least one two-dimensional detector array assembly, wherein the sample container has a first end and a second end; setting up a gradient between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; illuminating the sample between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; and detecting light received from the illuminated sample from the first end of the sample container to the second end of the sample container by the two-dimensional an-ay assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to analyzing and controlling collection of liquid eluate output from a separation process, in particular by use of a measure of suspended material in the eluate based on a light scattering detection method. Exemplary embodiments include a method of controlling collection of a sample of a liquid eluate output from a separation process. The method includes exposing the liquid eluate to light from a light source; detecting light from the light source scattered by suspended material in the eluate at a detector; and beginning and ending collection of the sample when a measure of the suspended material derived from the detected scattered light enters and leaves a predetermined range.

Abstract: An optical sample characterization method is disclosed comprising: holding a sample in a sample container proximate at least one two-dimensional detector array assembly, wherein the sample container has a first end and a second end; setting up a gradient between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; illuminating the sample between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; and detecting light received from the illuminated sample from the first end of the sample container to the second end of the sample container by the two-dimensional array assembly.

Abstract: Viscometers and viscometry methods are disclosed. In one general aspect, a fluid is driven through capillary tubes with different inside volumes, and successive images of the fluid are acquired as it advances through the inside volume of the capillary tubes. A range of different viscosity values of the fluid are derived from the successive acquired images, and results of this step are reported in a manner that provides insight into non-Newtonian effects in the fluid. In another general aspect, a viscosity value is selected based on detected pressure levels.

Abstract: A method of Raman spectroscopic structure investigation of a sample that includes a dispersed chemical species, in particular a protein, in a liquid phase and an apparatus for performing said method are described. The method comprises: providing the sample; providing marker particles in the sample; exciting the sample with a light source; receiving Raman-scattered light from the dispersed chemical species in the sample; detecting, from the received Raman-scattered light, Raman scattering from the dispersed chemical species in the sample; detecting movement of the marker particles in the sample; and extracting at least one characteristic of the dispersed chemical species in the sample from both the step of detecting Raman scattering and the step of detecting movement of the particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: providing a fluid containing suspended particles; causing at least a first subset of the suspended particles to flow past a first two-dimensional array detector (24); illuminating the first subset of suspended particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the first subset of particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; and automatically counting the particles in the images.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of suspended particles. Embodiments disclosed include an optical instrument (200) for detecting properties of a sample, comprising: a sample cell (103) for holding a sample of a particulate dispersion; a coherent light source (101) configured to illuminate the sample in the sample cell (103); a light intensity detector (104, 106) positioned to receive and measure an intensity of light from the coherent light source (101) elastically scattered by the sample in the sample cell (103); and a spectral light detector (212) positioned and configured to receive and measure a range of wavelengths of light from the coherent radiation source (101) inelastically scattered by the sample in the sample cell (103).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the R

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: providing a fluid containing suspended particles; causing at least a first subset of the suspended particles to flow past a first two-dimensional array detector (24); illuminating the first subset of suspended particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the first subset of particles as they flow past the first two-dimensional array detector (24) in the fluid; and automatically counting the particles in the images.

Abstract: An optical sample characterization method is disclosed comprising: holding a sample in a sample container proximate at least one two-dimensional detector array assembly, wherein the sample container has a first end and a second end; setting up a gradient between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; illuminating the sample between the first end of the sample container and the second end of the sample container; and detecting light received from the illuminated sample from the first end of the sample container to the second end of the sample container by the two-dimensional array assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to analysing and controlling collection of liquid eluate output from a separation process, in particular by use of a measure of suspended material in the eluate based on a light scattering detection method. Exemplary embodiments include a method (300) of controlling collection of a sample of a liquid eluate output from a separation process, the method comprising: exposing (306) the liquid eluate to light from a light source; detecting (307) light from the light source scattered by suspended material in the eluate at a detector; and beginning and ending collection (310) of the sample when a measure of the suspended material derived from the detected scattered light enters and leaves a predetermined range.

Abstract: A viscometer, comprising: a source of fluid pressure, a tube, an array of optical detectors, an acquisition driver circuit and viscosity computation logic. The tube has an inside volume that is hydraulically responsive to the source of fluid pressure. The array of optical detectors is positioned along a length of the first tube with a plurality of its detectors optically responsive to the inside volume of the first tube and including an image data output. The acquisition driver circuit is responsive to the image data output of the first array to acquire a series of successive images of the inside volume of the first tube. The viscosity computation logic is responsive to the acquisition driver circuit and operative to compute the viscosity of a fluid flowing along the first tube from the series of images of the inside volume of the first tube.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: suspending particles in a fluid; causing the suspended particles to flow past a two-dimensional array detector; illuminating the suspended particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; and applying a particle characterization function to results of steps of acquiring a plurality of images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of suspended particles. Embodiments disclosed include an optical instrument (200) for detecting properties of a sample, comprising: a sample cell (103) for holding a sample of a particulate dispersion; a coherent light source (101) configured to illuminate the sample in the sample cell (103); a light intensity detector (104, 106) positioned to receive and measure an intensity of light from the coherent light source (101) elastically scattered by the sample in the sample cell (103); and a spectral light detector (212) positioned and configured to receive and measure a range of wavelengths of light from the coherent radiation source (101) inelastically scattered by the sample in the sample cell (103).

Abstract: A method of obtaining information about a heterogeneous pharmaceutical mixture is disclosed. This method involves applying an image enhancement agent, such as a stain, to the mixture. An image of the mixture can then be obtained, and information about a distribution of components of the mixture in the image can also be obtained based on spatial information derived from the application of the image enhancement agent.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a particle characterization method is disclosed that includes suspending particles in a fluid, causing them to flow past a two-dimensional array detector, and illuminating them as they do so. The method also includes acquiring images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid, and applying a particle characterization function to the images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a spectroscopic apparatus is disclosed for investigating heterogeneity of a sample area. The apparatus includes an image acquisition system operative to acquire images of a plurality of sub-areas in the sample area and a sub-area selection interface operative to receive a selection designating one of the sub-areas for which an image has been obtained. A spectrometer has a field of view and is operative to acquire a spectrum of at least part of one of the sub-areas in its field of view, and a positioning mechanism is responsive to the sub-area selection interface and operative to position the field of view of the spectrometer relative to the sample area based on a received selection.