Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optically exciting a plurality of analytes (12) in an array of reaction vessels (14) and for sensing fluorescent light from the analytes (12), wherein excitation light from an excitation light source (38) is supplied to the analytes (12) and wherein fluorescent light from the analytes (12) is simultaneously supplied to a fluorescent detector (34), wherein a plurality of beams (30) of the excitation light is directed into the reaction vessels (14) below the cover (28) through an array of holes (26) in a cover (28) arranged above the array of reaction vessels (14) and a plurality of beams (32) of the fluorescent light from the reaction vessels (14) reaches the fluorescent detector (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optically exciting a plurality of analytes (12) in an array of reaction vessels (14) and for sensing fluorescent light from the analytes (12), wherein excitation light from an excitation light source (38) is supplied to the analytes (12) and wherein fluorescent light from the analytes (12) is simultaneously supplied to a fluorescent detector (34), wherein a plurality of beams (30) of the excitation light is directed into the reaction vessels (14) below the cover (28) through an array of holes (26) in a cover (28) arranged above the array of reaction vessels (14) and a plurality of beams (32) of the fluorescent light from the reaction vessels (14) reaches the fluorescent detector (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for optically exciting a plurality of analytes (12) in an array of reaction vessels (14) and for sensing fluorescent light from the analytes (12), wherein excitation light from an excitation light source (38) is supplied to the analytes (12) and wherein fluorescent light from the analytes (12) is simultaneously supplied to a fluorescent detector (34), wherein a plurality of beam bundles (30) of the excitation light is directed into the reaction vessels (14) below the cover (28) through an array of holes (26) in a cover (28) arranged above the array of reaction vessels (14) and a plurality of beam bundles (32) of the fluorescent light from the reaction vessels (14) reaches the fluorescent detector (34).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting foam on a liquid surface in a vessel is presented. The vessel has an upper opening surrounded by a border. The vessel can be a tube-shaped. At least one image is taken from a region suspected to contain foam in the vessel by using an image sensing device that provides corresponding image data. An automatic evaluation of the image is performed on the basis of the image data by a data processing system using an image evaluation program. The at least one image is taken from the top of the vessel through the open upper opening onto the liquid surface. The image evaluation program of the data processing system identifies foam areas and non-foam areas in the image and provides information about the presence or absence of foam areas in the image as a result of the image evaluation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting foam on a liquid surface in a vessel is presented. The vessel has an upper opening surrounded by a border. The vessel can be a tube-shaped. At least one image is taken from a region suspected to contain foam in the vessel by using an image sensing device that provides corresponding image data. An automatic evaluation of the image is performed on the basis of the image data by a data processing system using an image evaluation program. The at least one image is taken from the top of the vessel through the open upper opening onto the liquid surface. The image evaluation program of the data processing system identifies foam areas and non-foam areas in the image and provides information about the presence or absence of foam areas in the image as a result of the image evaluation.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to the field of image processing, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for determining a wavefront of an object, in particular a human eye. The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for real-time wavefront sensing of an optical system utilizing two different algorithms for detecting centroids of a centroid image as provided by a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor. A first algorithm detects an initial position of all centroids and a second algorithm detects incremental changes of all centroids detected by said first algorithm.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to the field of image processing, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for determining a wavefront of an object, in particular a human eye. The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for real-time wavefront sensing of an optical system utilizing two different algorithms for detecting centroids of a centroid image as provided by a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor. A first algorithm detects an initial position of all centroids and a second algorithm detects incremental changes of all centroids detected by said first algorithm.

Abstract: A selectively marked contact lens having, in one aspect, marks in an optical zone region on a surface thereof and, in another aspect, different marks outside an optical zone region of the lens, for an in-vivo lens. With the lens in-vivo, the subject's eye is illuminated and the lens is imaged. A fast algorithm is used to determine the mark coordinates in relation to a measured pupil coordinate to determine position and/or orientation of the contact lens. A wavefront aberration measurement can also be obtained simultaneously with the contact lens position measurement, as well as pupil size. A fast algorithm provides for online measurements; i.e., at a repetition rate of 10 Hz or greater, over a selected time interval. Blinking periods are determined and anomalous lens position and/or wavefront information is discarded. A most frequently occurring wavefront and/or contact lens position/orientation is determined over the selected time interval.

Abstract: A fast algorithm is presented which allows for substantially simultaneous acquisition, analysis, and display of a wavefront centroid image, referred to as online aberrometry. A method embodiment involves determination of an average, or most frequently occurring, wavefront aberration over a selected time interval, e.g., 20 sec. Online pupil diameter measurement allows analysis of wavefront aberration as a function of changing pupil size. A wavefront measuring apparatus is disclosed that supports online aberrometry.

Abstract: An improved wavefront sensor is provided that enhances the initial focus and precision of imaged spots used to determine the monochromatic wave aberrations of the eye. The wavefront sensor includes an adjustment camera that is independent of a lenslet camera. A laser in a lower power mode is projected onto the retina of the eye and is brought into more precise or sharp focus by a control system employing data from the adjustment camera, which aids in focusing the imaged spots. “Trombone”-type optics are used to adjust the focus of the light projected onto the retina and the imaged spots onto a sensor. The laser has a higher power mode used when acquiring data of the imaged spots from the sensor.

Abstract: A selectively marked contact lens having, in one aspect, marks in an optical zone region on a surface thereof and, in another aspect, different marks outside an optical zone region of the lens, for an in-vivo lens. With the lens in-vivo, the subject's eye is illuminated and the lens is imaged. A fast algorithm is used to determine the mark coordinates in relation to a measured pupil coordinate to determine position and/or orientation of the contact lens. A wavefront aberration measurement can also be obtained simultaneously with the contact lens position measurement, as well as pupil size. A fast algorithm provides for online measurements; i.e., at a repetition rate of 10 Hz or greater, over a selected time interval. Blinking periods are determined and anomalous lens position and/or wavefront information is discarded. A most frequently occurring wavefront and/or contact lens position/orientation is determined over the selected time interval.

Abstract: An improved sequential scanning method and apparatus for measuring wavefront aberration involves angularly displacing a measurement beam from a parallel beam striking the corneal surface at a desired location and using the displacement of an image on a detector between the angularly displaced beam and a reference beam to obtain a more accurate wavefront measurement than provided by the displacement between the parallel beam and a reference beam conventionally used for such wavefront aberration measurement. A method and related apparatus for determining a retinal topography relies on using the improved measurement method and apparatus in conjunction with other ocular data to determine changes in the bulbous length of the eye based upon retinal image displacement.

Abstract: A fast algorithm is presented which allows for substantially simultaneous acquisition, analysis, and display of a wavefront centroid image, referred to as online aberrometry. A method embodiment involves determination of an average, or most frequently occurring, wavefront aberration over a selected time interval, e.g., 20 sec. Online pupil diameter measurement allows analysis of wavefront aberration as a function of changing pupil size. A wavefront measuring apparatus is disclosed that supports online aberrometry.

Abstract: A topographical parameter measuring device and method utilizes a technique based on wave front reconstruction according to, e.g., Hartmann-Shack principles. The device includes a planar illuminator comprising a known array of illumination sources for projecting a light spot pattern onto a target surface. A CCD camera detects the positions of the reflected image spots in a manner similar to that in a Hartmann-Shack wave front sensor. The displacements of the light spots from reference coordinates are indicative of the slope of the surface at the plurality of sample points. A computational component is used to fit the slope data of a reference surface and the target surface to a polynomial, for example, a Zernike polynomial. The polynomial, properly weighted with the calculated coefficients, provides a continuous mapping of the elevation of the target surface.

Abstract: An improved wavefront sensor is provided that enhances the initial focus and precision of imaged spots used to determine the monochromatic wave aberrations of the eye. The wavefront sensor includes an adjustment camera that is independent of a lenslet camera. A laser in a lower power mode is projected onto the retina of the eye and is brought into more precise or sharp focus by a control system employing data from the adjustment camera, which aids in focusing the imaged spots. “Trombone”-type optics are used to adjust the focus of the light projected onto the retina and the imaged spots onto a sensor. The laser has a higher power mode used when acquiring data of the imaged spots from the sensor.

Abstract: An improved wavefront sensor is provided that enhances the initial focus and precision of imaged spots used to determine the monochromatic wave aberrations of the eye. The wavefront sensor includes an adjustment camera that is independent of a lenslet camera. A laser in a lower power mode is projected onto the retina of the eye and is brought into more precise or sharp focus by a control system employing data from the adjustment camera, which aids in focusing the imaged spots. “Trombone”-type optics are used to adjust the focus of the light projected onto the retina and the imaged spots onto a sensor. The laser has a higher power mode used when acquiring data of the imaged spots from the sensor.