Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles (1). The method includes (a) collecting the target components at a binding surface (12, 112, 512) of a carrier (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511); (b) directing an input light beam (L1, L1a, L1b) into the carrier such that it is totally internally reflected in an investigation region (13, 313a, 313b) at the binding surface (12, 112, 512); and (c) determining the amount of light of an output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b) that comprises at least some of the totally internally reflected light. Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles (1) at the binding surface (12) and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface (12) from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier with a binding surface at which target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles, can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface. The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector. Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles at the binding surface and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b).

Abstract: A medical imaging system for identifying a target structure (TS), e.g. a tumor, in a biological tissue. A hyperspectral camera system is used for imaging a surface area (A1) of the tissue (BT), e.g. with a limited spectral resolution, but enough to allow identification of suspicious areas where the target structure (TS) may be, e.g. such areas can be visually indicated on a display to the operator. A probe (PR), e.g. an optical surface probe, is used to provide probe measurement of a smaller surface area (A2) of the tissue, but with more information indicative of the target structure. The probe is selected to provide a higher specificity with respect to identification of the target structure than the hyperspectral camera (HSC). The hyperspectral processing algorithm (PP) is then calibrated based on probe measurement data performed within the suspicious areas, thus providing a calibrated hyperspectral processing algorithm resulting in images with an enhanced sensitivity to identify the target structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure sensing device (10) comprising an optical fiber (12), the optical fiber (12) comprises a central axis (L) and at least one optical fiber core (14), the at least one optical fiber core (14) having one or more reflective FBG structures, and a coating (16) surrounding the optical fiber (12), the coating (16) having mechanical properties which are radially asymmetric along the central axis (L).

Abstract: A sensor platform (300) with a sensor surface (350) receives particles (400). A material extending from the sensor surface (350) having a refractive index higher than the one of the fluid (200), such that an electromagnetic wave (10) propagating in this platform material (310) and incident to the sensor surface (350) at an angle greater than the critical optical angle is totally reflected onto the sensor surface (350). The particles (400) suspended in the fluid (200) include a metallic material (410) enabling a localized surface plasmon resonance at resonant wavelength(s). An optical detector (102) detects a portion of a spectrum of the totally reflected wave (20), including the resonant wavelength(s). A processor determines a presence of the particles (400) on or close to the sensor surface (350) from a frustrated totally internal reflection (“FTIR”) signal retrieved from the detected wavelengths. The retrieving takes into account the detected resonant component(s) present in the FTIR signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a lighting device (1) comprising: —a luminescent concentrator (5) comprising an elongated light transmissive body (100) having a first face (141) and a second face (142) defining a length (L) of the light transmissive body (100), the light transmissive body (100) comprising one or more radiation input faces (111) and a radiation exit window (112), wherein the second face (142) comprises said radiation exit window (112); the elongated light transmissive body (100) comprising a luminescent material (120) configured to convert at least part of light source light (11) received at one or more radiation input faces (111) into luminescent material light (8), and the luminescent concentrator (5) configured to couple at least part of the luminescent material light (8) out at the radiation exit window (112) as converter light (101); —a light source mirror unit (200) comprising: —a plurality of light sources (10) configured to provide said light source light (11) in a direction of a curved mirror

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (110) and a corresponding detection apparatus (100) that may for example be used for monitoring the replication of nucleotide sequences at a surface. In a preferred embodiment, the optical device (110) comprises a waveguide substrate (130) with a wiregrid (140) on a bottom surface (132), wherein apertures (141) of the wiregrid are in at least one direction (x) smaller than a characteristic wavelength (?) of input light (IL). Moreover, a diffractive structure (120) is disposed on the opposite surface (131) of the substrate (130) for coupling input light (IL) into the substrate (130) such that constructive interference occurs at the apertures (141). Thus evanescent waves can be generated with high efficiency in these apertures, allowing for example for a surface-specific excitation of fluorescence (FL) that can be sensed by a detector (160).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical optical connector for reversibly connecting two associated optical fibers (12, 14) for use in medical interventions, comprising a fiber carrying unit (16, 18) for inserting an end portion of at least one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14), and an optical arrangement (20) for interacting with a light beam from one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) and conducting the light beam to the other one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) in a connected state of the medical optical connector, the optical arrangement (20) comprising at least two gradient index elements (22a, 22b) and an additional optical element (23, 25) arranged between the at least two gradient index elements, wherein the additional optical element provides for a sterility barrier between the associated fibers (12, 14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for optically detecting particles (400) in a fluid (200). It comprises on the one hand a sensor platform (300) with a sensor surface (350) to receive said particles (400) and a material extending from the sensor surface (350) having a refractive index higher than the one of the fluid (200), such that an electromagnetic wave (10) propagating in this platform material (310) and incident to the sensor surface (350) at an angle greater than the critical optical angle is totally reflected onto the sensor surface (350). Said particles (400) comprise a metallic material (410) enabling a localized surface plasmon resonance at least one resonant wavelength(s) if excited at excitation wavelength(s). They are further arranged to be suspended in the fluid (200). On the other hand, the system comprises an optical detector (102) of at least a portion of the spectrum of the totally reflected wave (20), said portion including said at least one resonant wavelength(s).

Abstract: A system for tissue inspection is provided, comprising a console (50) with a light source (64), a spectrometer (66), an optical switch (65) and a processing unit. The system further comprises an elongated shaft (10), wherein an illumination fiber (40), a plug (50) in front of the illumination fiber (40), and a detection fiber (41) is provided in the elongated shaft (10). The illumination fiber (40) is capable of transmitting light from the light source (64) to its front surface and is capable of transmitting light being back-reflected from the plug (50) to the optical switch (65). The detection fiber (41) is capable of transmitting light reflected from tissue in front of the distal end surface of the elongated shaft (10) to the optical switch (65). The optical switch (65) is configured to provide the back-reflected light to the spectrometer (66) for generating a reference spectrum and to provide the light reflected from the tissue to the spectrometer (66) for generating a diffuse reflectance spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical optical connector for reversibly connecting two associated optical fibers (12, 14) for use in medical interventions, comprising a fiber carrying unit (16, 18) for inserting an end portion of at least one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14), and an optical arrangement (20) for interacting with a light beam from one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) and conducting the light beam to the other one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) in a connected state of the medical optical connector, the optical arrangement (20) comprising at least two gradient index elements (22a, 22b) and an additional optical element (23, 25) arranged between the at least two gradient index elements, wherein the additional optical element provides for a sterility barrier between the associated fibers (12, 14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (1) for detecting particles on or close to a particles detection surface (5) in a first optical detection mode and in a second optical detection mode, wherein a component of a light detection system (8) and/or a component of an optical system (9) of the detection apparatus is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode. Since a component of the light detection system and/or a component of the optical system is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode, this component does not need to be provided twice, i.e. for being used in the first detection mode and for being used in the second detection mode. This can lead to a reduced number of components and can make the detection apparatus technically less complex.

Abstract: A system for tissue inspection is provided, comprising a console (50) with a light source (64), a spectrometer (66), an optical switch (65) and a processing unit. The system further comprises an elongated shaft (10), wherein an illumination fiber (40), a plug (50) in front of the illumination fiber (40), and a detection fiber (41) is provided in the elongated shaft (10). The illumination fiber (40) is capable of transmitting light from the light source (64) to its front surface and is capable of transmitting light being back-reflected from the plug (50) to the optical switch (65). The detection fiber (41) is capable of transmitting light reflected from tissue in front of the distal end surface of the elongated shaft (10) to the optical switch (65). The optical switch (65)) is configured to provide the back-reflected light to the spectrometer (66) for generating a reference spectrum and to provide the light reflected from the tissue to the spectrometer (66) for generating a diffuse reflectance spectrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor apparatus (100) and a method for detecting clusters with magnetic particles in a sample. The sample is provided in at least one sample chamber (114) of a substantially planar cartridge (110) that is exposed to a modulated magnetic field (Bxz, Byz) generated by a magnetic field generator (190). The sample chamber (114) is illuminated with excitation light (L0), and the resulting output light (Ls) is detected by a light detector (180). The magnetic field (Bxz, Byz) may particularly rotate, inducing a corresponding rotation of clusters which in turn induces a variation of the detection signal (S). According to a preferred embodiment, excitation light (L0) is focused onto blocking spots (173) behind the sample chamber (114), thus shielding the light detector (180) from direct illumination.

Abstract: A sensing device (100) detects a target substance (2) in an investigation region (113). The sensing device (100) includes a sensing surface (112) with an investigation region (113) and a reference region (120). The sensing device (100) further includes a reference element (121) located at the reference region (120). The reference element (121) is adapted to shield the reference region (120) from the target substance (2) such that light reflected at the reference region (120) under total internal reflection conditions remains unaffected by the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This allows measuring a property, typically the intensity, of light reflected at the reference region (120) independent of the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This measured property of the reflected light can be used for performing a correction of light reflected at the investigation region (113).

Abstract: A substance determining apparatus determines a substance within a fluid where particles, which have attached the substance, are bound to a binding surface. A sensing unit is configured to generate a sensing signal being indicative of at least one of i) a distance between the particles bound on the binding surface and the binding surface, and ii) an in-plane position of the particles bound on the binding surface. A binding discrimination unit is configured to discriminate between different kinds of binding of the particles bound on the binding surface depending on the generated sensing signal. The binding discrimination unit may be a unit for determining the part of the sensing signal being caused by specifically bound particles and for determining the substance based on this determined part of the sensing signal.

Abstract: A microelectronic sensor device for the detection of target components with label or magnetic particles includes a carrier with a binding surface at which target components can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface. The amount of light in the output light beam is detected by a light detector. Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected by target components and/or label particles at the binding surface and will be missing in the output light beam. This is used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface from the amount of light in the output light beam. A magnetic field generator is optionally used to generate a magnetic field at the binding surface by which magnetic label particles can be manipulated, such as attracted or repelled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (1) for detecting particles on or close to a particles detection surface (5) in a first optical detection mode and in a second optical detection mode, wherein a component of a light detection system (8) and/or a component of an optical system (9) of the detection apparatus is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode. Since a component of the light detection system and/or a component of the optical system is arranged to be used in the first detection mode and in the second detection mode, this component does not need to be provided twice, i.e. for being used in the first detection mode and for being used in the second detection mode. This can lead to a reduced number of components and can make the detection apparatus technically less complex.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (110) and a corresponding detection apparatus (100) that may for example be used for monitoring the replication of nucleotide sequences at a surface. In a preferred embodiment, the optical device (110) comprises a waveguide substrate (130) with a wiregrid (140) on a bottom surface (132), wherein apertures (141) of the wiregrid are in at least one direction (x) smaller than a characteristic wavelength (?) of input light (IL). Moreover, a diffractive structure (120) is disposed on the opposite surface (131) of the substrate (130) for coupling input light (IL) into the substrate (130) such that constructive interference occurs at the apertures (141). Thus evanescent waves can be generated with high efficiency in these apertures, allowing for example for a surface-specific excitation of fluorescence (FL) that can be sensed by a detector (160).

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a sensing signal is generated depending on the bound particles. Binding events indicating a binding of a particle on the binding surface (30) are determined from the generated sensing signal, and the substance within the fluid is determined based on the determined binding events. During a procedure of determining a substance within a fluid, particles may bind to the binding surface and may leave the binding surface. Therefore, during this procedure a number of binding events can be determined being much larger than the number of bound particles. The determination of the substance within the fluid can therefore be based on a very large amount of data, thereby increasing the accuracy of determining the substance within the fluid.