Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of determining if a sputum sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells by obtaining a sputum sample containing cells. The sputum sample is labeled with TCPP to stain cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic. The labeled sputum sample is excited with an excitation wavelength of light of about 475 nm +/?30 nm and emission at about 560 nm +/?30 nm is detected from cells identified to be macrophages. An imager focuses on the plasma membrane of one or more cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic and emission at about 655 nm +/?30 nm, if present, is detected for TCPP labeled cells of the sputum sample after focusing on the plasma membrane of the cells of the sputum sample. Photon flux for each pixel of a sensor is measured to obtain a value for the imaged cell. The measured value is scored to determine if a cell is cancerous or dysplastic.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of determining if a sputum sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells by obtaining a sputum sample containing cells. The sputum sample is labeled with TCPP to stain cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic. The labeled sputum sample is excited with an excitation wavelength of light of about 475 nm+/?30 nm and emission at about 560 nm+/?30 nm is detected from cells identified to be macrophages. An imager focuses on the plasma membrane of one or more cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic and emission at about 655 nm+/?30 nm, if present, is detected for TCPP labeled cells of the sputum sample after focusing on the plasma membrane of the cells of the sputum sample. Photon flux for each pixel of a sensor is measured to obtain a value for the imaged cell. The measured value is scored to determine if a cell is cancerous or dysplastic.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a component, the component comprising a hole with an entrance. The method comprises: directing ultrasound into the component via a liquid coupling medium; receiving ultrasound from the component via the liquid coupling medium; and processing the received ultrasound to determine a property of the component. The entrance of the hole is sealed with tape to prevent the liquid coupling medium from flowing into the entrance of the hole. The tape has an acoustic impedance within 40% of the acoustic impedance of the liquid coupling medium. By selecting a tape with an acoustic impedance relatively close to that of the liquid coupling medium (which in most cases will be water) the tape is relatively transparent to ultrasound and thus enables at least the presence or absence of a defect in a wall of the hole to be determined.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of determining if a sputum sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells by obtaining a sputum sample containing cells. The sputum sample is labeled with TCPP to stain cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic. The labeled sputum sample is excited with an excitation wavelength of light of about 475 nm+/?30 nm and emission at about 560 nm+/?30 nm is detected from cells identified to be macrophages. An imager focuses on the plasma membrane of one or more cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic and emission at about 655 nm+/?30 nm, if present, is detected for TCPP labeled cells of the sputum sample after focusing on the plasma membrane of the cells of the sputum sample. Photon flux for each pixel of a sensor is measured to obtain a value for the imaged cell. The measured value is scored to determine if a cell is cancerous or dysplastic.