Abstract: An imager for simultaneously taking full color pictures and fluorescence images from the same perspectives, top-down and side views, is presented that uses multiple cameras looking at the same stage through a beamsplitter and light sources for each view. The imager is configured to work with a particular fluorophore, or at least a predetermined fluorescence excitation wavelength and emission wavelength. A broadband white light source projects through a shortpass or other filter with a cut-off wavelength either lower than or between the excitation and emission wavelengths. Another shortpass or other filter is in front of a color camera with a cut-off wavelength below that of the emission wavelength, while a monochrome fluorescence camera may or may not have additional filters to bring out the fluorescence. These filters may be built into a dichroic mirror of the beamsplitter. In addition, digital processing may boost frequencies in the color image that were dampened by the filters.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the separation and dispensing of material using a microfluidic separation column connected via an exit channel to one or more sheath flow channels. The flow of separated material through the separation column is at least partially driven by a voltage potential between a first electrode within the separation column and a terminating electrode within at least one of the sheath flow channels. The separation column, exit channel, sheath flow channels, and electrodes are all within a single monolithic chip. The presence of an on-chip terminating electrode allows for separated material to be entrained in the sheath fluids and ejected onto a surface that can be non-conductive. The presence of multiple sheath flows allows for sheath flow fluids to have different compositions from one another, while reducing the occurrence of sheath flow fluids entering the separation column.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the detecting and presenting of faint signals from a real-time interactive imager. A real-time view of a subject is controlled by a user by entering commands that move the subject or a camera used to record the real-time view. The rate of this movement is monitored, and when the rate descends below a preset value, a trigger is sent to the camera. In response to the trigger, the camera switches to a lower frame frequency for capturing the real-time view of the subject, thereby increasing the amount of light collected in each frame, and increasing the sensitivity of the camera to faint signals. The methods and systems are particularly relevant for surgical or biopsy imaging, in which both a higher frame rate preview image of a subject for 3D visualization, and a higher sensitivity fluorescence image of the subject for tumor margin assessment, are desired.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the detecting and presenting of faint signals from a real-time interactive imager. A real-time view of a subject is controlled by a user by entering commands that move the subject or a camera used to record the real-time view. The rate of this movement is monitored, and when the rate descends below a preset value, a trigger is sent to the camera. In response to the trigger, the camera switches to a lower frame frequency for capturing the real-time view of the subject, thereby increasing the amount of light collected in each frame, and increasing the sensitivity of the camera to faint signals. The methods and systems are particularly relevant for surgical or biopsy imaging, in which both a higher frame rate preview image of a subject for 3D visualization, and a higher sensitivity fluorescence image of the subject for tumor margin assessment, are desired.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the imaging of a biological sample with a top-down camera and a side-view camera. A biological sample is held on an imaging stage that is capable of rotation in two orthogonal axes. The top-down and side-view cameras can record a series of images of the sample using multiple imaging modalities at different rotational positions of the imaging stage. The top-down camera can be translated along its optical axis to affect the camera zoom and influence the resolution and field of view of the recorded images. Fluorescence excitation light sources can be positioned proximate to each of the top-down and side-view cameras to provide substantially uniform illumination of the sample for imaging with each camera.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the separation and dispensing of material using a microfluidic separation column connected via an exit channel to one or more sheath flow channels. The flow of separated material through the separation column is at least partially driven by a voltage potential between a first electrode within the separation column and a terminating electrode within at least one of the sheath flow channels. The separation column, exit channel, sheath flow channels, and electrodes are all within a single monolithic chip. The presence of an on-chip terminating electrode allows for separated material to be entrained in the sheath fluids and ejected onto a surface that can be non-conductive. The presence of multiple sheath flows allows for sheath flow fluids to have different compositions from one another, while reducing the occurrence of sheath flow fluids entering the separation column.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the separation and dispensing of material using a microfluidic separation column connected via an exit channel to one or more sheath flow channels. The flow of separated material through the separation column is at least partially driven by a voltage potential between a first electrode within the separation column and a terminating electrode within at least one of the sheath flow channels. The separation column, exit channel, sheath flow channels, and electrodes are all within a single monolithic chip. The presence of an on-chip terminating electrode allows for separated material to be entrained in the sheath fluids and ejected onto a surface that can be non-conductive. The presence of multiple sheath flows allows for sheath flow fluids to have different compositions from one another, while reducing the occurrence of sheath flow fluids entering the separation column.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the imaging of a biological sample with a top-down camera and a side-view camera. A biological sample is held on an imaging stage that is capable of rotation in two orthogonal axes. The top-down and side-view cameras can record a series of images of the sample using multiple imaging modalities at different rotational positions of the imaging stage. The top-down camera can be translated along its optical axis to affect the camera zoom and influence the resolution and field of view of the recorded images. Fluorescence excitation light sources can be positioned proximate to each of the top-down and side-view cameras to provide substantially uniform illumination of the sample for imaging with each camera.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the imaging of a biological sample with a top-down camera and a side-view camera. A biological sample is held on an imaging stage that is capable of rotation in two orthogonal axes. The top-down and side-view cameras can record a series of images of the sample using multiple imaging modalities at different rotational positions of the imaging stage. The top-down camera can be translated along its optical axis to affect the camera zoom and influence the resolution and field of view of the recorded images. Fluorescence excitation light sources can be positioned proximate to each of the top-down and side-view cameras to provide substantially uniform illumination of the sample for imaging with each camera.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for treating diseased cells in a subject using sonodynamic therapy (SDT), comprising: administering to the subject a sonosensitizer composition comprising IRDye® 700DX, wherein the sonosensitizer composition associates with the diseased cell; and thereafter applying an ultrasonic wave to the diseased cell.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the imaging of a biological sample with a top-down camera and a side-view camera. A biological sample is held on an imaging stage that is capable of rotation in two orthogonal axes. The top-down and side-view cameras can record a series of images of the sample using multiple imaging modalities at different rotational positions of the imaging stage. The top-down camera can be translated along its optical axis to affect the camera zoom and influence the resolution and field of view of the recorded images. Fluorescence excitation light sources can be positioned proximate to each of the top-down and side-view cameras to provide substantially uniform illumination of the sample for imaging with each camera.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the detecting and presenting of faint signals from a real-time interactive imager. A real-time view of a subject is controlled by a user by entering commands that move the subject or a camera used to record the real-time view. The rate of this movement is monitored, and when the rate descends below a preset value, a trigger is sent to the camera. In response to the trigger, the camera switches to a lower frame frequency for capturing the real-time view of the subject, thereby increasing the amount of light collected in each frame, and increasing the sensitivity of the camera to faint signals. The methods and systems are particularly relevant for surgical or biopsy imaging, in which both a higher frame rate preview image of a subject for 3D visualization, and a higher sensitivity fluorescence image of the subject for tumor margin assessment, are desired.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for the separation and dispensing of material using a microfluidic separation column connected via an exit channel to one or more sheath flow channels. The flow of separated material through the separation column is at least partially driven by a voltage potential between a first electrode within the separation column and a terminating electrode within at least one of the sheath flow channels. The separation column, exit channel, sheath flow channels, and electrodes are all within a single monolithic chip. The presence of an on-chip terminating electrode allows for separated material to be entrained in the sheath fluids and ejected onto a surface that can be non-conductive. The presence of multiple sheath flows allows for sheath flow fluids to have different compositions from one another, while reducing the occurrence of sheath flow fluids entering the separation column.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed that can be used for fluorescence filtering for molecular imaging. In one preferred embodiment, a source subsystem is disclosed comprising a light source and a first set of filters designed to pass wavelengths of light in an absorption band of a fluorescent material. A detector subsystem is also disclosed comprising a light detector, imaging optics, a second set of filters designed to pass wavelengths of light in an emission band of the fluorescent material, and an aperture located at a front focal plane of the imaging optics. A telecentric space is created between the light detector and the imaging optics, such that axial rays from a plurality of field points emerge from the imaging optics parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second set of filters.

Abstract: To sequence long strands of DNA, clone strands having lengths longer than 100 bases are, in one embodiment, marked on one end with biotin. These strands are divided into 4 aliquots and each aliquot: (1) is uniquely chemically treated to randomly terminate the strands at the nonbiotinylated end at a selected type of base; and (2) is moved continuously by electrophoresis through a different one of four identical channels. In the one embodiment, the strands are randomly terminated at a selected base type and they are moved into avidin, which due to high affinity, combines with the biotin marked ends of shorter strands before the longer strands are fully resolved in the gel. The avidin is marked with fluorescein, the strands are scanned and the signals are decoded. In another embodiment, the strands are synthesized, with termination at a selected base type and marked either by the above method of by ethidium bromide.

Abstract: To sequence DNA automatically, DNA marked with far infrared, near infrared, or infrared fluorescent dyes are electrophoresed in a plurality of channels through a gel electrophoresis slab or capillary tubes wherein the DNA samples are resolved in accordance with the size of DNA fragments in the gel electrophoresis slab or capillary tubes into fluorescently marked DNA bands. The separated samples are scanned photoelectrically with a laser diode and a sensor, wherein the laser scans with scanning light at a wavelength within the absorbance spectrum of said fluorescently marked DNA samples and light is sensed at the emission wavelength of the marked DNA.

Abstract: To sequence DNA automatically, fluorescently marked DNA are electrophoresed in a plurality of channels through a gel electrophoresis slab; wherein the DNA samples are resolved in accordance with the size of DNA fragments in the gel electrophoresis slab into fluorescently marked DNA bands. The separated samples are scanned photoelectrically with a laser and a sensor, wherein the laser scans with scanning light at a scanning light frequency within the absorbance spectrum of said fluorescently marked DNA samples and light is sensed at the emission frequency of the marked DNA. The light is modulated from said laser at a predetermined modulation frequency and fluorescent light emitted by said DNA bands at said modulation frequency is detected, whereby background noise from the medium through which the light is transmitted is discriminated against.

Abstract: To sequence DNA, DNA samples marked with flourscent infrared dye are applied at a plurality of locations for electrophoresing in a plurality of channels through a gel electrophoresis slab. The channels are scanned with a laser and a sensor, that include a microscope focused on the gel slab. The focal point and slab are adjusted with respect to each other so that the focal point of the microscope remains on the gel slab during a scan. The data from the scan is directly used to amplitude modulate density readings on a display, and the scan is displayed in a horizontal sweep of a cathode ray tube, whereby said cathode ray tube provides intensity displays of bands representing DNA. Different sizes of glass gel sandwiches may be mounted to the same console for different sequencing tasks.

Abstract: To sequence DNA automatically, DNA marked with near infrared fluorescent dyes are electrophoresed in a plurality of channels through a gel electrophoresis slab wherein the DNA samples are resolved in accordance with the size of DNA fragments in the gel electrophoresis slab into fluorescently marked DNA bands. The separated samples are scanned photoelectrically with a laser diode and a sensor, wherein the laser scans with scanning light at a scanning light frequency within the absorbance spectrum of said fluorescently marked DNA samples and light is sensed at the emission frequency of the marked DNA. The light is modulated from said laser at a predetermined modulation frequency and fluorescent light emitted by said DNA bands at said modulation frequency is detected, whereby background noise from the medium through which the light is transmitted is discriminated against.

Abstract: To sequence DNA, DNA samples marked with fluorescent infrared dye are applied at a plurality of locations for electrophoresing in a plurality of channels through a gel electrophoresis slab. The channels are scanned with a laser and a sensor, that include a microscope focused on the gel slab. The focal point and slab are adjusted with respect to each other so that the focal point of the microscope remains on the gel slab during a scan. The data from the scan is directly used to amplitude modulate density readings on a display, and the scan is displayed in a horizontal sweep of a cathode ray tube, whereby said cathode ray tube provides intensity displays of bands representing DNA. Different sizes of glass gel sandwiches may be mounted to the same console for different sequencing tasks.