Abstract: A system for monitoring foetal growth. The system may include a plurality of devices. Each device of the plurality of devices may be configured to determine measurements of a baby bump over a time period, and may be further configured to store the measurements. The system may also include a server configured to receive the measurements from each of the plurality of devices. The server may be configured to compare the measurements from different devices of the plurality of devices. The system may be further configured to send an alert upon detecting an abnormality based on the measurements from the different devices of the plurality of devices.

Abstract: A portable device which detects a Raman signal from an analyte of interest contained in or suspected to contain in a sample. The portable device includes a laser source in optical communication with a dichroic mirror, an objective lens optically positioned to consolidate the laser from the laser source to the sample, (i) a pair of rotatable filters in optical communication with the dichroic mirror and an optical transmission module or (ii) a first band-pass filter in optical communication with the dichroic mirror and an optical transmission module, and a detector optically positioned to receive and detect a Raman signal produced from the laser incident on the analyte of interest. The dichroic mirror directs the laser from the laser source to the sample through the objective lens and transmits any Raman signal from the sample toward the detector. The detector is absent of a spectrometer and detects the Raman signal.

Abstract: Provided is an optical probe, and a Raman spectroscopy system using such, including excitation and detection optics coupled to a sampling optics via a beam splitter, in confocal arrangement with a sample focal plane of the sampling optics. The detection optics is arranged to receive Raman signal from the sample focal plane and direct it onto a tip of a detection optical fiber. The optical probe may further include a positioning device mechanically coupled to the sampling optics and configured to control a position of the sample focal plane. In the Raman spectroscopy system a light source is coupled to the excitation optics via an excitation optical fiber, and a spectrometer is coupled to a detection optics via a detection optical fiber. Provided is further a method for measuring Raman signal depth profile in a sample, wherein sample's Raman spectra is measured and stored at different focal plane positions.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method for detecting an analyte using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method comprises (a) contacting one or more analyte-binding molecules with the analyte under conditions that allow binding of the analyte to the one or more analyte-binding molecules to form a first mixture, wherein the analyte is preferably haptogloblin and the analyte-binding molecule may comprise haemoglobin or is a haptogloblin antibody, (b) contacting a liquid reagent comprising a peroxidase substrate and a peroxide source with the first mixture to form a second mixture, while maintaining pH of the second mixture at 10 or less, (c) quenching the second mixture to form a third mixture, (d) optionally contacting the third mixture with a SERS-active substrate, and (e) detecting a surface enhanced Raman signal from the third mixture and/or a surface of the SERS-active substrate.

Abstract: Method for measuring respiratory vibration on a human or animal skin, including emitting an emission light at a first position on the skin and receiving a diffused light from the emission light at a second position on the skin; storing a vibration signal including a light intensity of the diffused light received over time; wherein the vibration signal corresponds to a mechanical vibration of the skin, and extracting a respiratory parameter from the vibration signal. In particular, at least one of the first position and the second position is in proximity to or at a trachea, a neck or a chest. The system for carrying out the method includes an emitter, a receiver, a circuit, and a processing unit. A set of a sensor module and a skin adhesive patch is also provided.

Abstract: An aspect relates to a placement device for placement in a medium, including: an elongated optical transmission guide to which a photoacoustic transducer is attached to, wherein the photoacoustic transducer may include a first surface facing away from the second end of the elongated optical transmission guide. The photoacoustic transducer may include a 3-Dimensional shape configured to produce an acoustic signal upon absorption of electromagnetic energy received from the elongated optical transmission guide, and an emission profile of the acoustic signal is based on the 3-Dimensional shape, when the photoacoustic transducer is immersed in homogeneous medium. The placement device may be integral to a medical or veterinary device. An aspect relates to a placement tracking system including the placement device and an ultrasound detector. An aspect relates to a method for tracking a portion of a placement device in a medium using the system.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an optical fiber for sensing an analyte. The optical fiber may include a dielectric core wall defining a hollow space. The optical fiber may also include a cladding layer surrounding the dielectric core wall and spaced apart from the dielectric core wall. The optical fiber may further include a plurality of supports extending from the cladding layer to the dielectric core wall. A thickness of the dielectric core wall may be greater than a thickness of each of the plurality of supports. The dielectric core wall may be configured to carry an optical light for sensing the analyte.

Abstract: A method of identifying a Mycobacterium using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), disclosed herein, comprises disposing a sample suspected to comprise a Mycobacterium on a SERS-active substrate, detecting surface enhanced Raman signals corresponding to an alpha-mycolic acid, a methoxy-mycolic acid, and a keto-mycolic acid from the sample disposed on the SERS-active substrate, and determining one or more ratios of intensity of the surface enhanced Raman signals to identify the Mycobacterium. Disclosed herein also includes a method of detecting a mycobacterial disease using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), the method comprising identifying a Mycobacterium according to the method described above, and determining the mycobacterial disease based on the Mycobacterium identified.

Abstract: A biosensor for the detection of an analyte using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The biosensor includes a SERS-active substrate and a microfludic circuit device arranged to be in fluid communication with the SERS-active substrate. Method of manufacturing a biosensor, and methods for detecting an analyte using the biosensor, wherein the analyte may be haptoglobin, are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a lens for use in a human or animal body, the lens comprising a metasurface configured to modulate incident light, wherein the metasurface is composed of at least one light transmissive biomaterial. Also provided is a method of making the lens.

Abstract: The present application discloses a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active photonic crystal fiber (PCF) probe including a biopsy needle in the PCF probe for integrated sample collection and SERS sensing of one or more analytes comprised in the sample. The PCF comprises solid core and a cladding region surrounding the solid core, wherein the cladding region comprises air holes functionalised by metallic nanoparticles. The application also provides a method for detecting one or more analytes using the PCF probe as well as the use of the PCF probe for the detection of one or more analytes.

Abstract: A method for assessing a state of a living cell using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method may include modifying one or more living eel Is with an alkyne-containing compound to form one or more modified living cells, mixing the one or more modified living cells with a SERS-active material to form a mixture, injecting the mixture into a conduit defined by an inner wall of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber, and detecting a surface enhanced Raman signal from the mixture in the conduit. In preferred embodiments, the alkyne containing compound is linoleamide alkyne (LLA) for the detection of lipid peroxidation or 4-(dihydroxyborophenyl) acetylene (DBA) for the detection of sialic acid expression in cells, both using gold nanoparticles as the SERS-active material.

Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for in vivo detection of adipose tissue browning. The system includes a fiber probe configured to illuminate light on an adipose tissue site; a spectrometer configured to obtain diffuse reflectance spectrum information from the adipose tissue site; a chromophore measure determining module configured to determine a fraction of lipid chromophore with respect to lipid chromophore and water chromophore based on spectrally unmixing the diffuse reflectance spectrum information in a region of 1050 nm to 1400 nm; and a browning detector module configured to detect adipose tissue browning based on the fraction determined above.

Abstract: A biosensor for the detection of an analyte using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The biosensor includes a SERS-active substrate and a microfludic circuit device arranged to be in fluid communication with the SERS-active substrate. Method of manufacturing a biosensor, and methods for detecting an analyte using the biosensor, wherein the analyte may be haptoglobin, are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method for multi-modal imaging of tissue.

Abstract: The present application discloses a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active photonic crystal fiber (PCF) probe including a biopsy needle in the PCF probe for integrated sample collection and SERS sensing of one or more analytes comprised in the sample. The PCF comprises solid core and a cladding region surrounding the solid core, wherein the cladding region comprises air holes functionalised by metallic nanoparticles. The application also provides a method for detecting one or more analytes using the PCF probe as well as the use of the PCF probe for the detection of one or more analytes.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an optical sensing device based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The optical sensing device may include an optical arrangement configured to provide a first polarization light beam and a second polarization light beam, and a first optical member including a sensing surface, the first optical member configured to receive the first and second polarization light beams and reflect the first and second polarization light beams at the sensing surface. The optical sensing device may further include a second optical member arranged to receive the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the first optical member and configured to separate the reflected first and second polarization light beams in a first direction and a second direction, respectively. The optical device may additionally include a detector arrangement configured to detect the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the second optical member.

Abstract: Method for measuring respiratory vibration on a human or animal skin, including emitting an emission light at a first position on the skin and receiving a diffused light from the emission light at a second position on the skin; storing a vibration signal including a light intensity of the diffused light received over time; wherein the vibration signal corresponds to a mechanical vibration of the skin, and extracting a respiratory parameter from the vibration signal. In particular, at least one of the first position and the second position is in proximity to or at a trachea, a neck or a chest. The system for carrying out the method includes an emitter, a receiver, a circuit, and a processing unit. A set of a sensor module and a skin adhesive patch is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is an optical probe, and a Raman spectroscopy system using such, including excitation and detection optics coupled to a sampling optics via a beam splitter, in confocal arrangement with a sample focal plane of the sampling optics. The detection optics is arranged to receive Raman signal from the sample focal plane and direct it onto a tip of a detection optical fiber. The optical probe may further include a positioning device mechanically coupled to the sampling optics and configured to control a position of the sample focal plane. In the Raman spectroscopy system a light source is coupled to the excitation optics via an excitation optical fiber, and a spectrometer is coupled to a detection optics via a detection optical fiber. Provided is further a method for measuring Raman signal depth profile in a sample, wherein sample's Raman spectra is measured and stored at different focal plane positions.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an optical sensing device based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The optical sensing device may include an optical arrangement configured to provide a first polarization light beam and a second polarization light beam, and a first optical member including a sensing surface, the first optical member configured to receive the first and second polarization light beams and reflect the first and second polarization light beams at the sensing surface. The optical sensing device may further include a second optical member arranged to receive the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the first optical member and configured to separate the reflected first and second polarization light beams in a first direction and a second direction, respectively. The optical device may additionally include a detector arrangement configured to detect the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the second optical member.