Abstract: There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element includes an optical waveguide having an optical axis and a sidewall, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair; wherein the optical waveguide includes a plurality of structures formed along the optical axis, the structures having a refractive index which is different to a refractive index of the optical waveguide. A hair cutting device comprising a cutting element, and a method of manufacturing an optical waveguide cutting element are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical 5 waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, wherein the control unit is configured to vary the power of the light generated by the light source between first and second power levels during operation such that, on heating of a hair by light coupling from a contact point on the cutting face into the hair, the temperature of the contact point on the cutting face is maintained below a glass transition 10 temperature for the optical waveguide, wherein the first power level is higher than the second power le

Abstract: There is provided a cutting assembly for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting assembly includes a cutting element having a first end and a second end, the cutting element comprising an optical waveguide for receiving light from at least one light source. The cutting assembly includes a first light guiding element configured to guide light from the at least one light source into the first end of the cutting element, and a second light guiding element configured to guide light from the at least one light source into the second end of the cutting element. Each of the light guiding elements comprises a taper transition section in which a diameter of the light guiding element reduces from a first diameter to a second diameter. A hair cutting device comprising a cutting assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject is presented. The hair cutting device comprises a laser light source, a light guiding element for guiding light from the light source to the cutting element. The cutting element comprises an optical waveguide for receiving light from the light guiding element. The light guiding element has a tapered section in which a diameter of the light guiding element reduces from a light source side diameter to a cutting element side diameter. A portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide of the cutting element forms a cutting face for contacting hair.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an input relating to a region of the body on which hair is to be cut and/or a speed of movement of the hair cutting device, and to control the power of the light generated by the light source based on the received input.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; a sensor for measuring a force acting on the cutting element; and a control unit that is coupled to the source and the sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to control the power of the light generated by the source based on the measured force, and wherein the power of the light is controlled to a first non-zero level if the measured force is below a first threshold, and controlled to a second non-zero level if the measured force is above a second threshold, wherein the first non-zero level is less than the second non-zero level an

Abstract: The present invention relates to digital pathology. In order provide enhanced use of available imaging radiation, a digital pathology scanner (10) is provided that comprises a radiation arrangement (12), a sample receiving device (14), an optics arrangement (16), and a sensor unit (18). The radiation arrangement comprises a source (20) that provides electromagnetic radiation (22) for radiating a sample received by the sample receiving device. Further, the optics arrangement comprises at least one of the group of a lens (24) and a filter (26) that are arranged between the sample receiving device and the sensor unit. The sensor unit is configured to provide image data of the radiated sample. Still further, a lens array arrangement (28) is provided that comprises at least one lens array (30) arranged between the source and the sample receiving device.

Abstract: A fluid disinfection system comprising at least one UV light source to provide UV radiation into a chamber. The chamber containing an amount of fluid to be disinfected and fitted with at least one adjustable wall. The adjustable wall positioned on an upper surface of the fluid to reflect UV radiation within the amount of liquid. This adjustable wall effectively providing a variable volume chamber in which fluid disinfection can occur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescence imaging. In order to enhance compatibility with multiple fluorescence channels for calibrating a fluorescence microscope, a calibration slide is provided that comprises a substrate and a pixel layout. The pixel layout comprises a plurality of spaced apart metal nanostructures arranged on a surface of the substrate. The metal nanostructures are arranged to produce plasmon resonances that allow absorbing light at an excitation wavelength to produce photo-luminescence and/or fluorescence light for generating a fluorescent image. The fluorescent image comprises a plurality of pixel intensity values that are provided for calibration of a fluorescence microscope.

Abstract: The present invention discloses microfluidic devices with a valve-like structure (3), through which magnetic particles can be transported with minimal transport of fluids. This allows sequential processing of the magnetic particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to digital pathology. In order to improve the workflow in the process of selecting a region of interest of an unstained sample to be removed for molecular diagnostic, a method (100) is provided for selecting a sample removing area of an unstained sample to be removed for molecular diagnostic. The method comprises the following steps: In a first step 102, also referred to as step a), a reference removing area is selected in a reference image of a reference slice of an object, wherein biological material in the reference slice is stained. In a second step 104, also referred to as step b), a digital sample image of a sample slice of the object is obtained under an imaging setting. The biological material in the sample slice is unstained. The sample slice is received on a sample slide and positioned in an optical path between a light source and an image detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to digital pathology, and relates in particular to a digital pathology scanner illumination unit. In order to provide digital pathology scanning with improved illumination, a digital pathology scanner illumination unit (10) is provided that comprises a light source (12), a light mixing chamber (14), and a light diffuser (16). The light source comprises a plurality of light elements (18) that are arranged longitudinally along a linear extension direction. The mixing chamber comprises a transparent volume (22) providing a mixing distance (DM) between the plurality of the light elements and the light diffuser such that light with a uniform intensity is provided at a downstream edge (26) of the mixing chamber; and the mixing chamber is arranged, in terms of light propagation, between the plurality of the light elements and the light diffuser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to digital pathology. In order provide enhanced use of available imaging radiation, a digital pathology scanner (10) is provided that comprises a radiation arrangement (12), a sample receiving device (14), an optics arrangement (16), and a sensor unit (18). The radiation arrangement comprises a source (20) that provides electromagnetic radiation (22) for radiating a sample received by the sample receiving device. Further, the optics arrangement comprises at least one of the group of a lens (24) and a filter (26) that are arranged between the sample receiving device and the sensor unit. The sensor unit is configured to provide image data of the radiated sample. Still further, a lens array arrangement (28) is provided that comprises at least one lens array (30) arranged between the source and the sample receiving device.

Abstract: A fluid disinfection system comprising at least one UV light source to provide UV radiation into a chamber. The chamber containing an amount of fluid to be disinfected and fitted with at least one adjustable wall. The adjustable wall positioned on an upper surface of the fluid to reflect UV radiation within the amount of fluid. This adjustable wall effectively providing a variable volume chamber in which fluid disinfection can occur.

Abstract: The invention relates to real-time array PCR cartridges. The cartridge (100) has a fluid chamber (101) for a fluid bath (102) and a first support element (200) for fixing a microarray (103) in the fluid chamber (101). Thereby the first support element (200) fixes the microarray (103) in such a way that a change of a size of the microarray (103) due to thermal expansion of the microarray (103) is possible without inducing substantial mechanical stress to the cartridge (100). Thereby the cartridge materials chosen independently from thermal expansion coefficients of different microarrays that are to be inserted and fixed into the cartridge (100).

Abstract: A detection system, comprising: a radiation source (24) for providing input radiation; a radiation focusing arrangement (26) for providing the input radiation to an analysis region of a sample (20);—a radiation collection (26) arrangement for collecting output radiation from the analysis region of the sample resulting from interaction of the input radiation with the sample; a radiation detector (28) for detecting the collected output radiation; operating means (40,50,60) for operating the detection device in a first detection mode and a second detection mode, wherein in the first detection mode the analysis has a first size and/or shape and wherein in the second detection mode the analysis region has a second size and/or shape that is different from the first size and/or shape.

Abstract: A system for detecting a plurality of analytes in a sample includes an aperture array and a lens array for generating and focusing a plurality of excitation sub-beams on different sub-regions of a substrate. These sub-regions can be provided with different binding sites for binding different analytes in the sample. By detecting the different luminescent responses in a detector, the presence or amount of different analytes can be determined simultaneously. Alternatively or in addition, collection of the luminescence radiation can be performed using the lens array for directly collecting the luminescence response and for guiding the collected luminescence response to corresponding apertures. The excitation sub-beams may be focused at the side of the substrate opposite of the lens array, and an immersion fluid is provided between the lens array and the substrate to increase the collection efficiency of the luminescence radiation.

Abstract: An illumination detection system includes an excitation radiation source and associated radiation processing arrangement for focusing the excitation radiation from the radiation processing arrangement onto an analysis region of a sample. A radiation collection arrangement collects radiation from the analysis region of the sample resulting from the excitation, and a detector detects the collected radiation. The focused excitation radiation includes an excitation line which is evanescent in the sample. This combines the advantages of line scanning (reduced analysis time) and evanescent excitation (reduced background signal) and therewith enables increase measurement speed and precision for point of care application.

Abstract: An optical beam shaper comprises a polarization-dependent phase adjustment member which applies a phase pattern of equal magnitude and opposite sign to two orthogonal polarization states. In a preferred embodiment the beamer shaper is a dif tractive element made of a birefringent material, such as a photo-polymerizable liquid crystal polymer frozen in a uniaxial alignment, said dif tractive element comprising a plurality of zones, each zone having a stepped thickness defining a plurality of steps. The beam shaper can be used to introduce astigmatism to a polarized light beam or to undo the astigmatism to a beam with an orthogonal polarization state. The beam shaper is advantageously used within a detection device, such as a fluorescence scanner.

Abstract: The invention relates to real-time array PCR cartridges. The cartridge (100) has a fluid chamber (101) for a fluid bath (102) and a first support element (200) for fixing a microarray (103) in the fluid chamber (101). Thereby the first support element (200) fixes the microarray (103) in such a way that a change of a size of the microarray (103) due to thermal expansion of the microarray (103) is possible without inducing substantial mechanical stress to the cartridge (100). Thereby the cartridge materials chosen independently from thermal expansion coefficients of different microarrays that are to be inserted and fixed into the cartridge (100).