Abstract: A method of increasing the interference contrast in interferometric scattering optical microscopy. The method comprises providing a particle detection region comprising a chamber or channel having a boundary defined by one or more interfaces, illuminating a particle in the particle detection region with coherent light using an objective lens such that the light is reflected from the interface and scattered by the particle, capturing the reflected light and the scattered light using the objective lens, and providing the captured reflected and scattered light to an imaging device to image interference between the reflected light and the scattered light. The particle is illuminated by coherent light at an oblique angle to the interface.

Abstract: A method of increasing the interference contrast in interferometric scattering optical microscopy. The method comprises providing a particle detection region comprising a chamber or channel having a boundary defined by one or more interfaces, illuminating a particle in the particle detection region with coherent light using an objective lens such that the light is reflected from the interface and scattered by the particle, capturing the reflected light and the scattered light using the objective lens, and providing the captured reflected and scattered light to an imaging device to image interference between the reflected light and the scattered light. The particle is illuminated by coherent light at an oblique angle to the interface.

Abstract: Method of tracking a plurality of objects comprising: focusing an image of the objects on an imaging element using an optical system; capturing the image of the objects using an imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels; measuring at least one characteristic of the objects from the captured image using an image processor; wherein the field of view is set be the widest field of view for which the image processor is able to measure the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: A flow apparatus for detecting a component on a surface is provided. The flow apparatus, comprising an inlet for receiving a solution of the components to be detected; a detection chamber in fluid connection with and downstream from the inlet, and in fluid connection with a downstream outlet, wherein the internal surface of the detection chamber comprises a plurality of detection zones and the detection zones are configured to adhere to the component to be detected such that the component is immobilised in the detection zones; a detector for detecting components immobilised on each of the detection zones; and a director for directing the flow of the solution of the components to each of the detection zones in sequence, wherein the director is provided by flow rates.

Abstract: A method of optically characterizing individual molecules/molecular complexes, or other particles, in solution. The method comprises flowing a solution comprising the molecules/molecular complexes into an imaging region of a microfluidic channel, wherein the imaging region of the microfluidic channel has a first lateral dimension of greater than 1 ?m in an x-direction wherein the x-direction is perpendicular to a direction of the flow; capturing a succession of images of the individual molecules/molecular complexes in the imaging region; tracking movement of the individual molecules/molecular complexes in at least the x-direction in the imaging region using the succession of images; and characterizing the individual molecules/molecular complexes from the tracked movement. In some implementations the characterizing comprises determining a diffusion coefficient of the molecules/molecular complexes from the tracked movement.

Abstract: A method of increasing the interference contrast in interferometric scattering optical microscopy. The method comprises providing a particle detection region comprising a chamber or channel having a boundary defined by one or more interfaces, illuminating a particle in the particle detection region with coherent light using an objective lens such that the light is reflected from the interface and scattered by the particle, capturing the reflected light and the scattered light using the objective lens, and providing the captured reflected and scattered light to an imaging device to image interference between the reflected light and the scattered light. The particle is illuminated by coherent light at an oblique angle to the interface.