Abstract: A method and a system for analyzing a fluid sample for a biological activity. The method includes, providing a filter unit including a membrane having a front face and a rear face, passing the fluid sample through the filter membrane from its front face, applying the filter unit in a container, adding a medium into the container, and performing a scanning and image analyzing procedure of the filter membrane using at least one selected scanning wavelength. The scanning is an optical 3D scanning and includes acquiring a plurality of images along at least one scanning path.

Abstract: A method and a micro fluidic device comprising at least one micro fluidic structure for differential extraction of nuclear and extra-nuclear constituents of a single cell, said micro fluidic structure comprising a feeding channel for receiving a volume of a sample containing at least one cell, at least one trapping structure for capturing a single cell, and at least one output channel in fluid connection with the at least one trapping structure, wherein the at least one trapping structure extends from one side of the feeding channel substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the feeding channel, the at least one trapping structure possessing an aperture at its end opposite to the fluid channel and in fluid communication with an output channel, said aperture being configured to provide a narrow section such that the nucleus of a cell captured in the trapping structure cannot pass through said narrow section into the output channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for determination of a value for at least one parameter describing microbial activity of individual biological organisms in a liquid sample. Images, wherein individual biological organisms may be identified, are combined to provide optical sectionings of the biological organisms and the optical sectionings are analyzed to determine the value for said at least one parameter describing microbial activity of said individual biological organisms in each sample container.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample includes a sample device suitable for holding a liquid sample; a first optical detection assembly including a first image acquisition device, the first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and an object plane, the object plane including an image acquisition area from which electromagnetic waves can be detected as an image by the first image acquisition device; one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other; and an image illumination device, wherein the apparatus is arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is in the range of about 0.3 to about 89.7 degrees.

Abstract: An optical system suitable for determining a characteristic as a function of time of at least a part of a liquid volume comprising a plurality of objects. The optical system provides a fast detection of a change in the liquid volume. The optical system comprises—an optical detection assembly comprising at least one image acquisition device configured to acquire images of an image acquisition area; —a sample device comprising at least one sample container suitable for holding a sample of said liquid volume; —a translating arrangement configured to translate said image acquisition area through at least one part of said sample container to perform a scan along a scanning path through said part of said sample container; and—an image analyzing processing system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for holding a fluid sample, said system comprising a transparent flexible tube for holding said fluid sample, a tube holder for holding said tube, a first flattening element, and second flattening element, wherein said first flattening element and said second flattening element may be moved relative to each other thereby changing said transparent flexible tube from a first state to a second state, where at least a first cross sectional dimension of said tube is smaller in said second state than in said first state.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample includes a sample device suitable for holding a liquid sample; a first optical detection assembly including a first image acquisition device, the first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and an object plane, the object plane including an image acquisition area from which electromagnetic waves can be detected as an image by the first image acquisition device; one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other; and an image illumination device, wherein the apparatus is arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is in the range of about 0.3 to about 89.7 degrees.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a system for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample arranged in relation to a sample device. The apparatus comprises at least a first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and at least one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other. The movement of the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other is along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is larger than zero.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for holding a fluid sample, said system comprising a transparent flexible tube for holding said fluid sample, a tube holder for holding said tube, a first flattening element, and second flattening element, wherein said first flattening element and said second flattening element may be moved relative to each other thereby changing said transparent flexible tube from a first state to a second state, where at least a first cross sectional dimension of said tube is smaller in said second state than in said first state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for determination of a value for at least one parameter describing microbial activity of individual biological organisms in a liquid sample. Images, wherein individual biological organisms may be identified, are combined to provide optical sectionings of the biological organisms and the optical sectionings are analysed to determine the value for said at least one parameter describing microbial activity of said individual biological organisms in each sample container.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus for enumeration of particles or white blood cells in a sample comprises: a holder, which is arranged to receive a sample acquiring device that holds a sample, an imaging system, comprising a magnifying means and at least one digital image acquiring means, said imaging system being arranged to acquire at least one digital image of the sample, and an image analyser, which is arranged to analyse the digital image for identifying particles or white blood cells and determining the number of particles or white blood cells and which is arranged to analyse the digital image for identifying particles or white blood cells that are imaged in focus, determining types of these particles or white blood cells, the types being distinguished by physical features and determining the ratio of different types of particles or white blood cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a system for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample arranged in relation to a sample device. The apparatus comprises at least a first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and at least one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other. The movement of the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other is along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is larger than zero.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for analysis of particles in a liquid sample, the sample being retained in a sample retaining device, the method comprising: acquiring, by means of an image acquiring device, a plurality of images of said sample at different focus planes within the sample retaining device; analysing said images, by means of an image analyser, for identifying which, if any, of the particles of the sample are imaged in focus in each of the images, and analysing those particles which have been identified as being imaged in focus; wherein said plurality of images are acquired at different, essentially parallel, focus planes, which planes are separated from each other by a distance, said distance being less than 10 micrometers. The invention also relates to apparatuses adapted to be used for the inventive methods.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical wave device which may be used for movement of a mechanical member, e.g. by friction, a motor comprising one or more wave devices, and a method of providing the electro-mechanical wave device. The electro-mechanical wave device comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of conductors, and a plurality of actuators positioned on the substrate for generation of mechanical waves along a predetermined propagation path, each of the actuators being connected to a respective set of the conductors of the substrate for reception of an excitation signal transmitted by the set of conductors.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for analysis of particles in a liquid sample, the sample being retained in a sample retaining device, the method comprising: acquiring, by means of an image acquiring device, a plurality of images of said sample at different focus planes within the sample retaining device; analysing said images, by means of an image analyser, for identifying which, if any, of the particles of the sample are imaged in focus in each of the images, and analysing those particles which have been identified as being imaged in focus; wherein said plurality of images are acquired at different, essentially parallel, focus planes, which planes are separated from each other by a distance, said distance being less than 10 micrometers. The invention also relates to apparatuses adapted to be used for the inventive methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement apparatus, and method, for analysis of particles in a liquid sample, the apparatus comprising: an image acquiring device, an image analyser, a holder arranged to hold a sample retaining device, and a light refractor positioned between said image acquiring device and said holder; whereby at least one of the image acquiring device, the light refractor and the holder is movable by means of a piezoelectric motor, thereby moving a focus plane within the sample retaining device when it is held by the holder whereby the image acquiring device is adapted to acquire a plurality of images of said sample at different focus planes within the sample retaining device; wherein the image analyser is arranged to analyse at least one acquired image for identifying which of the particles are imaged in focus, and analysing those particles which have been identified as being imaged in focus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for locating foreign objects on the internal surface of ear and ear canal whereby a probe having a light emitting distal portion is inserted into the ear canal, the method further comprising the steps of:—directing light from the distal portion of the probe to illuminate at least one point or the internal circumferential surface of the ear and/or ear canal,—receiving the light reflected from the illuminated surface, and directing the received light to at least one light sensitive element to generate an output,—analyzing the output with respect to spectral composition in order to identify foreign objects. The invention also relates to an apparatus for locating foreign objects on the internal surface of ear and ear canal.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical wave device which may be used for movement of a mechanical member, e.g. by friction, a motor comprising one or more wave devices, and a method of providing the electro-mechanical wave device. The electro-mechanical wave device comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of conductors, and a plurality of actuators positioned on the substrate for generation of mechanical waves along a predetermined propagation path, each of the actuators being connected to a respective set of the conductors of the substrate for reception of an excitation signal transmitted by the set of conductors.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining positions of objects contained within a sample. The apparatus comprises an image sensor configured to transform incident light to image data, an optical system comprising a lens arrangement and an aperture, a light emitting device configured to generate light towards said image sensor, and an image data processor configured to receive image data from said image sensor and to determine positions for objects in said image data. The optical system is configured such that a depth of field of said optical system is larger than or equal to a thickness of said sample.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus for enumeration of particles or white blood cells in a sample comprises: a holder, which is arranged to receive a sample acquiring device that holds a sample, an imaging system, comprising a magnifying means and at least one digital image acquiring means, said imaging system being arranged to acquire at least one digital image of the sample, and an image analyser, which is arranged to analyse the digital image for identifying particles or white blood cells and determining the number of particles or white blood cells and which is arranged to analyse the digital image for identifying particles or white blood cells that are imaged in focus, determining types of these particles or white blood cells, the types being distinguished by physical features and determining the ratio of different types of particles or white blood cells.