Abstract: A variety of application can use nuclear magnetic resonance as an investigative tool. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements can be conducted using a nuclear magnetic resonance microscope. An example nuclear magnetic resonance microscope can comprise a film embedded in a coverslip, where the film is doped with reactive centers that undergo stable fluorescence when illuminated by electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths and a magnetic field generator to provide a magnetic field for nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of analytes when disposed proximal to the film. Microwave striplines on the coverslip can be arranged to generate microwave fields to irradiate the analytes for the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement. Control of the microwave signals on the microwave striplines can be used for dynamic nuclear polarization in the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of analytes.

Abstract: A variety of application can use nuclear magnetic resonance as an investigative tool. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements can be conducted using a nuclear magnetic resonance microscope. An example nuclear magnetic resonance microscope can comprise a film embedded in a coverslip, where the film is doped with reactive centers that undergo stable fluorescence when illuminated by electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths and a magnetic field generator to provide a magnetic field for nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of analytes when disposed proximal to the film. Microwave striplines on the coverslip can be arranged to generate microwave fields to irradiate the analytes for the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement. Control of the microwave signals on the microwave striplines can be used for dynamic nuclear polarization in the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of analytes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that enable sensing of magnetic fields within skin tissue. Specifically, a system includes one or more microneedles that include a high magnetic permeability material. The system also includes a magnetic sensor communicatively coupled to the microneedle and configured to detect a magnetic field proximate to the microneedle. The system also includes a controller configured to receive information indicative of a magnetic field proximate to a portion of the microneedle. The controller is further configured to determine a presence of at least one magnetic nanoparticle proximate to the portion of the microneedle based on the received information. Alternatively, other embodiments include a microneedle that includes a nanodiamond material configured to detect a local magnetic field. Such embodiments also include a light source configured to cause the nanodiamond material to emit characteristic emission light that may indicate at least a magnitude of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for optically interrogating subsurface tissues of a body. Optical interrogation includes illumination of a target tissue through an external body surface and detection of light emitted in response to the illumination. Parameters of such optical interrogation are controlled according to operational modes that are selected to maximize detector sensitivity to a target property of the target subsurface tissues. Operational modes are selected based on detected properties of the target tissue and of intervening tissues (e.g., thickness of intervening tissues between the target tissue and an external body surface) between the target tissue and an interrogating optical device. Operational modes can be determined based on simulated optical interrogation of subsurface tissue across a range of optical detector configurations and tissue conditions. Operational modes can include calibration curves specifying optical interrogation parameters based on intervening tissue properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to an optical system including an image sensor optically-coupled to at least one nanophotonic element. The image sensor may include a plurality of superpixels. Each respective superpixel of the plurality of superpixels may include at least a respective first pixel and a respective second pixel. The at least one nanophotonic element may have an optical phase transfer function and may include a two-dimensional arrangement of sub-wavelength regions of a first material interspersed within a second material, the first material having a first index of refraction and the second material having a second index of refraction. The nanophotonic element is configured to direct light toward individual superpixels in the plurality of superpixels, and to direct light toward the first or second pixel in each individual superpixel based on a wavelength dependence or a polarization dependence of the optical phase transfer function.

Abstract: Methods are provided to identify spatially and spectrally multiplexed probes in a biological environment. Such probes are identified by the ordering and color of fluorophores of the probes. The devices and methods provided facilitate determination of the locations and colors of such fluorophores, such that a probe can be identified. In some embodiments, probes are identified by applying light from a target environment to a spatial light modulator that can be used to control the direction and magnitude of chromatic dispersion of the detected light; multiple images of the target, corresponding to multiple different spatial light modulator settings, can be deconvolved and used to determine the colors and locations of fluorophores. In some embodiments, light from a region of the target can be simultaneously imaged spatially and spectrally. Correlations between the spatial and spectral images over time can be used to determine the color of fluorophores in the target.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that enable sensing of magnetic fields within skin tissue. Specifically, a system includes one or more microneedles that include a high magnetic permeability material. The system also includes a magnetic sensor communicatively coupled to the microneedle and configured to detect a magnetic field proximate to the microneedle. The system also includes a controller configured to receive information indicative of a magnetic field proximate to a portion of the microneedle. The controller is further configured to determine a presence of at least one magnetic nanoparticle proximate to the portion of the microneedle based on the received information. Alternatively, other embodiments include a microneedle that includes a nanodiamond material configured to detect a local magnetic field. Such embodiments also include a light source configured to cause the nanodiamond material to emit characteristic emission light that may indicate at least a magnitude of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to a nanophotonic optical system. The nanophotonic optical system may be configured to transmit light in a range of wavelengths. The nanophotonic optical system includes at least one nanophotonic element, which includes a two-dimensional arrangement of sub-wavelength regions of a first material interspersed within a second material, the first and second materials having different indices of refraction. The at least one nanophotonic element includes a surface having a curvature and an optical phase transfer function dependent on the curvature of the surface. The nanophotonic optical system includes an actuator configured to modify the curvature of the surface and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a threshold optical phase transfer function and cause the actuator to modify the curvature of the surface to provide the threshold optical phase transfer function.

Abstract: An engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may be operable to detect a presence or absence of an analyte in human tissue. An example method includes operating one or more light sources to illuminate a plurality of optodes with excitation light. Each optode is embedded in tissue at a respective location. The excitation light causes the optodes to emit emission light and the optodes are sensitive to at least one analyte such that the emission light emitted by the optodes is indicative of a presence or absence of at least one analyte in the tissue. An optical filter arrangement includes for each optode in the plurality of optodes a corresponding set of one or more optical filters. The method includes obtaining detector information from a detector arrangement optically coupled to the optical filter arrangement, and detecting the at least one analyte based on the detector information.

Abstract: Optical measurement of physiological parameters with wearable devices often includes measuring signals in the presence of significant noise sources. These noise sources include, but are not limited to, noise associated with: variable optical coupling to skin or tissue, variations in tissue optical properties with time due to changes in humidity, temperature, hydration, variations in tissue optical properties between individuals, variable coupling of ambient light sources into detectors, and instrument and detector noise, including electrical noise, radio frequency or magnetic interference, or noise caused by mechanical movement of the detector or its components. The present disclosure includes devices and methods configured to produce representations of the raw data in which noise, broadly defined, is separated from the data of interest. The disclosed devices and methods may include subtracting or calibrating out these noise sources and other spurious fluctuations in wearable devices with optical sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to an optical system including an image sensor optically-coupled to at least one nanophotonic element. The image sensor may include a plurality of superpixels. Each respective superpixel of the plurality of superpixels may include at least a respective first pixel and a respective second pixel. The at least one nanophotonic element may have an optical phase transfer function and may include a two-dimensional arrangement of sub-wavelength regions of a first material interspersed within a second material, the first material having a first index of refraction and the second material having a second index of refraction. The nanophotonic element is configured to direct light toward individual superpixels in the plurality of superpixels, and to direct light toward the first or second pixel in each individual superpixel based on a wavelength dependence or a polarization dependence of the optical phase transfer function.

Abstract: Optical measurement of physiological parameters with wearable devices often includes measuring signals in the presence of significant noise sources. These noise sources include, but are not limited to, noise associated with: variable optical coupling to skin or tissue, variations in tissue optical properties with time due to changes in humidity, temperature, hydration, variations in tissue optical properties between individuals, variable coupling of ambient light sources into detectors, and instrument and detector noise, including electrical noise, radio frequency or magnetic interference, or noise caused by mechanical movement of the detector or its components. The present disclosure includes devices and methods configured to produce representations of the raw data in which noise, broadly defined, is separated from the data of interest. The disclosed devices and methods may include subtracting or calibrating out these noise sources and other spurious fluctuations in wearable devices with optical sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to an optical system including an image sensor optically-coupled to at least one nanophotonic element. The image sensor may include a plurality of superpixels. Each respective superpixel of the plurality of superpixels may include at least a respective first pixel and a respective second pixel. The at least one nanophotonic element may have an optical phase transfer function and may include a two-dimensional arrangement of sub-wavelength regions of a first material interspersed within a second material, the first material having a first index of refraction and the second material having a second index of refraction. The nanophotonic element is configured to direct light toward individual superpixels in the plurality of superpixels, and to direct light toward the first or second pixel in each individual superpixel based on a wavelength dependence or a polarization dependence of the optical phase transfer function.

Abstract: A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data.

Abstract: A device and system for detecting an antigen present in a sample is provided. The system includes a cartridge and a reader device. The cartridge includes a solid support having an addressable array of at least one type of antibody that is specific for a target antigen and forms a complex in the presence of the target antigen, a substrate having a mounting surface for the solid support, Protein M for competitively displacing the target antigen from the complex, and a housing for protecting the substrate. The reader device is configured to detect the antigen in a liquid sample via interaction with the cartridge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting the locations of individual instances of an analyte (e.g., individual cells, individual molecules) in an environment are provided. The environment includes functionalized fluorophores that are configured to selective interact with (e.g., bind with) the analyte and that have a fluorescent property that can be modulated (e.g., a fluorescence intensity that can be affected by the presence of a magnetic field). Detecting the location of individual instances of the analyte includes illuminating the environment and detecting signals emitted from the fluorophores in response to the illumination during first and second periods of time. Detecting the location of individual instances of the analyte further includes modulating the modulatable fluorescent property of the fluorophores during the second period of time and determining which individual fluorophores in the environment are bound to the analyte based on the signals detected during the first and second periods of time.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for optically interrogating subsurface tissues of a body. Optical interrogation includes illumination of a target tissue through an external body surface and detection of light emitted in response to the illumination. Parameters of such optical interrogation are controlled according to operational modes that are selected to maximize detector sensitivity to a target property of the target subsurface tissues. Operational modes are selected based on detected properties of the target tissue and of intervening tissues (e.g., thickness of intervening tissues between the target tissue and an external body surface) between the target tissue and an interrogating optical device. Operational modes can be determined based on simulated optical interrogation of subsurface tissue across a range of optical detector configurations and tissue conditions. Operational modes can include calibration curves specifying optical interrogation parameters based on intervening tissue properties.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting the locations of individual instances of an analyte (e.g., individual cells, individual molecules) in an environment are provided. The environment includes functionalized fluorophores that are configured to selective interact with (e.g., bind with) the analyte and that have a fluorescent property that can be modulated (e.g., a fluorescence intensity that can be affected by the presence of a magnetic field). Detecting the location of individual instances of the analyte includes illuminating the environment and detecting signals emitted from the fluorophores in response to the illumination during first and second periods of time. Detecting the location of individual instances of the analyte further includes modulating the modulatable fluorescent property of the fluorophores during the second period of time and determining which individual fluorophores in the environment are bound to the analyte based on the signals detected during the first and second periods of time.