Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for optically identifying and enumerating cells present in a blood sample. A light scatter detector array may be used having no more than three light scatter detectors. The array may include a side scatter detector, an intermediate angle light scatter detector, and one of an axial light loss detector and a forward light scatter detector. A lytic reagent system is disclosed that allows for the identification and enumeration of five major leukocyte populations in normal whole blood on an instrument using no more than three light scatter detectors.

Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method are provided for a modular flow cytometer with a compact size. In one embodiment, the modular flow cytometry system includes the following: a laser system for emitting laser beams; a flow cell assembly positioned to receive the laser beams at an interrogation region of a fluidics stream where fluoresced cells scatter the laser beams into fluorescent light; a fiber assembly positioned to collect the fluorescent light; and a compact light detection module including a first image array having a transparent block, a plurality of micro-mirrors in a row coupled to a first side of the transparent block, and a plurality of filters in a row coupled to a second side of the transparent block opposite the first side.

Abstract: A sensor system (100) utilizes temperature control systems (262) and methods to achieve and maintain a sample in a sample chamber (110) at a sampling temperature. Such sensor systems and methods may employ a dual mode temperature controller including a spike mode (SMC) controller (274) and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) mode controller (272). Based on a temperature of the sample, the temperature controller of the sensor system can initially enter the spike mode or the PID mode.

Abstract: A non-dispersive photoacoustic gas detector comprises an infrared light source, a closed chamber, a gas sample disposed within the closed chamber, and an acoustic sensor in fluid communication with the dosed chamber. The dosed chamber comprises at least one window that is substantially transparent to infrared light from the infrared light source, and the gas sample comprises a gas or a mixture of at least two gases.

Abstract: A system to verify the identity of modules within a stack light is disclosed. A sensor is mounted to a circuit board inserted within a housing of the module, and a target is mounted to or integrally formed in the housing. The sensor detects and generates a signal corresponding to the detected target. Different targets or locations for the target are provided for each housing. The module, a base for the stack light, or a remote controller in communication with the stack light identifies the housing in which the circuit board is mounted based on the feedback signal generated by detecting the target. At power-up, a routine may initiate a verification routine by which each module in the stack light determines the type of housing in which the circuit board for that module is located.

Abstract: Video recordings from two or more optical channels are produced, processed, and analyzed simultaneously in order to provide quantitative analysis of action potentials, calcium transients and ionic flux in excitable cells loaded with voltage or ion sensitive dyes with distinct excitation and emission wavelengths. The specific wavelengths of fluorescent light emitted from each dye are separated and recorded. The recordings are mutually registered and cytometric analysis is performed to provide a quantitative analysis of the action potentials, calcium transient, and/or ionic flux on a cell-by-cell and well-by-well basis in microtiter plates. The cells are then fixed, labeled for other biomarkers, and scanned again. The resulting fixed cell images are registered with the live cell recordings and analyzed; missing cells that were washed off are detected relative to the live recordings, and cytometry data from live and fixed cell scans is collated cell-by-cell.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for configuring an integrated computational element (ICE) to measure a property of a sample of interest. The system includes an illumination source to provide a sample light which is reflected from or transmitted through a sample. A dispersive element disperses the sample light into wavelength portions. An intensity modulation device having an array of electronically controllable modulation elements is disclosed that forms a pattern which modulates the dispersed sample light. Collection optics focuses the modulated sample light on a detector, which generates a signal that correlates to a property of the sample. The electronically controllable modulation elements can be readily altered to conform to a different measurable property of a sample of interest as desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a characterization device (50) for characterizing a sample (S) comprising: a memory (MEM) storing a measured spectrum (As+p) of said sample, performed through a translucent material, and a measured spectrum of the translucent material (Ap), a processing unit (PU) configured to: determine a spectral energy (Es+p) of the measured spectrum (As+p) of the sample through the translucent material (As+p), estimate a coefficient ({circumflex over (?)}) from said spectral energy (Es+p) and, determine a corrected spectrum (Âs) of the sample from the measured spectrum (As+p) of the sample through the translucent material and from a corrected spectrum of the translucent material (Âp), said corrected spectrum of the translucent material (Âp) being determined from the measured spectrum of the translucent material (Ap) and from the estimated coefficient ({circumflex over (?)}).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, systems and devices for measurement and visualization of chemical dynamics in living cells or tissues for diagnostic pathology. Devices can be open- or closed-channel microfluidic membrane devices for long-term IR spectroscopy of live adherent cells and ultimately for rapidly identifying time-dependent spectral features indicative of chemical abnormality in individual cells.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-program products for fluid analysis and monitoring are disclosed. Embodiments include a removable and replaceable sampling system and an analytical system connected to the sampling system. A fluid may be routed through the sampling system and data may be collected from the fluid via the sampling system. The sampling system may process and transmit the data to the analytical system. The analytical system may include a command and control system to receive and store the data in a database and compare the data to existing data for the fluid in the database to identify conditions in the fluid. Fluid conditions may be determined using machine learning models that are generated from well-characterized known training data. Predicted fluid conditions may then be used to automatically implement control processes for an operating machine containing the fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments described are generally directed to a test sample apparatus. The test sample apparatus generally comprises a holder base arranged that accommodates a tablet or cell phone. The apparatus has a hood that is placed over a portion of the tablets illuminating touchscreen such that the illuminating touchscreen provides light that can be collected by the hood. There is a chamber integrated with the hood adapted to accommodate a chemically activated test strip. The chemically activated test strip is illuminated when the hood collects light from the illuminating touchscreen. A lens in the hood interposed between the camera and the test strip enables the camera to focus on a portion of the chemically activated test strip when the hood is placed over the portion of the illuminating touchscreen.

Abstract: A method for determining instrument depending parameters of a surface plasmon resonance, SPR, biosensor system is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: a) identifying an analyte for use in a calibration step, said analyte having a known molecular weight, a known diffusion constant, a known refractive index increment and a known concentration; b) measuring an active concentration of the analyte by use of the SPR biosensor system according to a known method using the identified analyte and a chip to which the analyte can bind, said known method including the use of an instrument depending constant that is not adopted for each specific instrument, chip and flow cell combination; c) comparing the known concentration of the analyte with the active concentration retrieved in step b); and d) adjusting the instrument depending constant used in the known method for measuring the active concentration according to a result of comparison obtained in step c).

Abstract: A reflection characteristic measurement system includes: a hand-held reflection characteristic measurement apparatus including a light receiver that receives reflected light; and a guide member that supports the reflection characteristic measurement apparatus, wherein the guide member includes: a plate-shaped support part having a support surface to support the reflection characteristic measurement apparatus; and a white calibration plate applicable to white calibration of the reflection characteristic measurement apparatus, the support part includes: an elongated hole extending in one direction along the support surface; and a guide structure provided to guide the reflection characteristic measurement apparatus so as to enable the apparatus to move along the one direction, the light receiver is provided on the reflection characteristic measurement apparatus so as to move along a predetermined moving path, the moving path of the light receiver extends in the one direction, and the white calibration plate is p

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the amount of absorbance of a sample in a microcapillary based on measuring the absorbance in the sample.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate having an electromagnetic wave transmission property, a lid member facing the substrate and being separated from the substrate such that a flow channel is formed between the substrate and the lid member, a light absorption layer which is placed in the flow channel and absorbs an electromagnetic wave, and a microwell array formed on the substrate and having plural microwells that are open to the flow channel to receive a target of analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorescence image analyzing apparatus including a light source that emits light to a sample including a plurality of cells labeled with a fluorescent dye at a target site, an imaging unit that captures a fluorescence image of each of the cells that emit fluorescence by being irradiated with the light, a processing unit that processes the fluorescence image captured by the imaging unit, and a display unit that displays the fluorescence image processed by the processing unit. The processing unit performs an extraction process of extracting, for each cell, a plurality of bright spots in the fluorescence image including the target site, a changing process of changing a pixel value of each of the plurality of extracted bright spots based on the pixel value of each bright spot, and a display process of displaying the fluorescence image whose pixel value is changed on the display unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorescence image analyzing apparatus including a light source that emits light to a sample including a plurality of cells labeled with a fluorescent dye at a target site, an imaging unit that captures a fluorescence image of each of the cells that emit fluorescence by being irradiated with the light, a fluorescence image of the cell, and a processing unit that processes the fluorescence image captured by the imaging unit to acquire a bright spot pattern of fluorescence in the fluorescence image. The processing unit selects a reference pattern corresponding to a measurement item of the sample from a plurality of reference patterns corresponding to a plurality of measurement items and generates information used for determination of the sample based on the bright spot pattern of fluorescence in the fluorescence image and the selected reference pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus to provide a label-free or native particle analysis comprises a light generating system producing first light pulses at a first wavelength and second light pulses at a second wavelength; and a flow cell coupled to the light generating system to convey particles for analysis. The light generating system is configured to chirp at least one of the first light pulses and the second light pulses to analyze the particles.

Abstract: The invention is an iterative method for acquiring a spectrum of a particle that is subjected to an illumination. It may in particular be a Raman spectrum. The method includes successively acquiring spectra that are what are called elementary spectra. These elementary spectra are combined to form a combined spectrum, which may be obtained by summing said elementary spectra. With each elementary spectrum is associated an acceptance criterion that is representative of a variation between said elementary spectrum and the elementary spectra acquired beforehand. Depending on this acceptance criterion, the elementary spectrum is either rejected, or accepted, in which case it is added to the combined spectrum. The invention makes it possible to guard against a degradation of the particle under the effect of an excessive exposure to said illumination.

Abstract: An optical measuring device includes a measuring unit (an optical head and a control unit) that irradiates a detection portion of an immunochromatographic test piece with measurement light and measures light obtained from the detection portion due to the irradiation with the measurement light, and a determination unit that performs a determination regarding the immunochromatographic test piece on the basis of a determination according to a comparison of a measurement value obtained by the measuring unit with a preset threshold value, the measuring unit performs the measurement of the light obtained from the detection portion a plurality of times, and the determination unit performs a determination regarding the immunochromatographic test piece when the determination unit determines that a measurement value in an nth measurement is equal to or greater than the threshold value and also determines that a measurement value in an (n+1)th measurement is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: Provided is an inspection lighting device with which, even when changes in light that occur at respective feature points on an object to be inspected are small, the amounts of those changes in light can be determined across the entire field-of-view range, and the feature points can be detected under exactly the same conditions. An inspection lighting device 100 includes a surface light source 1 and a lens 2 that is disposed between the surface light source 1 and an inspection object W, the lens 2 being disposed nearer to the inspection object W such that at least one of a shielding mask M1 and a filtering means F1 is located centered around a focal distance position of the lens. An irradiation solid angle of light emitted from the surface light source 1 and irradiated onto the inspection object W by the lens 2 is configured to have solid angle regions as desired, the solid angle regions having specific optical attributes.

Abstract: The imaging support device includes: a distance information-acquisition unit (20) that acquires distance information on a distance between an imaging device (200) and the surface to be imaged of a structure; an inclination angle information-acquisition unit (22) that acquires inclination angle information on an inclination angle of the surface to be imaged of the structure; an actual pixel density-calculation unit (24) that calculates actual pixel density of the surface to be imaged of the structure on the basis of imaging performance information of the imaging device (200) (including information on the number of pixels of an imaging element, size information of the imaging element, and information on a focal length), distance information, and inclination angle information; and a pixel density-determination unit (26) that determines whether or not the calculated actual pixel density matches required pixel density information.

Abstract: There are provided a defect inspection apparatus, method, and program for, in a case of using an image of an inspection-target industrial product (test object) to conduct an inspection to check whether defects are present, allowing an image interpreter to precisely and efficiently detect defects. A possible-defect image D3 indicating a crack-like defect and a simulation result image P3 indicating the predicted growth of the crack-like defect are displayed. Sliders L1 and L2 and checkboxes CB1 are used to enable selection of possible defects and simulation results to be displayed. An image interpreter can use the checkboxes CB1 to select a type of possible defect to be displayed, and can use the sliders L1 and L2 to select possible defects to be displayed on the basis of the wall thickness of portions in which possible defects are detected and the size of possible defects.

Abstract: To test object image data IMG1, images (possible-defect images D1 to D3) representing possible defects detected by an image processing unit 22 are added. Adjacent to sliders L1 and L2, a histogram H1 indicating the number of detected possible defects for each wall thickness and a histogram H2 indicating the number of detected possible defects for each size are displayed, respectively. When a checkbox CB1 corresponding to a type of defect is selected by an operation unit 14, only images of possible defects of the selected type are displayed on the test object image IMG1. When the sliders L1 and L2 are operated by the operation unit 14, only images of possible defects within a wall thickness range selected by the slider L1 and within a size range selected by the slider L2 are displayed, and images of possible defects outside the ranges are erased.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for operating an apparatus. The apparatus comprises: a scintillator and an array of photodetectors; the scintillator configured to be rotatable around the periphery of a computed tomography scanner, the scintillator configured to receive X-rays incident on the scintillator, convert the received X-rays to visible light and transmit the visible light towards a corresponding photodetector of the array of photodetectors; and the array of photodetectors fixed around the periphery of the computed tomography scanner, each of the photodetectors in the array of photodetectors configured to output an electrical signal in response to detecting the visible light received from the scintillator.

Abstract: This thermal conductivity measurement apparatus has a first holding member which has an end face that contacts an object to be measured and a distal end face; a second holding member which has an end face that contacts an object to be measured and a distal end face; a heating member which has an end face which abuts the distal end face of the first holding member and a distal end face, and which heats the first holding member; a cooling member which has an end face that abuts the distal end face of the second holding member and a distal end face, and which cools the second holding member; a plurality of temperature sensors provided at the first and the second holding members; and a pressing force application mechanism that applies pressing force to the first holding member, the second holding member, and the object to be measured.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface of a structure for defects includes an inspection apparatus having a heating device for heating a section of the surface of the structure, an infrared camera for receiving infrared radiation from the surface in response to heating, a controller configured to generate thermographs from the received infrared radiation, and a communication device. A training system includes an expert system module configured to determine correlations between a set of thermographs generated by a thermal simulation of modeled structural elements with defects, and parameters of the modeled structural elements. A computer system communicatively coupled to the training system and the inspection apparatus, is adapted to receive thermographs received from the inspection apparatus and to detect quantitative parameters of defects in the structure using the correlations obtained from the training system.

Abstract: To provide a surface characteristics evaluation method that evaluates the residual stress in a subject made of steel material subjected to a surface modification treatment. A surface characteristics evaluation method includes a step of preparing a surface characteristics evaluation apparatus, a step of placing the subject in such a manner that an alternating magnetic field induced by a coil of the surface characteristics evaluation apparatus permeates into the steel material, a step of generating an eddy current in the subject, a step of successively changing the alternating magnetic field applied to the coil, a step of calculating the impedance Z1 for each of different frequencies from the potential difference across the coil and the value of the current flowing through the coil, a step of performing computation based on the impedance Z1, and a step of evaluating the residual stress in the steel material based on the computation result.

Abstract: Systems, device and methods are provided for measuring parameters of a medium such as the dielectric properties of a medium including a plurality of layers, using an array of sensors. The array comprises at least two transducers and at least one transceiver attached to said at least two transducers, the at least one transceiver is configured to transmit at least one signal toward the medium and receive a plurality of signals affected by the medium; a data acquisition unit and at least one processor unit, configured to: process the affected plurality of signals to yield a plurality of transfer functions wherein each of said plurality of transfer functions comprising said medium response between two transducers of said at least two transducers as function of frequency or time; and process the plurality of transfer functions to yield a plurality of statistical measures, and process said statistical measures to calculate said medium parameters.

Abstract: This invention provides a highly-selective and sensitive Nitrogen oxide gas sensor based on the resistive transducing platforms using two-dimensional (2D) tin disulphide (SnS2) flakes that can operate below 150° C. This sensor operates based on the physisorption of nitrogen oxide on the surface of the sensitive layer. The fabrication of the sensors is low-cost. The tin disulphide is preferably produced by reacting tin dichloride at elevated temperature with powdered sulphur in a liquid phase to form tin disulphide nano particles and separating the tin disulphide nano particles from the liquid phase.

Abstract: A system to determine the ground impedance of a conduit system includes a conductive sheath and a resistor of known value. The conductive sheath is configured to surround a portion of a conductor housed within a conduit system. Capacitive coupling occurs between the sheath and the conductor to establish a voltage source. The resistor is electrically coupled between the voltage source and a metal component of the conduit system, and a voltage drop is read across the resistor to determine the health of the ground impedance of the conduit system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity sensing element that includes an insulation section made of an insulating material, an application electrode to which a voltage is applied, and an output electrode which outputs a voltage signal corresponding to an electrical current flowing through an electrical path via water molecules adhering to a surface of the insulating material in response to the voltage applied to the application electrode. A distance between the application electrode and the output electrode is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and/or a total sum of lengths of portions where the application electrode and the output electrode face each other is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A test device for measuring the amount of analyte in a fluid sample, including a substrate having thereon: a first analyte reagent formulated to react with the analyte to generate a signal indicative of the presence or amount of analyte in the sample, the first analyte reagent having a first time-based response characteristic; and a second analyte reagent formulated to react with the analyte to generate a signal indicative of the presence or amount of analyte in the sample, the second analyte reagent having a second time-based response characteristic.

Abstract: There is described herein a method for the electrochemical quantification of a protein analyte in sample, comprising: providing one or more electrode(s), each comprising at least one peptide attached to its surface, the peptide being the protein or a fragment thereof; contacting the sample and electrode with an antibody in the presence of a redox reporter, wherein the antibody is capable of binding to each of the protein analyte and the peptide on the electrode; measuring an electrochemical signal generated by the redox reporter when a potential is applied; quantifying the protein analyte by comparing the electrochemical signal generated with a control, wherein the electrochemical signal is indirectly proportional to the amount of protein analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A method of sequencing a DNA sample is disclosed. A nanopore-based sequencing device is provided. The nanopore-based sequencing device includes a conductive layer. The device further includes a working electrode disposed above the conductive layer. The device further includes a side wall disposed above the working electrode, wherein the side wall and the working electrode form a well in which an electrolyte may be contained, and wherein at least an upper portion of the side wall comprises a hydrophobic portion formed by a fluoropolymer material. The DNA sample is sequenced using the nanopore-based sequencing device.

Abstract: A label free method for cancer diagnosis is disclosed. The method includes putting an array of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VAMWCNTs) of a sensor in contact with a suspicious sample, recording an electrochemical response from the suspicious sample, where the electrochemical response includes an oxidation current peak, and detecting a cancerous state in the suspicious sample responsive to a larger amount of the oxidation current peak than a threshold value.

Abstract: A device, apparatus and method for trapping metal ions and detecting metal ion contamination in a solution provide a semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate and including an N-well formed over a P-type substrate and at least a contact portion of the N-well in electrical contact with the solution. When the semiconductor device is optically illuminated, a P/N junction is formed as a result of photovoltaic phenomena. Metal ions from the solution migrate to the contact area due to the voltage created at the P/N junction. The semiconductor device includes a conductive structure with conductive features separated by a gap and therefore in an initially electrically open state. When the ions migrate to the contact area, they precipitate, at least partially bridging the gap and creating conductance through the conductive structure. The conductance may be measured to determine the amount of metal ion contamination.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for the rapid and accurate detection of analytes, including Salmonella.

Abstract: A sensor control apparatus (1) calculates the concentration of oxygen using a gas sensor (3) including a sensor element (11) and a heater (12). The sensor control apparatus (1) repeatedly obtains internal resistance data representing an internal resistance value Rpvs of an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte body (14) and pump current data representing the value of pump current Ip which flows between a pair of pump electrodes (15) and (16) and whose value varies with the concentration of oxygen. The sensor control apparatus (1) corrects the value of the pump current Ip based on the internal resistance value Rpvs, a target internal resistance value, and a derivative value dRpvs/dt calculated based on a plurality of the repeatedly obtained internal resistance values Rpvs.

Abstract: When measuring electrophoretic mobility it is customary to apply an electric field and determine the electrophoretic velocity while minimizing all other contributions to the particle movement. A method and apparatus for the measurement of mobility while the sample is flowing is disclosed. Combined with a fractionation system, this approach further enables the direct measurement of individual species' mobility within a multi-modal sample. Other advantages of this new mobility measurement approach include the ability to easily pressurize the sample to suppress electrolysis, mitigation of oxidation-reduction effects and efficient heat dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a photoionization detector (PID) system that can perform calibrations automatically. The PID system comprises a measurement gas chamber and one or more calibration gas chambers. The one or more calibration gas chambers each hold a type of calibration gas. In one embodiment, a volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measurement and a calibration measurement are conducted in the same gas chamber. In another embodiment, VOCs and calibration measurements are conducted in different gas chambers either simultaneously or at different times.

Abstract: A sensor includes: a substrate; a first magnetoresistance element and a second magnetoresistance element, each of which is a magnetoresistance element whose resistance value measured changes depending on a direction of an input magnetic field; and a soft magnetic thin film disposed adjacent to the first and second magnetoresistance elements wherein one of the first and second magnetoresistance elements is positioned on one of end sides of the soft magnetic thin film and other of the first and second magnetoresistance elements is positioned on other of the end sides of the soft magnetic thin film in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of the soft magnetic thin film.

Abstract: Provided is a wire rope flaw detector including a magnetizer configured to form a main magnetic flux in a part of a wire rope in a longitudinal direction thereof. A plurality of search coils are configured to detect a leakage flux that occurs from a damaged part of the wire rope in a segment in which the main magnetic flux is formed. A control unit is configured to detect induced voltages generated in the plurality of search coils. Further, the control unit is configured to superimpose voltage waveforms of the plurality of search coils on one another while shifting the voltage waveforms by a time calculated based on an interval between the plurality of search coils adjacent to each other and on a relative moving speed of the wire rope with respect to the magnetizer, to thereby amplify a peak of the induced voltage.

Abstract: A fluid density measuring device uses a pipe with a pipe wall that has an inner wall surface with a non-circular cross-section at least in an axial segment of the pipe. Preferably, the inner wall surface comprises one or more protrusions extending inward into the pipe and along the axial direction of the pipe. An ultrasound transducer located on the pipe wall is used to generate local motion of the pipe wall with a circumferential direction of motion. Preferably, the ultrasound transducer is located between successive protrusions. An ultrasound receiver located on the pipe wall receives an ultrasound torsion wave generated by said local motion after the torsion wave has traveled through the axial section wherein the inner wall surface has a non-circular cross-section. The fluid density is determined from the propagation speed of the torsion wave.

Abstract: A sample fluid (14) is pumped through a first cavity (38) associated with a first piezoelectric resonator (20.1) and pumped through a second cavity (40) associated with a second piezoelectric resonator (20.2). An electrode (26) of the first piezoelectric resonator (20.1) exposed to the sample fluid (14) in the first cavity (38) is coated with an adsorption layer (34.1) that provides for adsorbing a substance (12) to be detected in the sample fluid (14). The adsorbed substance (12) changes the resonant frequency of the first piezoelectric resonator (20.1) relative to that of the second piezoelectric resonator (20.2), wherein a change in the frequency difference therebetween relative to an initial frequency difference is responsive to and provides a measure of the mass of adsorbed substance (12). The adsorption layer (34.1) of the first piezoelectric resonator (20.1) is automatically refreshed when a change in the frequency difference crosses a threshold (?FEoR).

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting a structure. The method may comprise sending a pulsed wave signal into the structure from a transmitter array. The method may detect a response signal in response to sending the pulsed wave signal into the structure at a group of receivers in a receiver array. The method may identify a group of time delays between sending the pulsed wave signal and may detect the response signal generated in response to the pulsed wave signal at the group of receivers. The method may identify a group of intensities for the response signal detected at the group of receivers. The method may determine a distance to a reflector within the structure using the group of time delays and the group of intensities.

Abstract: An automatic defect detection method for detecting a defect in an object comprises: obtaining ultrasound scan data of the object, dividing echo amplitude values of the data into a plurality of sub-sets; assessing each sub-set to determine whether any echo amplitude values resulted from a structure of interest; computing for each sub-set, using at least a representative position of the structure portion of the sub-set and of a neighboring sub-set, a preselected mathematical function which is directly or inversely proportional to a distance between the representative positions; identifying sub-sets having a computed value that does not meet a predetermined criterion as regions of the ultrasound scan data that require inspection; issuing a notification indicating whether or not a region requiring inspection has been found; and if a region requiring inspection been found, storing data identifying the region in a database.

Abstract: A chromatographic system for rapid analysis of fluid components having a wide molecular range in a single sample is disclosed. A single isothermal oven having a switching valve controls the flow between a single column module and a dual column module. The single column module contains a shielded column with an input receiving components from a sample input and output to a detector via the valve. The dual column module contains two shielded columns wrapped adjacent one another on a single ring with separate inputs and outputs and in communication with one another and detectors through the switching valve. One or both columns in the dual column module can be heated and monitored with one or more sensor wires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas sample injection apparatus for gas chromatography analysis comprising: a gas collecting tube for collecting the gas inside a cell and regulating it with an open/close valve to discharge a portion of the collected gas as a gas sample; a gas sampling loop for collecting the gas sample injected into a gas chromatography; a first switching valve for regulating an injection of the gas sample filled in the gas sampling loop into the column of the chromatography with a carrier gas; a second switching valve connected to the gas collection tube and for regulating a diffusion of the gas sample into the gas sampling loop; and a vacuum pump for vacuum-depressurizing the gas sampling loop, and a injection method using the same.

Abstract: A system to thermally desorb a sample into a multi-column GC or GCMS system that can use both the desorption system and GC system for optimizing injection rates, matrix management (e.g., water elimination), optimizing recovery of a specific range of chemicals, and system cleanup is described. Reversing the flow through a first column inside the GC can facilitate the elimination of excess, condensed water as well as heavy chemicals that could otherwise affect the operation and background of the GC. The elimination of flow through both the thermal desorber and a first column in the GC during sample preheat can accommodate the pre-expansion of the sample that could otherwise result in pre-release to the active carrier gas flow in other systems. Transfer lines and rotary valves can be avoided, improving system performance and longevity, with simple maintenance achieved by replacing a desorption liner and the first GC column.