Abstract: A method for performing quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy of a gas, includes providing a light source configured to introduce a laser beam having at least one wavelength into the gas such said at least one molecule within in the gas is stimulated generating an acoustic signal, accumulating the acoustic signal in a resonant acoustic detector, generating a resonant absorption signal (SA) relative to the gas concentration by at least one tuning fork serving as resonant acoustic detector, generating additionally a resonant intensity signal (SI) proportional to the intensity of the laser beam travelling through the gas, and providing an output signal (SGC) from said absorption signal (SA) and said intensity signal (SI) being independent of the intensity of the light relative to the presence or concentration of the gas.

Abstract: A method of imaging fluorescence, in which an inverted fluorescence imaging apparatus provided with an immersion objective is used to image an observation phosphor for a constant term, includes an imaging position locating step of locating a vessel incorporating the observation phosphor at an imaging position of the fluorescence imaging apparatus; a liquid pouring step of pouring a preset amount of liquid between a top portion of the immersion objective in the fluorescence imaging apparatus and the vessel to bring about a charged state; an imaging step of imaging the observation phosphor in the vessel in a state where a space between the top portion of the immersion objective and the vessel is charged with the liquid; and a repeated control step of repeating a series of operations including the liquid pouring step of a single operation and the imaging step of a preset number of times of operations performed after the liquid pouring step of the single operation, at preset time intervals.

Abstract: A standard material that is used for judging an abnormal portion in a particle analyzer is described. The standard material comprises first standard particles to be fluorescence-stained by a fluorescence-staining treatment and second standard particles that have preliminarily contained a fluorescence dye. A method and an analyzer that can judge an abnormal portion in a particle analyzer by using such a standard material are also described.

Abstract: A light fluctuation measuring apparatus, comprising a parameter setting unit 2 which sets parameters of a microscopic image obtaining unit and/or parameters of a light emission measuring unit used for observing light emission in a desired area of a sample in time series, a parameter storage 4 which stores parameters, a mode selector 3 which selects one of a microscopic image obtaining mode for obtaining a microscopic image by a microscopic image obtaining unit, and a light emission measuring mode for observing light emission in a desired area by a light emission measuring unit, and a control unit 1 which reads parameters stored in the storage 4 based on a selected mode, inputs the parameter to a microscopic image obtaining unit or a light emission measuring unit, and controls these units.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining and analyzing data from a spectral source is provided. The method includes identifying an environment that is capable of generating spectral information, and obtaining the generated spectral information from the environment. The method further includes splitting the generated spectral information into a plurality of spectral data units. The spectral data units are further captured in separate storage entities and separately processed in parallel in order to produce a complete processing and quantification of the environment.

Abstract: A method for analyzing/monitoring the properties of species that are labeled with fluorophores. A detector is used to detect photons emitted from species that are labeled with one or more fluorophores and located in a confocal detection volume. The arrival time of each of the photons is determined. The interval of time between various photon pairs is then determined to provide photon pair intervals. The number of photons that have arrival times within the photon pair intervals is also determined. The photon pair intervals are then used in combination with the corresponding counts of intervening photons to analyze properties and interactions of the molecules including brightness, concentration, coincidence and transit time. The method can be used for analyzing single photon streams and multiple photon streams.

Abstract: An optical system includes a sample substrate having a surface, the surface defining a 2-dimensional sample plane. The system includes an excitation source configured to provide excitation light to the sample substrate. The system further includes an optical detector configured to receive emission light from the sample substrate and generate detection data. The system also includes a scan head configured at least (i) to direct the excitation light towards the sample substrate, (ii) to receive emission light from the sample substrate and direct the emission light towards the optical detector, and (iii) for scanning relative to the sample substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for biomedical imaging includes directing time-varying excitation light at a surface area of a light scattering material, the material comprising a fluorescent target. Time-varying emission light from the fluorescent target is detected, substantially at a two-dimensional sensor surface, in response to the time-varying excitation light stimulating the fluorescent target. The time-varying emission light is filtered to reject excitation light re-emitted from the material. A three-dimensional image of the fluorescent target is generated based on the detection substantially at the sensor surface.

Abstract: A system and method for optically monitoring contamination of machinery includes an optical illumination source, a photodetector and an analysis module. The system and method can monitor a fuser roll, a fuser belt, or other printer module component. The optical illumination source can emit at least one illuminating frequency. The at least one illuminating frequency is configured to cause a contaminant marker to fluoresce at least one fluorescing frequency and is also configured to at least partially illuminate the machine component. The machine component contains the contaminant marker when at least partially contaminated. The photodetector is responsive to the at least one fluorescing frequency and detects the at least one fluorescing frequency emitted from the contaminated machine component. The analysis module is in operative communication with the photodetector and is figured to receive a signal therefrom.

Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a first focusing lens and a second focusing lens. The first focusing lens is arranged on a surface of a base to which a terahertz excitation beam is applied, the surface being opposite to the surface to which terahertz excitation beam is applied, with the lens axis deviated from the center of a point at which the terahertz excitation beam is applied. The second focusing lens is arranged on a surface of a base to which a terahertz detected beam is applied from a source of the terahertz excitation beam, the surface being opposite to the surface to which the terahertz detected beam is applied, with the lens axis deviated from the center of a point at which the terahertz detected beam is applied, in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lens axis of the first focusing lens is deviated.

Abstract: A method of spectrographic measurement is disclosed. The method generates light energy using a solid state low capacitance excitation source, the light energy being caused to fall on a sample to be assayed, causing the sample to output an output optical signal. The method generates a plurality of modulation frequencies, and a plurality of heterodyne frequencies to form a set of heterodyne signals at the heterodyne frequencies. Each of the heterodyne frequencies is associated with one of the modulation frequencies. Coupling the modulation frequencies to the excitation source, causes the excitation source to generate excitation energy modulated in intensity in proportion to the modulation frequencies. A sampling a portion of the substantially incoherent excitation energy forms a reference substantially incoherent excitation signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus, in particular a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, for analyzing an object, such as blood of a patient, and a corresponding analysis method. To aim the confocal detection volume inside a blood vessel orthogonal polarized spectral imaging (OPSI) is used to locate blood capillaries in the skin. An imaging system (img) with slightly shifted imaging planes (i1, i2) for OPS imaging of blood vessels is proposed to provide auto-focusing. The confocal Raman detection plane (dp) is located in between these two imaging planes (i1, i2). Based on measured amount of defocus for the imaging planes (i1, i2), the focusing of the imaging system (img), the excitation system (exs) for exciting the target region and the detection plane (dp) is located inside the blood vessel (V). Thus, continuous auto-focusing with high accuracy can be achieved. The invention relates also to an optical tracking system for continuously tracking a point of a moving object (obj).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for collecting optical data pertaining to one or more characteristics of a sample. A light beam of a first frequency is scanned onto a sample surface using one or more illumination optical elements. Light of a second frequency is collected from a scan line on the sample surface using one or more collection optical elements. None of the one or more collection optical elements are included among the one or more illumination optical elements. The collected light is transmitted to a detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing a layer of a metal working compound (50) on the surface of a product to be shaped (40), especially of a metal strip, before and/or after a shaping process, especially a rolling process, for various measuring variables. According to the invention, analysis of the metal working compound (50) is carried out by way of spectroscopic analysis. The invention also relates to a method for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid and accurate detection and discrimination of biological, radiological, and chemical particles in air. A suspect aerosol of the target particulates is treated with a taggant aerosol of ultrafine particulates. Coagulation of the taggant and target particles causes a change in fluorescent properties of the cloud, providing an indication of the presence of the target.

Abstract: A compact Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy system that uses a microprism or micromirror based optical structure to accomplish the introduction of excitation radiation with compactness and simplified system configuration for portable or mobile spectroscopy applications. A microprism may be glued to a surface location of a focusing lens in the system to directly receive the illumination signal without intervening optical components. Alternatively, the microprism may be simply placed in close physical proximity of the focusing lens without being glued thereto. On the other hand, a micromirror may be used instead of the microprism. The illuminating photons received by the microprism or micromirror may be directly transferred to the sample under investigation via the focusing lens. The compact system may be made portable and may further include an on-board spectrometer with or without a display unit. For chemical detecting applications, a detector (e.g.

Abstract: An iterative process calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of tissue from a set of diffuse reflectance measurements made with an optical spectrometer operating in the UV-VIS spectral range. The relationship between measured diffuse reflectance and the absorption and scattering coefficients is modeled using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel multi-spectral exogenous fluorescence polarization imaging technique that enables rapid imaging of large tissue fields. The imaging device includes a tunable monochromatic light source and a CCD camera. Linear polarizers are placed into both the incident and collected light pathways in order to obtain fluorescence polarization or/and anisotropy image. To acquire exogenous fluorescence image, fluorescent contrast agents are delivered to a target tissue.

Abstract: A focusing method for an examination apparatus that can quickly and easily perform focusing for fluoroscopy is provided. The focusing method, for an examination apparatus that can observe fluorescence emitted from a specimen, includes a first step of irradiating the specimen with light via an objective lens to generate reflected light and fluorescence; a second step of performing focusing with respect to the surface of the specimen using the reflected light from the specimen; and a third step of performing focusing for the fluorescence based on the focal position of the specimen surface in the second step.

Abstract: A biosensor based upon a vertically emitting, distributed feedback (DFB) laser is disclosed. In one configuration, the DFB laser comprises a replica-molded, one- or two-dimensional dielectric grating coated with a laser dye-doped-polymer as the gain medium. A sensor is also described in which the grating layer and the active layer are combined into a single layer. DFB lasers using an inorganic or organic thin film with alternating regions of high and low index of refraction as the active layer are also disclosed. The sensor actively generates its own narrowband high intensity light output without stringent requirements for coupling alignment, thereby resulting in a simple, robust illumination and detection configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectroscopic system for non invasive spectral analysis of substances or biological structures (114, 116) that are located in a plurality of various volumes of interest (110, 112). The inventive spectroscopic system makes use of a multiplicity of various probe heads (106, 108) that are connected to a base station (100) providing a spectroscopic light source (104) and spectroscopic analysis means (102) . By additionally implementing a coupling unit (132) the present invention allows to realize a spectroscopic analysis environment that makes spectroscopic analysis available in a variety of different locations, e.g. various rooms of a hospital.

Abstract: A fluorescent detection apparatus relates to an analysis technique for qualitatively detecting or quantifying biomolecules by producing an evanescent field on a surface of a substrate, exciting fluorescently labelled biomolecules on the substrate surface in the evanescent field, and detecting the resultant fluorescent light emitted from the biomolecules. The fluorescent detection apparatus has a configuration in which a well is provided in a surface opposing to a sample substrate of a prism, the well is filled with a matching liquid, and the matching liquid is filled between the sample substrate and the prism, thereby improving operability and providing a stable evanescent field.

Abstract: A multidimensional spectrometer for the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and a method for making multidimensional spectroscopic measurements in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The multidimensional spectrometer facilitates measurements of inter- and intra-molecular interactions.

Abstract: A system for imaging a fluorescently labeled sample is presented, The system comprises a capsule, which is a closable structure made of a material isolating the inside of the capsule from its surrounding environment, and which has a support stage for receiving the sample and carrying it thereinside during the imaging; and an optical device at least partly accommodated inside the capsule and operable to illuminate the sample with incident radiation to excite a fluorescent response of the sample, detect the fluorescent response, and generate data indicative thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interrogating a target having a plurality of plasmon resonant particles (PREs) distributed in the target are disclosed. In the method, a field containing the target is illuminated, and one or more spectral emission characteristics of the light-scattering particles in the field are detected. From this data, an image of positions and spectral characteristic values in the field is constructed, allowing PREs with a selected spectral signature to be discriminated from other light-scattering entities, to provide information about the field. Also disclosed are a novel PRE composition for use in practicing the method, and a variety of diagnostic applications of the method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining the gas-phase electromagnetic radiation spectrum of a liquid sample, which apparatus comprises an analysis chamber having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and analysis chamber are adapted such that, in use, liquid sample is drawn into the inlet through capillary action and vapourised therein, the vapourised liquid sample remaining in the gas phase within the inlet and the analysis chamber The apparatus may be attached to a process conduit or vessel containing a source of the liquid for analysis, making it suitable for collecting on-line spectra.

Abstract: Time-dependent differences in fluorescence responses of normal surfaces of the fruit or vegetable as opposed to surfaces which are contaminated with feces, may be used for improved detection of feces-contaminated fruits and vegetables. In this process, the surface of a fruit or vegetable which contains a native chlorophyll is illuminated with a pulse of UV or visible light having a wavelength effective to elicit fluorescence of feces of a plant consuming animal. The intensity of fluorescent light emissions from the surface are measured at one or more wavelengths characteristic of the emission spectra of chlorophyll or its degradation products, at a nanosecond-scale time period or window which is after the peak emission of the native chlorophyll of the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical methods of observing, distinguishing and/or visualizing grown or nascent crystals of biological material within a biological sample.

Abstract: A method for the ultrasensitive simultaneous measurement of nonlinear optical emission signals in one or two local dimensions wherein excitation light is irradiated in modulated form from at least one light source into an interactive space in which one or several emissions that are nonlinearly correlated with the excitement light can be excited. The light emanating from the interactive spaces is measured using a one or two-dimensional detector array. Measured data is then transmitted to a computer and formatted in a one or two-dimensional data matrix. Further, non-correlated portions of the light emanating from the interactive spaces that are linearly proportionate to the intensity of the excitement light available in the interactive spaces are separated from portions of the light emanating from the interactive spaces which are not linearly proportionate. The invention also relates to an analytical system for carrying out this method.

Abstract: An instrument is provided that can monitor nucleic acid sequence amplification reactions, for example, PCR amplification of DNA and DNA fragments. The instrument includes a multi-notch filter disposed along one or both of an excitation beam path and an emission beam path. Methods are also provided for monitoring nucleic acid sequence amplifications using an instrument that includes a multi-notch filter disposed along a beam path.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and a device for imaging structures either in the focal plane of the objective of a microscope or in the pupil of the objective or in the respective conjugate planes. For this purpose, the optical data of the imaging systems and the illumination wavelengths or fluorescence wavelengths are taken into account when determining the optimal position of the structures.

Abstract: In a method of creating a permanent structure with high spatial resolution, a substance which may be modified by an optical signal is provided in a writing area. The optical signal is applied to the writing area in such a way that a spatially limited partial area of the writing area is purposefully omitted, the spatially limited partial area being a local intensity minimum of the optical signal, and the optical signal, outside of the spatially limited partial area, being applied to the writing area in such a way that saturation is achieved in modifying the substance with the optical signal. Then, different states of the substance in the spatially limited partial area and of the substance in the partial areas of the writing area covered by the optical signal are permanently adjusted.

Abstract: A spectral image processing system and method of performing robust unmixing on measurement noise. Based on an observed spectral image acquired from a specimen and emission spectral data of each of plural materials contained in the specimen, a contribution of each of the plural materials to the observed spectral image is unmixed by a process, including an evaluating step of evaluating reliability of each component of the observed spectral image based on a predicted spectral image of the observed spectral image, and a reflecting step of reflecting a result of the evaluation in a content of the unmixing.

Abstract: A method is proposed whereby photo-bleaching is used not only to change the absorption and fluorescence of a sample but is also employed to change its scattering characteristics. When the compounds which are bleached are contained in regions wherein the real part of the index of refraction is greater than or equal to the average index of the medium, the bleaching will result in reduction in the scattering at wavelengths longer than the wavelength of the bleaching source. This reduction can be useful in measuring the concentration of analytes located at significant depths within turbid media.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed which apply an excitation-emission matrix (EEM) to a heterogeneous, two-dimensional sample, allowing a considerably larger number of emitting, e.g. fluorescent, labels to be used simultaneously. This may be accomplished by employing a spectroscopic method of excitation-emission matrices which allows discrimination of species with similar emission spectra, and also allows positive identification of energy transfer between emitting species. The methods and devices may employ a novel excitation-light scanning technique which allows imaging of the emission from the heterogeneous sample both in two spatial dimensions (length and width) and in two spectral dimensions (excitation and emission wavelength). This light scanning technique maximizes the throughput of excitation light, increasing the sensitivity and hence the reading speed of the instrument.

Abstract: A device for discriminately illuminating a sample (22) to be viewed with excitation light (70). For example, an image taken with a CCD (10) provides feedback which is used to modulate the output of an excitation light source (40), thereby allowing a sample (22) to be viewed within the optimal range of detection for the particular CCD device (10) being used, despite the potential of wide dynamic ranges of sample luminescence.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating fluorescent light from light elastically scattered/reflected from a material illuminated with a broadband illumination source includes a polarization discriminator, which separates the substantially polarized elastically scattered/reflected light from the unpolarized fluorescent light, and a spectrometer to analyze the full and separated reflectance spectra. A linear polarizer may be provided to polarize the illumination source. A method for separating fluorescence light induced in a material by broadband light from an elastic scattering/reflection component includes providing polarization discrimination to separate the components, the fluorescence light being substantially unpolarized, and spectrally analyzing the reflectance components. The method may include linearly polarizing the light source. A fluorescence spectra may be extracted from a minimum reflectance spectra or from a residual polarization reflectance spectra.

Abstract: A proposition of the present invention is to acquire necessary data without any chasm in an observation of a specimen containing plural kinds of substances of which exciting wavelengths are different. Accordingly, a spectral observation method of the present invention, irradiating light to the specimen containing plural kinds of substances (RFP, GFP, and so on) of which exciting wavelengths are different, and detecting spectra of light emitted from the specimen, the spectral observation method sequentially acquires spectral data of substances from the one of which exciting wavelength is long while switching a wavelength of the irradiated light among respective exciting wavelengths of the plural kinds of substances, and excludes the exciting wavelength of the substance corresponding to the spectral data to be acquired from detection wavelengths of the spectra each when acquiring the spectral data of the spectral data of the respective substances.

Abstract: A nanofluidic channel fabricated in fused silica with an approximately 500 nm square cross section was used to isolate, detect and identify individual quantum dot conjugates. The channel enables the rapid detection of every fluorescent entity in solution. A laser of selected wavelength was used to excite multiple species of quantum dots and organic molecules, and the emission spectra were resolved without significant signal rejection. Quantum dots were then conjugated with organic molecules and detected to demonstrate efficient multicolor detection. PCH was used to analyze coincident detection and to characterize the degree of binding. The use of a small fluidic channel to detect quantum dots as fluorescent labels was shown to be an efficient technique for multiplexed single molecule studies. Detection of single molecule binding events has a variety of applications including high throughput immunoassays.

Abstract: A method for determining a chemical composition of a material in a borehole, the method including placing an analysis apparatus into the borehole; placing a sample of the material onto a metal surface of the apparatus; illuminating the sample at an interface between the sample and the metal surface with a first light beam and a second light beam; measuring sum frequency light generated from the illuminating; and analyzing the sum frequency light to determine the chemical composition of the material.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an aerial-supported procedure for the exploration of hydrocarbon deposits, especially crude oil and gas deposits, using fluorescence procedures, including aerial-supported geo-referencing of the detected locations by means of a digital terrain model, employing biosensors which are sensitive to hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides probes functionalized with nanoparticles, methods for binding nanoparticles to the probes and the use of such probes in nanometer scale imaging techniques. More specifically, the present invention provides a tip device having at least a portion thereof with an outer surface bound to at least one sub-layer of a material comprising nanoparticles, the nanoparticles acting as donors, acceptors, modifiers, quenchers and/or enhancers with respect to electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device including two spaced apart electrodes; and at least one layer containing ternary core/shell nanocrystals disposed between the spaced electrodes and having ternary semiconductor cores containing a gradient in alloy composition and wherein the ternary core/shell nanocrystals exhibit single molecule non-blinking behavior characterized by on times greater than one minute or radiative lifetimes less than 10 ns.

Abstract: Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. Chemical analysis instruments employed in some embodiments include capillary and gel plane electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, flow cytometry, flow cells for liquids and aerosols, and surface detection instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for acoustically and optically characterizing an immersed object of interest by generating a serial plurality of acoustic and optical illumination pulses through a liquid. In addition to the spectral analyses/imaging of objects/environment made possible by the white-light illumination, a target material can be ablated, generating an ionized plume to spectrally identify the target's constituent atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel systems, devices, and methods comprising spatial light modulators for use in the reading and synthesis of microarrays. For example, the present invention provides micromirror systems for synthesizing and acquiring data from nucleic acid microarrays and systems for collecting, processing, and analyzing data obtained from a microarray.

Abstract: Provided is a system for characterizing biological/chemical test specimens. In particular, a container such as a tube or capillary for containing a test specimen is interconnected at one end to a light source via a fiber optic. A second end of the tube is connected to a detector via a second fiber optic. In one embodiment, the containing tube exhibits “total internal reflection”. As light is projected into the tube, one or more electric fields are applied to the specimen. Light travels the length of the tube to excite specimen molecules, which subsequently emit light having a wavelength longer than that of the projected light. The emitted light travels the length of the tube, is detected, and is then transmitted to a processor for analysis. In an alternate embodiment, the tube is not TIR therefore emitted light exits the tube along its length, wherein it is detected by one or more detectors.

Abstract: This invention relates to a confocal fluorescence correlation microscope with real-time alignment read out. With this instrument it is possible to do confocal imaging together with the particle size determination at a chosen location in the specimen. In particular, this invention relates to a detector module with a fixed aperture and detection electronics that can be conveniently connected to an existing confocal or multiphoton microscope, near the base of the objective lens of the microscope. This detector splits a part of the signal and uses it to generate a spot on the confocal image. This shows the spot where an FCS measurement can be carried out, and the same signal can then be used to perform a fluorescence correlation measurement after parking the excitation beam of the confocal to that spot. No alignment step is necessary for obtaining the measurement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. This technology differs significantly from the current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing instrumentation, which features single source excitation and color dispersion for DNA sequence identification.

Abstract: A spectroscopic system which determines a property of a biological structure in a volume of interest of a person includes a low cost objective lens for directing an excitation beam into a volume of interest and for collecting return radiation from the volume of interest. After detection of the return radiation and generation of spectroscopic signals, a correction unit performs a compensation for aberrations of the spectroscopic signals introduced by the low cost objective lens. Since the aberrations of the objective lens strongly depend on the lateral distance of the volume of interest from the optical axis of the objective lens, the correction unit uses a correction table providing an assignment between correction values and various lateral positions of the volume of interest.