Abstract:
A compact optical module for fluorescence excitation and detection and methods for using same are disclosed. An apparatus for detecting fluorescence includes a substrate base, a detector adjacent to the substrate base for determining the amount of fluorescence, an emission filter adjacent to the detector, a light source for emitting an excitation light, the light source engaging the emission filter, and a cover formed over the detector, the emission filter, and the light source.
Abstract:
A portable biochip scanner that enables multi-channel measurement includes a surface plasmon resonance unit (44) formed in a rotational disk-shape and an optical head (50) projecting light to the surface plasmon resonance unit (44) at an angle within a predetermined range and detecting light totally-reflected from the surface plasmon resonance unit (44). The optical head (50) is movable in a radial direction of the surface plasmon resonance unit (44). Preferably, the surface plasmon resonance unit (44) comprises a prism disk (42) formed in a ring-shape, and a micro-fluidic disk (43) coupled to a bottom of the prism disk (42). The micro-fluidic disk (42) being provided at a top surface with a plurality of micro-fluidic channels. Preferably, the optical head includes a micro-scanning mirror (52) projecting light from a light source (51) via a reflecting mirror (53) to the surface plasmon resonance unit (44).
Abstract:
A high-speed fluorescence scanner for scanning a sample at equal angles has most of its optical components, including a light beam source (11), a detector (19), filters (18), lenses (17), and reflectors (15-16), in a fixed position (24), removed from the scan head (22). The lightweight scan head contains a single reflector (13) and lens (12) combination which is reciprocated rapidly along one axis to lengthen and shorten a region of the path of a collimated excitation beam (30) and to form a scan line (25-26) on a sample. The fluorescence emission is gathered by the lens (12) of the scan head and directed back, generally along the optical path of the excitation beam, to a detector. Another embodiment places the light source (43), in miniature form, directly on the scan head. The sample may be translated in an axis orthogonal to the scan line to stimulate fluorescent emission from two-dimensional portion of the sample.
Abstract:
A system for detecting the presence of bacterial growth in a plurality of sample vials incorporates a single test station moveable along each of the plurality of sample vials. In one embodiment, the sensor station is movably mounted on a rod, and that rod is movably mounted on a pair of spaced rods. The rod which carries the test station may move along the spaced rods to change the location of the test station in a first dimension and the test station is moveable along its rod to change location in a second dimension. In this way, the test station may be moved through two dimensions to move serially to the location of each of the plurality of sample vials. In another aspect of this invention, a bar code is associated with each of the sample vials, and the test station makes a reading of that bar code concurrent with a determination being made as to whether there is any bacterial growth in the sample vial. In this way, it is ensured that the results of the evaluation of whether bacterial growth is ongoing will be associated with the proper sample vial. In a third aspect of this invention, the sample vial incorporates a plurality of distinct types of bacterial sensors. Thus, the advantages of each of several types of bacterial sensors may be incorporated into a single sample vial.
Abstract:
Provided is a method for removing character background in a color image that obtains an image for printing evaluation by removing a background design of a character from the color image of a printed object on which the character has been printed. The method includes separating a color input image into a character part and a background part, calculating a discriminant function for separating pixels of the character part and pixels of the background part based on pixel values, and generating a background-removed image by removing the background part from the input image by using the discriminant function. Moreover, an installation adjustment method of a line camera including adjusting, based on a signal acquired by capturing an installation adjustment chart fixed to the inspection drum, an installation position of the line camera that acquires an image of a large-size printed object arranged on an inspection drum, is executed by using an installation adjustment chart wherein a plurality of patterns formed by white background and black vertical lines are arranged by shifting in a vertical direction so that the vertical lines continue horizontally only in a predetermined rectangular region that is elongated in a scan line direction of the line camera.
Abstract:
A system (34) for inspecting surfaces of rotor blades (14, 16) for a surface characteristic. The system may include an assembly having a movable arm (42) and, mounted on the movable arm, a scanner (41). A row (45) of rotor blades may be positioned near the assembly for inspection. The row of rotor blades may include a plurality of the rotor blades circumferentially spaced about a center axis. The row of rotor blades and the assembly may be moved relative to the other so as to index the row of rotor blades relative to the assembly.
Abstract:
The device (100) comprises means (200) for rotatably holding and positioning at least one stent-like object (400) and means (30E, 30B) for illuminating at least inner and outer surfaces (I, O) thereof comprising at least wide field epi illumination means (30E) and diffuse back illumination means (30B) for simultaneously illuminating the stent-like object (400). The illumination means may further comprise diffuse side illumination means (30S) for inspecting side surfaces (S) of the stent-like object (400). Means for acquiring images of the stent-like object (400) including at least one microscope objective lens (610) and at least one camera (620) are also provided.
Abstract:
Sensitivity is increased by enhancing the fluorescence collection efficiency while suppressing the increase in size of an objective lens. An objective lens 17 is structured to have a convex lens part 26 in a center portion and to have a truncated conical cylindrical body 27 around the convex lens part 26. Therefore, a fluorescence component b having too wide an emission angle to fit in the convex lens part 26, of fluorescence emitted from a sample 16, can be collected by total reflection on an outer peripheral surface 27b of the cylindrical body 27. Thus, even light having too wide an emission angle to be collected by a normal convex lens can be collected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the objective lens, to enhance the fluorescence collection efficiency, and to prevent the S/N ratio from being decreased by the existence of undetected fluorescence that is blocked by a prism 20. This can realize a fluorescence information reading device having high sensitivity.