993results about "Investigating moving fluids/granular solids" patented technology

Systems, and components thereof, for analyzing samples. These systems include apparatus and methods for generating, transmitting, detecting, and/or analyzing light, including without limitation high-throughput optical screening devices for analyzing samples at one or more assay sites. These systems also include apparatus and methods for supporting samples for analysis, including without limitation multiwell sample holders such as microplates.

An exposure apparatus, wherein an exposure of a substrate (P) is carried out by filling at least a portion of the space between a projection optical system and the substrate (P) with a liquid and projecting an image of a pattern onto the substrate (P) via the projection optical system and the liquid, includes a bubble detector (20) which detects air bubble or bubbles in the liquid between the projection optical system and the substrate (P). Consequently, the exposure apparatus is capable of suppressing deterioration of a pattern image caused by bubbles in the liquid when an exposure is carried out while filling the space between the projection optical system and the substrate with the liquid.

A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may, for instance, be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The captured and detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection (TIR) methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention. In addition, the biological samples imaged may be present on the surfaces of the support structure in a random special pattern and need not be at known locations in order for the imaging to be performed.

An infusion device with a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the disposable administration set has a plurality of elongated cam followers connected to a plate assembly, wherein the cam followers are displace in a predetermined sequence and forced against a delivery tube by cam means driven by rotary drive means. The device also includes an optical occlusion sensor which is synchronized to operate in phase with the movement of the cam followers to measure pressure within the delivery tube at one pump phase, thereby sensing downstream occlusions, and to measure vacuum within the delivery tube at a second pump phase, thereby sensing upstream occlusions. The occlusion sensor is optical, and measures the degree of total internal reflection at the interface of the tube and the plate assembly, occlusion in the tubing.

The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components. In one aspect, the invention relates to optical methods, devices and device components for measuring two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both from a separation chamber of a density centrifuge. In embodiment, two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both measured by the methods of the present invention comprise images of a separation chamber or component thereof, such as an optical cell of a separation chamber. In another aspect, the present invention relates to multifunctional monitoring and control systems for blood processing, particularly blood processing via density centrifugation. Feedback control systems are provided wherein two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both are measured, processed in real time and are used as the basis of output signals for controlling blood processing. In another aspect, optical cells and methods of using optical cells for monitoring and control blood processing are provided.

A method and apparatus for identifying tissue structures in advance of a mechanical medical instrument during a medical procedure. A mechanical tissue penetrating medical instrument (22) has a distal end for penetrating tissue in a penetrating direction. An optical wavefront analysis system (32-50) provides light to illuminate tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receives light returned by tissue ahead of the medical instrument. An optical fiber (30) is coupled at a proximal end to the wavefront analysis system and attached at a distal end to the medical instrument proximate the distal end of the medical instrument. The distal end of the fiber has an illumination pattern directed substantially in the penetrating direction for illuminating the tissue ahead of the medical instrument and receiving light returned therefrom. The wavefront analysis system provides information about the distance from the distal end of the medical instrument to tissue features ahead of the medical instrument.

A compact particle sensor for detecting suspended particles includes a housing, a light source, a light receiver and a plurality of optical elements. The housing provides a test chamber and includes at least one opening for admitting particles into the test chamber, while simultaneously substantially preventing outside light from entering the test chamber. The light source is positioned for supplying a light beam within the test chamber. The plurality of optical elements are positioned to direct the light beam from the light source to the receiver, which is positioned to receive the light beam supplied by the light source.

A medical treatment system, such as peritoneal dialysis system, may include control and other features to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. For example, a peritoneal dialysis system may include patient line state detector for detecting whether a patient line is primed before it is to be connected to the patient. The patient line state detector can also the ability to detect whether a patient line has been properly mounted for priming. Both patient line presence/absence and fill state can be determined using an optical system, e.g., one that employs a single optical sensor.

Apparatus for automatically inspecting a stream of matter comprises lamps which emit a detection medium, such as IR or visible light, to be active at the matter, a rotary polygonal mirror which receives from a multiplicity of detection zones at the matter detection medium which has been varied by variations in the matter, an optical detection device which receives the varied medium by reflection from the mirror, to detect a plurality of wavelengths of the varied medium substantially simultaneously, and to generate detection data in respect of that plurality of wavelengths substantially simultaneously and in dependence upon the variations in the medium, and a microprocessor which obtains the detection data from the device. The beams of the varied medium which are received at the device and emanate from the zones travel along respective paths from the matter to the mirror 9 which paths converge continuously with respect to each other from the matter to the mirror. Those paths may extend to the mirror indirectly by way of at least one planar mirror, or directly to the mirror, in which latter case the axis of the mirror would be substantially parallel to the direction of advance of the matter.

Methods and apparatus for determining at least one property of fluids related to oilfield operations may include an optical calculation device for measuring light having interacted with the fluid (e.g., flowing fluids and flames). The flame may be fueled, at least in part, by the stream of fluid from the subsurface well. Methods may include directing interacted light that comprises light having passed through a fluid relating to an oilfield operation to an iris; performing a regression calculation on the interacted light with an optical calculation device responsive to the interacted light incident thereon to produce at least one output light signal; and determining at least one property of the fluid from the at least one output light signal.

The present invention provides methods and systems for aligning detection optics with a device by obtaining an optical profile of the system and comparing it with a preprogrammed layout of the various optical features of the device. The invention also provides methods of identifying devices by comparing the optical profile with a library of preprogrammed optical profiles of multiple devices.

A system for material excitation in microfluidic devices is described. Aspects of the invention resemble a submerged periscope when in use. They allow for light to be redirected along a more advantageous trajectory as does the maritime device. A prism with a reflecting surface may be used to direct a laser beam along one or more microfluidic trenches or channels. Alternatively, a reflecting surface may be provided in connection with a simple support. Directing a beam along multiple paths is preferably accomplished by scanning a single laser across or around the reflecting surface provided. Provision may be made for at least a portion of the submersible used to function as an electrode to assist in electrokinetically driving fluids and/or ions within the microfluidic device.

A system for detecting a container or contents of the container. The system includes a diffuser for retaining the container, where the container is configured to hold an active material therein and may include a wick extending therefrom. The system further includes a sensor positioned to detect, for example, the container retained in the diffuser and/or the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.

The present invention contemplates implementation of transitory downhole video imaging and/or spectral imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for permanent and/or long term installations. The present invention contemplates various methods and apparatus that facilitate one-time or ongoing downhole fluid characterization by video analysis in real time. The methods and systems may be particularly well suited to permanent and periodic intervention-based operations.

A method of multivariate spectral analysis, termed augmented classical least squares (ACLS), provides an improved CLS calibration model when unmodeled sources of spectral variation are contained in a calibration sample set. The ACLS methods use information derived from component or spectral residuals during the CLS calibration to provide an improved calibration-augmented CLS model. The ACLS methods are based on CLS so that they retain the qualitative benefits of CLS, yet they have the flexibility of PLS and other hybrid techniques in that they can define a prediction model even with unmodeled sources of spectral variation that are not explicitly included in the calibration model. The unmodeled sources of spectral variation may be unknown constituents, constituents with unknown concentrations, nonlinear responses, non-uniform and correlated errors, or other sources of spectral variation that are present in the calibration sample spectra. Also, since the various ACLS methods are based on CLS, they can incorporate the new prediction-augmented CLS (PACLS) method of updating the prediction model for new sources of spectral variation contained in the prediction sample set without having to return to the calibration process. The ACLS methods can also be applied to alternating least squares models. The ACLS methods can be applied to all types of multivariate data.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for detecting the level of a fluid in a surgical cassette by projecting light from a linear light source into a wall of a cassette. Depending on the amount a light reflected or refracted in the cassette (i.e., due to the cassette material/fluid interface or cassette material/air interface (or other interface)) various portions of a linear sensor array will be more or less illuminated. By examining the illumination of the linear sensor array, the level of fluid in the chamber can be determined.

A system enables indirect determination of a position vector (V_R) of a point position (P). The system uses two fixed trackers (10 and 10′) whose absolute positions are known. A movable measuring device (20) provides a rigid rod (25) supporting a pair of reflectors (30 and 30′) which are mounted at fixed positions. A reference point (R) is mounted at a further fixed position on the rod (25) and is on a straight line (L) through the reflectors (30 and 30′). Light beams from the trackers (10 and 10′) acquire the reflectors (30 and 30′) so that when the reference point (R) is positioned at the point position (P), the position vector (V_R) of point position (P) is determinate by vector addition.

An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.

Methods and systems are provided for determining the density and/or temperature of a fluid based on the manner in which optical energy is affected as the optical energy propagates across a gap between opposing end faces of optical waveguides, or the manner in which the optical energy is reflected from interfaces of optical waveguides and the fluid.

The invention relates to a soil slope water flow erosion resistance simulation test method and device. The device comprises a liftable slope simulation device, a sheetflood scouring simulation device, a water and soil collecting device, a flow velocity determining device and a slope surface form camera device. According to the test method, the water flow is controlled, surface flow and seepage are formed, and sheetflood water, seepage water and sediment quantity formed by scouring slopes by sheetflood water are collected. The flow, the flow velocity, the erosion depth, the sand yield and the like of the water flow are measured quantitatively. Compacted soil is soaked in water until saturation for simulation, the efficiency of an indoor simulation test on slope scouring is improved, the test period is shortened, the test result proves the maximum depth of a slope erosion gully and the change rule of the sand yield with time, discloses the relation between the water flow erosion capacity of catchment behind slopes and the slope length, gradient and time and provides a basis for prediction of the water flow erosion scale and the need of slope protection and reinforcement. The device is simple in structure, convenient to operate and suitable for measurement of soil mechanics parameters of slope soil mass.

A compact, long lasting sensor for measuring components such as moisture in moving sheets including paper in a papermaking apparatus employs light sources that produce radiation within defined wavelength regions of interest and the light sources are modulated at high frequencies using non-mechanical techniques. A single detector with various radiation sources can measure at all frequencies while keeping information separated. Superluminescent light emitting diode or laser diode light sources can be directly electrically modulates for improved noise rejection. These higher power and bright light sources afford excellent fiber optic launch efficiency and permits the sensor to be scanned at much faster rates over the paper being monitored.

An image processing system which detects foreign matter on window of a vehicle with high reliability. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp and when to turn on the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp passes through the glass. If there are raindrops on the outer surface of the glass, light is reflected by raindrops and light from the second lamp is reflected by a surface of the glass and such reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an imaging device.

A method and computer program product for distinguishing and sort seeds containing a genetic element of interest from a bulk sample. In various embodiments, the present invention comprises associating a marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, exciting the seeds using an electromagnetic energy emitting device, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence or absence of the marker using an evaluating device configured to excite a majority of the surface area of the seeds, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence or absence of the marker. In various other embodiments, the method and computer program product may comprise associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker using an evaluating device, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker. In some embodiments, the red fluorescent protein marker is discernable when excited by a certain energy and the evaluating step comprises exciting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest with the certain energy detecting an emission resulting at least in part from the exciting step.

In one aspect, the invention relates to system comprising: a processor configured to receive a first optical coherence tomography (OCT) data set obtained during a pullback of a data collection probe along a first length of a first blood vessel; determine a minimum lumen area disposed along the first length using the first OCT data set; and determine a first FFR value along the first length based on the minimum lumen area. In one embodiment, the first FFR value is an estimated FFR. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method that includes measuring, using OCT, the area of a lumen of a vessel for which the vessel's FFR is to be determined; and calculating, using a computer, A²m/(A²m+k) or Y^A2min/(Y^A2min+k) as a FFR value. In one embodiment, k is about 0.7 mm2 and γ is patient-specific variable that depends on the coronary branch in which the images were obtained.

A smoke detector is provided with a light emission section holder having a light-emission element and a light receiving section holder having a light-receiving element. The light emission section holder and the light-receiving element are provided in a smoke detection section constituting a smoke detection space. The light emitted from the light-emission element is scattered by smoke entered the smoke detection space. The thus-scattered light is received by the light-receiving element,thereby detecting occurrence of fire. An insect screen is formed from soft fiber having a mesh pattern and is arranged so as to cover the entirety of the smoke detection section.

A sorting system (110) conveys articles, such as peaches (114) on a conveyor belt (112) past an inspection zone (126) that is lighted by an illumination source (90) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp (92) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector (94) and through a "soda straw" collimator (100) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system (118) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras (142, 140) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance values for the peach meat (124) and peach pit or pit fragments (126). Various image processing and analysis methologies, such as subtraction, ratio, logarithmic, regression, combination, angle, distance, and shape may be employed to enhance the image contrast and classify the resulting data for sorting the peaches. Employing subtraction also cancels "glint" caused by specular reflections of the illumination source off the peaches and into the cameras.

Fiber-optic-based systems and methods for monitoring physical parameters using a remotely deployed circulator are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the circulator is remotely deployed with respect to an optical source/detector and coupled thereto by two dedicated fiber optical cables: a forward line for passing light from the source through the circulator to fiber-optic-based sensors, and a return line for passing light reflected from the sensors through the circulator back to the detector. By using separate forward and return lines in conjunction with the circulator, backscattering phenomenon experienced on the forward line will not interfere with the reflected light signals coming from the sensors. The circulator, and hence the sensors, may therefore be remotely deployed from the source/detector present at a monitoring station, greatly expanding distances which optical sensing systems can span.

There is provided a method and apparatus for monitoring oil deterioration in real time. The method includes the steps of radiating light into an oil medium and measuring light intensities at red, green and blue wavelength ranges of the light after passing through a certain thickness of the oil. A ratio of the light intensity at the red wavelength range to the light intensity at the green wavelength range is computed by using the measured light intensities. These steps are repeated to monitor a change in the above ratio value in real time of oil use. The apparatus includes a light source means for radiating light into an oil medium, a color sensing means for measuring light intensities at red, green and blue wavelength ranges of the light that has passed through a certain thickness of the oil, and a control means for computing and monitoring a ratio of the light intensity at the red wavelength range to the light intensity at the green wavelength range, using the light intensities measured by the color sensing means.

Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring wellbore servicing fluids. One system includes a flow path fluidly coupled to a borehole and containing a wellbore servicing fluid that is exiting the borehole, the wellbore servicing fluid being configured to chemically react with and remove filter cake from the borehole, an optical computing device arranged in the flow path and having at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the wellbore servicing fluid and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the wellbore servicing fluid, the characteristic of the wellbore servicing fluid corresponding to a concentration of a filter cake chemical constituent.

Methods and apparatus are presented using tunable diode lasers for monitoring and/or controlling a high temperature process using an oxidizer containing O2 and organic fuel. Real-time monitoring of key species such as O2, CO, and H2O allow determination of the global or local stoichiometry, gas temperature, particulate concentration, and air entrainment levels into the process. Coupling the measured information with a control system provides a means for optimizing and controlling the process.