480results about "Nanoparticle analysis" patented technology

Methods and apparatus for rendering quantitative phase maps across and through transparent samples. A broadband source is employed in conjunction with an objective, Fourier optics, and a programmable two-dimensional phase modulator to obtain amplitude and phase information in an image plane. Methods, referred to as Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS), measure the angular scattering spectrum of the sample. FTLS combines optical microscopy and light scattering for studying inhomogeneous and dynamic media. FTLS relies on quantifying the optical phase and amplitude associated with a coherent image field and propagating it numerically to the scattering plane. Full angular information, limited only by the microscope objective, is obtained from extremely weak scatterers, such as a single micron-sized particle. A flow cytometer may employ FTLS sorting.

Techniques for controlling the position of a charged polymer inside a nanopore are provided. For example, one technique includes using electrostatic control to position a linear charged polymer inside a nanopore, and creating an electrostatic potential well inside the nanopore, wherein the electrostatic potential well controls a position of the linear charged polymer inside the nanopore.

Techniques for characterizing a molecule are described herein. In one example, a portion of the molecule is trapped in a nanopore, a variable voltage is applied across the nanopore until the trapped portion of molecule is moved within the nanopore, and the molecule is characterized based on the electrical stimulus required to affect movement of at least a portion of the trapped portion of the molecule within the nanopore.

Techniques for characterizing a molecule are described herein. In one example, a portion of the molecule is trapped in a nanopore, a variable voltage is applied across the nanopore until the trapped portion of molecule is moved within the nanopore, and the molecule is characterized based on the electrical stimulus required to affect movement of at least a portion of the trapped portion of the molecule within the nanopore.

The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in microscale cell sorting. This invention provides sorting cytometers, which trap individual cells within vessels following exposure to dielectrophoresis, allow for the assaying of trapped cells, such that a population is identified whose isolation is desired, and their isolation.

A method and apparatus is described by which means molecules in suspension may be characterized in terms of the size and mass distributions present. As a sample solution is separated by centrifugal means, it is illuminated at a particular radial distance from the axis of rotation by a fine, preferably monochromatic, light beam. Despite the high resolution of such devices, a key problem associated with most separators based upon use of centrifugal forces is the difficulty in deriving the absolute size and / or molar mass of the separating molecules. By integrating means to detect light scattered, over a range of scattering angles, from samples undergoing centrifugal separation, molecular sizes in the sub-micrometer range may be derived, even in the presence of diffusion. Adding a second light beam at a displaced rotational angle, preferably of an ultraviolet wavelength, that intersects the sample at the same radial region as the first beam permits determination of the molecular concentration at that region. Combining the light scattering data with the associated concentration permits the determination of the associated molar mass. In a preferred embodiment, the light beam and detectors may be controlled to scan synchronously the sample radially during separation.

A nanoparticle sensor is capable of detecting and recognizing single nanoparticles in an aqueous environment. Such sensor may find applications in broad areas of science and technology, from the analysis of diesel engine emissions to the detection of biological warfare agents. Particle detection is based on interferometric detection of multi-color light, scattered by the particle. On the fundamental level, the detected signal has a weaker dependence on particle size (ÿ R3), compared to standard detection methods (ÿ R6). This leads to a significantly larger signal-to-noise ratio for smaller particles. By using a multi-color or white excitation light, particle dielectric properties are probed at different frequencies. This scheme samples the frequency dependence of the particle's polarizability thereby making it possible to predict the composition of the particle material. The detection scheme also employs a heterodyne or pseudoheterodyne detection configuration, which allows it to reduce or eliminate noise contribution from phase variations, which appear in any interferometric measurements.

A gating apparatus for controlling the gap between two surfaces that includes an upper structure having a polished central region portion, an elastically deformable fulcrum structure, and an elastically deformable lever region. The upper structure can be fabricated from silicon using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) fabrication techniques. The gating apparatus also includes a lower structure coupled to the upper structure at the elastically deformable fulcrum structure. The upper structure, in response to a force, can bend about the fulcrum structure, thereby forming a variable gap between the polished central region portion and the lower structure. The variable gap can be used as a filter to filter fluids and mixed phase fluids. The structures can be made from a wide variety of materials including silicon, glass, ceramic, metal, and plastic.

Improved resolution and detection of nanoparticles are achieved when a nanopore connecting liquid compartments in a device running on the Coulter principle is provided with fluid lipid walls. The fluid lipid walls are made of a lipid bilayer, and preferably include lipid anchored mobile ligands as part of the lipid bilayer. By varying the nature and concentration of the mobile ligand in the lipid bilayer, multifunctional coatings of lipids are provided.

The present invention provides substantially monodisperse colloidal nanocrystals and new preparative methods for the synthesis of substantially monodisperse colloidal nanocrystals. These synthetic methods afford the ability to tune nanocrystal size and size distribution. By using non-coordinating solvents in the synthetic process, these procedures constitute easier, less expensive, safer, and more environmentally “green” methods than those currently in use. This invention is generally applicable to any II-VI or III-V semiconductor material, and may be useful in generating metal-nonmetal compounds involving transition metals as well.

In-line holography to create images of a specimen, such as one or more particles dispersed in a transparent medium. Analyzing these images with results from light scattering theory yields the particles' sizes with nanometer resolution, their refractive indexes to within one part in a thousand, and their three dimensional positions with nanometer resolution. This procedure can rapidly and directly characterize mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the specimen and its medium.

A method and apparatus is described by which means molecules in suspension may be characterized in terms of the size and mass distributions present. As a sample solution is separated by centrifugal means, it is illuminated at a particular radial distance from the axis of rotation by a fine, preferably monochromatic, light beam. Despite the high resolution of such devices, a key problem associated with most separators based upon use of centrifugal forces is the difficulty in deriving the absolute size and / or molar. mass of the separating molecules. By integrating means to detect light scattered, over a range of scattering angles, from samples undergoing centrifugal separation, molecular sizes in the sub-micrometer range may be derived, even in the presence of diffusion. Adding a second light beam at a displaced rotational angle, preferably of an ultraviolet wavelength, that intersects the sample at the same radial region as the first beam permits determination of the molecular concentration at that region. Combining the light scattering data with the associated concentration permits the determination of the associated molar mass. In a preferred embodiment, the light beam and detectors may be controlled to scan synchronously the sample radially during separation.

The invention relates to an apparatus for counting particles in a fluid comprising a substrate having a first surface; a lid having a second surface facing the first; at least one spacer element interposed between the substrate and the lid so as to maintain the first and second surface spaced from one another; a partition with a plurality of through-openings having nanometric size, the partition being interposed between the spacer element and the lid so as to define at least one first chamber between the partition and the lid and at least one second chamber between the partition and the substrate, the chambers being fluidically connected with one another through at least one of the openings. According to the invention, the substrate has at least one first electrode on the first surface and the lid has a second electrode, each first electrode being configured so as to detect an electric signal associated to the passage of one of said particles through one of the through-openings of the partition. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for counting particles in a fluid.

An apparatus or device for collecting aerosol particles from a gas stream, having a collector body enclosing a collector channel, a particle trap in the collector channel, and an injection duct for injecting a discrete microdroplet of an elution reagent. The particle trap may be a centrifugal impactor, a bluff body impactor, or an electrostatic impactor. Aerosol particles are deposited on the surface during collection and are subsequently eluted with a microdroplet or a series of microdroplets as a concentrated liquid sample so that the sample can be analyzed in situ or conveyed to a detector for analysis. The collector serves as an aerosol-to-liquid conversion module as part of an apparatus for detecting and analyzing aerosol particles, and may be used in an integrated environmental threat assessment system, for example for characterization of aerosolized chemical and biological weapons, or for industrial or environmental monitoring.

A method for the label-free sizing of small, nanometer-sized objects such as particles includes a hand-held, portable holographic microscope that incorporates vapor condensation of nanolenses and time-resolved lens-free imaging. The portable device is used to generate reconstructed, time-resolved, and automatically-focused phase images of the sample field-of-view. The peak phase value for each object a function of working distance (z2) and condensation time (t) is used to measure object size. The sizing accuracy has been quantified in both monodisperse and heterogeneous particle solutions, achieving an accuracy of + / −11 nm for particles that range from 40 nm up to 500 nm. For larger particles, the technique still works while the accuracy roughly scales with particle size.

Method for specific detection of one or more analytes in a sample. The method includes specifically associating any one or more analytes in the sample with a scattered-light detectable particle, illuminating any particle associated with the analytes with light under conditions which produce scattered light from the particle and in which light scattered from one or more particles can be detected by a human eye with less than 500 times magnification and without electronic amplification. The method also includes detecting the light scattered by any such particles under those conditions as a measure of the presence of the analytes.

Method and device for automated cell analysis and determination of transport and communication between living cells by analyzing the formation of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) between cells. This method comprising the steps of singularizing cells in a culture medium and staining the cells with a fluorescent or luminescent dyes for staining of cytoplasm and membranes as well as TNTs, flagella and other cell particles for 3-D cell microscopy. The method comprises further an image analysis system.

The invention relates to a sorter and a sorting method for separating cells and particles. The sorter comprises a Raman spectrum acquisition analysis system, a micro-flow control system and a cell / particle sorting system, wherein the micro-flow control system is connected with the Raman spectrum acquisition analysis system; the Raman spectrum acquisition analysis system is connected with the cell / particle sorting system; and the cell / particle sorting system is connected with the micro-flow control system. The invention also provides a sorting method for separating the cells and the particles.The sorter can effectively identify and sort nanometer-micron sized cells, nano materials, particles and cell contents, and because the Raman spectrum has the characteristics of high speed, non-invasive property, high information content and the like, the sorting method provides richer characteristic information of the cells or the particles in the same time period compared with methods of fluorescence or radio isotope labeling and the like.

The present invention provides methods and systems for particle detection and analysis using two-dimensional optical imaging to access enhanced detection sensitivity and expanded sensing functionality relative to conventional point and array detection-based optical particle counters. Methods and systems of the present invention provide a two-dimensional optical imaging-based particle sensing platform wherein system components and specifications are selected to generate reproducible and readily identifiable signals, including particle detection signatures, from optical scattering or emission from particles provided to the system. Systems and methods of the present invention are capable of accurately and sensitively detecting, identifying, and characterizing (e.g., determining the size of) particles in liquid phase or gas phase samples.

Light from a laser source is split into a reference arm and a detection arm. The light in the detection arm is focused into a channel containing particles to be detected and is backscattered by the particles. The light in the reference arm is attenuated. The attenuated and backscattered light are caused to interfere and detected by a split detector so that the effects of background light can be subtracted out, while the backscattered light is detected to detect the particles.

Provided is a detection apparatus of Raman scattering and light scattering, and more particularly, a simultaneous detection apparatus of Raman scattering and dynamic light scattering and a detection method using the same. The simultaneous detection apparatus of Raman scattering and light scattering includes: a detection unit for applying incident light to a sample, and detecting Raman scattering in 90° or 180° geometry and light scattering in 90° or 180° geometry in order to simultaneously collect Raman scattering and light scattering; and a computer connected to the detection unit to obtain at least one of the size and distribution of particles from the detected light scattering, and to obtain information of the molecular structure from the detected Raman scattering. This apparatus may simultaneously observe the size of nano-sized or larger material and molecular information thereof, and phenomena accompanying changes in molecular environment according to material variation and changes of the material in size and distribution, and thus is very useful for studying nano materials and protein antigens and antibodies.

A method and apparatus for measuring particle concentration and size distribution of particles in liquids. The method involve separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species. The method includes the steps of forming an aerosol from the liquid sample to be analyzed, evaporating the droplets in the aerosol to dryness, and detecting the particles. An apparatus for separating dissolved and particulate residues in liquids for determination of the size and concentration of the particulate species is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a droplet former, a dryer communicatively connected to the droplet former, and a detector communicatively connected to the evaporator for detecting particles.

The lifetime of aerosol monitoring, concentration and collection equipment is extended by acoustic cleaning of accreted particle deposits from internal surfaces where fouling occurs by application of acoustic energy to the particle accretion surface, optionally in combination with a liquid wash or sampling volume. In one application, acoustic cleaning or sampling of particle deposits for analysis is triggered by a signal indicating changes in gas flow associated with particle loading. In another application, electro-acoustic transducers may be used to prevent particle buildup without interruption of particle monitoring.

A microfluidic device for a confocal fluorescence detection system has an input channel defined by a body of the microfluidic device, a sample concentration section defined by the body of the microfluidic device and in fluid connection with the input channel, a mixing section defined by the body of the microfluidic device and in fluid connection with the concentration section, and a detection region that is at least partially transparent to illumination light of the confocal fluorescence detection system and at least partially transparent to fluorescent light when emitted from a sample under observation as the sample flows through the detection region.

Described herein is a particle detection system capable of spatially resolving the interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Using a specific electromagnetic beam cross sectional shape and orientation, the detection sensitivity of a particle detection system can be improved. Also provided are methods for detecting and sizing particles in a manner that has low background signal and allows for spatially resolving the scattering or emission of electromagnetic radiation from particles.