System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector for mating a first group of one or more optical fibers (102) with one or more corresponding optical fibers in a second group of one or more optical fibers (103). The optical fiber connector includes a shutter (105), which prevents the ingress of debris into the connector, and provides an optical reference surface with which to calibrate optical fibers that are inserted into the connector. The optical fiber connector finds application in the general optical fiber field, and more particularly finds application in the medical field in which it may be used to connect optical fibers in a photonic needle application.

It is desirable to more stably and efficiently transmit light in a housing of a light source unit. A light source unit 13, which emits a laser beam L to a light guide part 40, includes: a unit housing 13b that includes a connector receiving portion 51b detachably connected to a connector portion 51a; a light source 30 that is installed in the unit housing 13b and outputs the laser beam L; a diffusion part 80 that diffuses the laser beam L output from the light source 30; a condensing lens system 81 that condenses the laser beam L diffused by the diffusion part 80; and an optical fiber 82a that transmits the laser beam L, which is condensed by the condensing lens system 81, to the connector receiving portion 51b. The connector receiving portion 51b optically connects the optical fiber 82a to the light guide part 40.

An ellipsometer system with polarization state generator and polarization state analyzer components inside at least one internal environment supporting encasement, said at least one encasement being present inside said environmental chamber.

According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a system for inspecting a slab of material may include a single mode optical fiber, a broadband light source configured to emit light over the optical fiber, a beam assembly configured to receive the light over the optical fiber and direct the light toward a slab of material, a computer-controlled etalon filter configured to receive the light over the optical fiber either before the light is directed toward the slab of material or after the light has been reflected from or transmitted through the slab of material, filter the light, and direct the light over the optical fiber, and a computer-controlled spectrometer configured to receive the light over the optical fiber after the light has been filtered by the etalon filter and after the light has been reflected from or transmitted through the slab of material and spectrally analyze the light.

A flame sensor apparatus is provided including a sensor for sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber. The sensor includes a silicon carbide photodiode, and the sensor is spaced a distance from the combustion chamber. In addition, a fiber optic cable assembly extends between the sensor and the combustion chamber. The fiber optic cable can convey the specific characteristics of the flame from the combustion chamber to the sensor. The fiber optic cable assembly is included as part of a sealed array filled with an inert gas. In addition, a method of sensing specific characteristics of a flame is also provided.

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample.

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a pipette configured to aspirate and hold a fluid sample within its tip, a housing configured to receive at least the tip of the pipette through a reentrant seal so that the tip of the pipette is located in a light tight manner within an internal area, a light source positioned to be in proximity to the tip of the pipette when the tip of the pipette is received by the housing, the light source configured to project light through the tip of the pipette and onto the fluid sample held within the tip, and an optical sensor configured to take a reading of the fluid sample held within the tip of the pipette without any of the fluid sample being injected from the pipette.

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample.

Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a pipette having a tip, the pipette configured to aspirate a fluid sample and hold the fluid sample within the tip, a housing including a reentrant seal and an internal area, the housing configured to receive at least the tip of the pipette through the reentrant seal so that the tip of the pipette is located in a light tight manner within the internal area, a light source positioned to be in proximity to the tip of the pipette when the tip of the pipette is received by the housing, the light source configured to project light through the tip of the pipette and onto the fluid sample held within the tip, and an optical sensor configured to take a reading of the fluid sample held within the tip of the pipette without any of the fluid sample being injected from the pipette.