Disclosed is an optical flow cell (300′) comprising: a housing (910) forming; an enclosed and elongated fluid channel (920) arranged along a first axis (923); a first light guide (961) and a second light guide (962) generally concentrically arranged along a second axis (970) and on opposite side walls of the fluid channel, said first and second light guides having ends (961c,962c) removed in situ to provide a sensing gap (d).

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substrate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided. For example, an example sample testing device may include a substrate layer defining a bottom surface of the sample testing device, as well as a waveguide disposed on the substate layer and includes at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel.

The invention relates to an optical measurement device for a reaction vessel, and a method therefor. An object is to measure the optical state within a reaction vessel in an efficient, rapid, and highly reliable manner, without an expansion of the device scale. The configuration includes: a vessel group in which two or more reaction vessels are arranged; a light guide stage having two or more linking portions to which front ends of light guide portions, which have a flexibility, that optically connect with the interior of the linked reaction vessels, are provided; a connecting end arranging body that has an arranging surface that arranges and supports along a predetermined path two or more connecting ends, to which back ends of the light guide portions, in which the front ends thereof are provided to the linking portions, are provided, the connecting ends are provided corresponding to the respective linking portions; a measurement device provided approaching or making contact with the arranging surface that has measuring ends that are successively optically connectable with the respective connecting ends along the predetermined path, and in which light from within the reaction vessels is receivable by means of optical connections between the connecting ends and the measuring ends; and a light guide switching mechanism that relatively moves the respective connecting ends arranged on the connecting end arranging body and the respective measuring ends such that they are successively optically connected.

A system including a light source, sampling tray, and a plurality of fiber optics positioned to achieve high contrast to improve accuracy and eliminate the need to rotate the sample. A composite light image from the fiber optics is fed to a spectrometer which converts the reflected light into a fingerprint corresponding to the concentration of at least one substance in the sample. The fingerprint is processed by a statistical model to determine concentration level of the at least one substance in the sample and the concentration level is then displayed.

An apparatus for measuring a spectrum (R.sub.M(λ)) of Raman-scattered light (LB2). The apparatus includes a light source (LS1) configured to provide illuminating light pulses (LB1), and an optical probe to guide the illuminating light pulses to a sample region (REG1) and cause excitation of Raman-scattered light in the sample region. The optical probe includes a waveguiding core surrounded by a cladding. The waveguiding core has a first facet (SRF1) and a second facet (SRF2) such that the first facet is arranged to gather the Raman-scattered light from the sample region. The apparatus further includes a spectrometer, and a focusing unit (SF2) that is configured to guide the gathered Raman-scattered light from the second facet to the spectrometer. The spectrometer includes a detector array (ARR1) that is arranged to measure a spectrum (R.sub.M(λ)) of the Raman-scattered light by using time gated detection.

The present invention provides a tapered side-polished fiber-optic biosensor (FOBS) and a method for preparing a tapered side-polished fiber (SPF). The biosensor includes a broadband light source, a first single-mode fiber, a tapered SPF, a second single-mode fiber, and a spectrometer. The broadband light source is connected to the tapered SPF through the first single-mode fiber, and the tapered SPF is connected to the spectrometer through the second single-mode fiber. The broadband light source is configured to emit a light wave. The spectrometer is configured to display a spectrum corresponding to a light wave passing through the first single-mode fiber, the tapered SPF, and the second single-mode fiber successively. In the present invention, a fiber side-polishing technology is combined with a fiber tapering technology to construct a tapered SPF, and a spectrum changes by changing a refractive index around a side-polished tapered region, thereby measuring the refractive index. In addition, the tapered SPF provided in the present invention can generate a Vernier effect, thereby improving the sensor's anti-electromagnetic interference and sensitivity to refractive index measurement.

Provided is a spectroscopic analysis apparatus including: an optical probe; and a spectroscopic analysis portion to which the optical probe is attached. The optical probe includes an optical fiber that guides illumination light coming from a light source and signal light coming from an observation target and an optical member that is disposed at least at a distal end of the optical fiber. The spectroscopic analysis portion includes an information separation portion that generates wavelength dependent characteristics by optically dispersing the signal light and that separates, from information about the signal light, information about first return light returning from the optical member and information about second return light returning from the optical fiber, a problem determining portion that determines a problem occurring at the optical probe based on the separated first return light and second return light, and a notification portion that notifies information about the determined problem.

A chemical and/or biochemical apparatus (10) includes a thermal mount (14) having wells (26) for receiving reaction vessels (12), a thermal module (16) having a first side thermally coupled to the thermal mount (14), a first heat sink (18) thermally coupled to a second side of the thermal module, the heat sink (18) having a body and thermally conductive fins (32) extending outwards from the body of the first heat sink (18), and a printed circuit board (54) having electronic components for controlling at least the thermal module (16), an excitation light source (62), and a light sensor (52). A first set of light waveguides (60) delivers excitation light to a reaction vessel, and a second set of light waveguides (38) receives light from a reaction vessel and delivers the light to the light sensor (52). The printed circuit board (54), the excitation light source (62), the light sensor (52) and the light waveguides (38, 60) are arranged within an interior space (5) of the first heat sink (18).