The present invention reduces thermal stress that is generated in a join portion of a window material in an optical measurement cell, and is an optical measurement cell having translucent windows through which light is transmitted and into an interior of which is introduced a test sample. This optical measurement cell has a planar window material that forms the translucent windows, a join supporting portion that is joined to an outer edge portion of a main surface of the window material and supports the window material, and a low thermal expansion component that is provided on an outer-side circumferential surface of the join supporting portion and whose coefficient of thermal expansion is lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the join supporting portion.

In the field of consumable materials for automatic analytical instruments, transparent plastic cuvettes having increased scratch resistance and a method for producing same includes contacting exclusively an outer surface of the transparent plastic cuvette with a liquid comprising at least one surfactant or with a triglyceride and subsequently drying the outer surface such that scattered-light optical properties of the transparent plastic are not adversely affected.

A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

A method and apparatus are disclosed which enable the reduction of sample carryover in the measurement cell of an analytical instrument. A sample cell is defined as a region sealed within a first o-ring. Located outside of said sample region is another o-ring which seals and defines a seal wash region as the region between the first and second o-ring. After the fluid sample is injected into the measurement cell a pressure is applied to the seal wash region, forcing the first o-ring to the innermost extent of the groove in which it sits, expelling any trapped solvent and removing from the measurement cell a significant dead volume while the cell is flushed and prepared for a new sample and corresponding measurement.

Disclosed herein are seals for liquid-tight bonding of an optical window comprising a BiIn alloy. Also disclosed are optical cells comprising the BiIn alloy seals to provide a liquid-tight seal between a cell housing and a drilled optical window.

Instruments, systems, and methods for measuring optical density of microbiological samples are provided. In particular, optical density instruments providing improved safety, efficiency, comfort, and convenience are provided. Such optical density instruments include a handheld portion and a base station. The optical density instruments may be used in systems and methods for measuring optical density of biological samples.

A holder is described. The holder is for a sample vial and includes a base and a cap, where the holder and cap include one or more materials that are opaque or optically black. The holder includes an interior space for placement of the vial in a light-tight environment, where the holder cap includes an opening for insertion of a probe therethrough and into the sample vial. The disclosure also includes systems and methods using the holder.

The present disclosure relates to an in-line compact measuring device, for example for optical measurements, comprising a housing having a process connection intended to be connected to a process vessel connection complementary to the process connection; at least one sensor assembly arranged in the housing; and a measuring circuit that is connected to the sensor assembly and is arranged in the housing. The in-line compact measuring device has at least one fluid line in thermally conductive contact with at least one housing wall of the housing, which fluid line can be connected to a cooling fluid supply arranged outside the housing.

An apparatus includes a housing and a chamber. The chamber is configured to hold analyte. The chamber includes a reflective element, either a reflective coated layer or a reflective mirror, to return optical signals entering the analyte. A window is coated with an anti-reflective material or has negligible optical interference. A cap seals the chamber and the housing. A flow channel is provided within the housing and the chamber assembly to allow the analyte to flow through with reduced bubble entrapment as the cap is tightened to seal the chamber assembly.

In the field of consumable materials for automatic analytical instruments, a method for producing transparent plastic cuvettes with increased scratch resistance includes contacting exclusively an outer surface of the transparent plastic cuvette with a liquid comprising at least one surfactant or with a triglyceride and subsequently drying the outer surface such that scattered-light optical properties of the transparent plastic are not adversely affected.