Embodiments of the present invention include a cuvette (100) for use in determining a refractive index of a sample matter in a spectrophotometer (600), the cuvette comprising a container (102) for holding the sample matter, the container (102) having an entry window (121) that allows input radiation to reach the sample matter, the container furthermore having an exit window (122) that allows a part of the input radiation to exit the container part, the entry window and the exit window defining a radiation path; and comprising a photonic crystal (101) rigidly attached to the container or integrally formed in the container and arranged in the radiation path, the photonic crystal having a grating part (111) causing a reflectance spectrum of the photonic crystal to exhibit a resonance. A spectrophotometer is also provided.

Cuvette, comprising at least one measuring area on each one of two arms that are pivotally connected to each other such that from a swung-apart condition, they can be swung together into a measuring position in which the two measuring areas have a distance for positioning a sample between the measuring areas, and means for positioning the two arms in a measuring position in a cuvette shaft of an optical measuring device with a sample between the two measuring areas in a beam path of the optical measuring device that crosses the cuvette shaft.

A system for emitting and detecting electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths to observe the motion of particles in a polydisperse solution in order to size the particles is provided. The system includes a first and second light sources constructed to emit a first and second beams of electromagnetic radiation at substantially a first and second wavelength, respectively. The beams are directed to a specimen chamber such that a portion of the beams scatter when illuminating the particles, and wherein the scattered portion of the beams are directed to a sensor. The first and second wavelengths are different from each other and a recorder is connected to the sensor. At processor controls the light sources in a time-division fashion, and from the resulting images the size of particles can be determined by tracking the motion of the particles.

The invention is configured to include a spectroscopy cell 100 as a container including one or more spaces, each of which has a plate shape and contains a to-be-measured object that transmits or reflects a terahertz wave; and a holder 6 including one or more first holder through-holes 6b and 6c disposed at positions corresponding to the spaces of the spectroscopy cell 100, each of the spaces containing the to-be-measured object. A body portion 1 of the spectroscopy cell 100 is made of a resin material that transmits the terahertz wave, and the spectroscopy cell 100 is loaded into the holder 6 and is used. The holder 6 has a function of holding the spectroscopy cell 100, and a function of correcting one or more of a distortion, a twist, and a bending of the spectroscopy cell 100.

A sample cell can be designed to minimize excess gas volume. Described features can be advantageous in reducing an amount of gas required to flow through the sample cell during spectroscopic measurements, and in reducing a time (e.g. a total volume of gas) required to flush the cell between sampling events. In some examples, contours of the inners surfaces of the sample cell that contact the contained gas can be shaped, dimensioned, etc. such that a maximum clearance distance is provided between the inner surfaces at one or more locations. Systems, methods, and articles, etc. are described.

An integrated optofluidic device to illuminate, along an irradiation direction, a fluidic sample containing an object to be analysed, the device comprising: a substrate comprising an entry surface and being made of a material transparent to a light beam incident through the entry surface along the irradiation direction; a microfluidic channel formed in the substrate and having a channel portion intercepting the irradiation direction and extending along a longitudinal axis transverse to the irradiation direction, the microfluidic channel comprising a first flow inlet port for loading a fluidic sample therein, and an elongated lens cavity for an optofluidic cylindrical lens, the cavity being formed in the substrate and being arranged along the beam irradiation direction between the entry surface and the microfluidic channel, wherein the lens cavity is in fluid communication with a lens inlet port for loading a lens fluid.

The invention relates to an image acquisition system (1) for acquiring an image of a liquid sample (2), comprising a well (3) that stores liquid sample (2), an image acquisition device (4) for acquiring an image of the liquid sample (2) in the well (3), a lid device (5) for covering the well (3) wherein the lid device (5) comprises a lid (6) having a lid part (7) and a lid extension (8) that extends from the lid part (7) into the well (3). The image acquisition system is characterized in that at least one part of the lid extension (8) is in physical contact with the liquid sample (2) when an image is acquired by means of the image acquisition device (4) and a light beam passes through the part of the lid extension (8) that is in physical contact with the liquid sample (2) before it is received by the image acquisition device (4).

A gas sampling assembly comprising an insert and a cuvette, and an insert for use in a cuvette, suitable for sampling respiratory gases of paediatric patients, the insert comprising a unitary insert having a hub and at least two extending members extending outwardly from the hub, the at least two extending members defining a void therebetween and the insert being located, in use, at least partially within the sampling channel, and the gas sampling cell assembly being configured such that light passing through the optical window passes into the sampling channel and through the void between the two extending members.

An optical element includes a main body formed of a light transmissive material and including an arc-shaped optical path, and a gap formed on the arc-shaped optical path in the main body. The gap may have a notch shape. The main body may have a semicircular plate shape. The main body may have a hemispherical shape.

A measuring vessel in which a gas to be analyzed by spectrometry is intended to flow, the vessel being in the form of a hollow tube provided with a reflective material forming an optical-reflection layer, including a hollow tube is produced from a non-metallic material, and a removable supple optical article is applied against the internal surface of the hollow tube, the article including a supple flexible support, one face of the support being covered with a reflective metal material, the article being inserted in the tube so that the reflective metal material forms the optical-reflection layer.