The present invention provides a sample tube for polymerase chain reaction. The sample tube includes a sample tube body having an annular side wall and a bottom wall connected to annular side wall, wherein the annular side wall and the bottom wall form an accommodating space for accommodating a reaction mixture; and a first extension member extending from the bottom wall to the accommodating space, wherein, to carry out PCR, the reaction mixture immerses the first extension member, such that the light from the light source enters into the reaction mixture via the bottom and the bottom wall of the sample tube and the first extension member sequentially.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is a sample vessel for a holding a sample for analysis by a sample analyzer. The sample vessel includes a body that includes a bottom, an open top spaced from the bottom along a first axis, a side wall that extends from the open top to the bottom, and an interior chamber for holding a sample and that extends from the open top toward the bottom along the first axis. The body includes an opaque portion, a first translucent portion, and a second translucent portion spaced from the first translucent portion a distance that extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second translucent portions are each disposed along the bottom of the body.

An observation container (10) includes: a bottom portion that includes a bottom wall (12A) (first plate part) and a bottom wall (12B) (second plate part) which intersect each other and that is configured to accommodate a liquid sample O as a sample containing microparticles to be imaged by imaging units (30A) and (30B) serving as an imaging device; and a region that has transparency with respect to a wavelength of light used for observation of the microparticles.

A cuvette comprising a pyramidal shaped cavity with four sides surfaces, which are connected to each other by curves, wherein side surfaces and curves merge into a transition area that is located above a ring followed by a cone above the bottom of the pyramidally shaped cavity.

Technology described herein includes a method that includes providing, by an optical light source, a light beam configured to traverse an optical path through a fluid comprising the biological sample in a container. A length of the optical path through the fluid is between 3.3 mm to 5.5 mm, and a center of the light beam is at a height less than 1.6 mm from a bottom interior surface of the container, and a volume of the fluid is less than 120 μL. An optical detector receives optical information after the light beam traverses the optical path. An output of the optical detector is associated with at least one parameter representing the one or more characteristics of the biological sample.

The invention relates to a test cell for mixing a liquid. The test cell comprises an interior space for receiving the liquid and a running rail, which is formed in the interior space, for a ball, wherein the running rail is formed by two projections which project into the interior space from opposite side walls of the test cell. According to the invention, the running rail has a straight section and is deflected upward at both ends. In the test cell according to the invention, a high filling level can be achieved with a low quantity of liquid, this being advantageous for optical measurements. The invention also relates to a measuring method using the test cell.

A cuvette comprising: a main body having a sample chamber formed therein, the sample chamber communicating with the exterior of the cuvette by an opening formed in the exterior of the main body, wherein the sample chamber comprises a first sample chamber and a second sample chamber, the first sample chamber being in fluid communication with the opening, and the second sample chamber having a first end which is in fluid communication with the first sample chamber, and a second, closed end, the second sample chamber being in fluid communication with the exterior of the cuvette only through the first chamber, the first chamber having a width which is greater than that of the second chamber, and further wherein the greatest width of the opening is greater than or equal to the greatest width of the first sample chamber, the greatest width of the first sample chamber is greater than or equal to the greatest width of the second sample chamber, and the width of the sample chamber, passing from the opening to the closed end of the second chamber, either remains constant or decreases at each point along its length.

To reduce optical noise in fluorescence measurement. A biochip 110 for fluorescence measurement includes a transparent substrate 111, multiple microlenses 112 dispersively formed on a first surface 111a of the transparent substrate 111, multiple protruding portions 113 formed corresponding one-to-one with the microlenses 112 on a second surface 111b of the transparent substrate 111, and a fluorescence measurement site 114 formed at a top portion of each protruding portion 113.

To reduce optical noise in fluorescence measurement. A biochip 110 for fluorescence measurement includes a transparent substrate 111, multiple microlenses 112 dispersively formed on a first surface 111a of the transparent substrate 111, multiple protruding portions 113 formed corresponding one-to-one with the microlenses 112 on a second surface 111b of the transparent substrate 111, and a fluorescence measurement site 114 formed at a top portion of each protruding portion 113.

A method can be provided for analyzing a fluidic sample with dispersed particles. Using such exemplary method, it is possible to irradiate the sample with light, so that the photons of the light transfer momentum to the particles. It is also possible to measure at least one property of the particles that is altered by the momentum transfer. The light can be a propagating beam with an intensity distribution that has gradients pointing to more than one point within each plane normal to the direction of propagation, while varying steadily along the direction of propagation, and/or a 3D vortex trap beam that is configured to confine the particles in a three-dimensional volume by means of high-intensity gradients. An exemplary device can also be provided (e.g., for performing the method), comprising a chamber for holding a sample that is elongate along an axis and configured to pass a beam of light along the axis. The chamber can have a conical inner cross section that substantially expands in the direction of propagation of the beam.