A method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for controlling components of a detection device. The device may detect turbidity of liquid with sensors such as a density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor. A light modulation pattern may reduce or eliminate interference in sensor readings. Readings may be performed during off cycles of an illumination light to reduce interference but to provide improved visibility of a tube. Dark and light sensor readings may be performed with an emitter respectively off or on to account for ambient light in subsequent readings. Readings from the density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor may be used to calculate McFarland values. The device may be zeroed based on an emitter level that results in a sensor reading satisfying a predetermined criterion.

Apparatuses and associated methods of manufacturing are described that provide a tip resistant optical testing instrument configured to rest on a surface. The optical testing instrument includes a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube. The shell includes a bottom shell surface, wherein the bottom shell surface defines at least one support element, wherein the at least one support element is configured to engage the surface to support the optical testing instrument in a testing position, and a translational surface configured to engage the surface to support the optical testing instrument in an angled position. In an instance in which the optical testing instrument tilts from the testing position to the angled position, the translational surface is configured to engage the surface contacting the translational surface to prevent the optical testing instrument from tipping further and allow the optical testing instrument to return to the testing position.

A method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for controlling components of a detection device. The device may detect turbidity of liquid with sensors such as a density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor. A light modulation pattern may reduce or eliminate interference in sensor readings. Readings may be performed during off cycles of an illumination light to reduce interference but to provide improved visibility of a tube. Dark and light sensor readings may be performed with an emitter respectively off or on to account for ambient light in subsequent readings. Readings from the density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor may be used to calculate McFarland values. The device may be zeroed based on an emitter level that results in a sensor reading satisfying a predetermined criterion.

An optical analysis of saliva or a fluid-saliva mix obtained during or after an oral care action is performed in order to check whether the saliva or fluid-saliva mix contains blood, which allows for determining whether or not a person may suffer from gingivitis or another condition affecting gum health. In particular, light received from a representative sample (23) containing saliva is detected and analyzed. The analysis involves determination of measurement values of light received by a light-receiving unit (25) for one or more main wavelengths of the light and one or more auxiliary wavelengths of the light. Advantageously, the main wavelength(s) is/are associated with high hemoglobin absorption and the auxiliary wavelength(s) is/are associated with low hemoglobin absorption. A measurement value at an auxiliary wavelength is used for correcting a measurement value at as main wavelength for background influences.

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 device for measuring an ionic concentration of an ionic compound in a porous medium solution contained in a porous medium. The device includes a sensing portion, a light source, and a light sensor. The sensing portion is miniaturized and includes a permeable material body defining a measuring cavity therein and is insertable in the porous medium to allow the porous medium solution to diffuse through the permeable material body. The light source illuminates the porous medium solution contained inside the measuring cavity. The light sensor detects a resulting light emanating from the porous medium solution, the resulting light having at least one spectral characteristic indicative of the ionic concentration of the ionic compound in the porous medium solution. There is also provided a method for measuring in situ an ionic concentration of an ionic compound in a porous medium solution contained in a porous medium.

A cuvette for treating and characterizing water via ultrasonic waves and optical measurements comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer for treating said water by introducing at least one ultrasonic pulse into the water. The at least one ultrasonic pulse either varies parameters of the water, and/or moves and repositions particles within the water. The cuvette further comprises a spectrometry device for measuring spectral components of light and at least one light source for irradiating the water with irradiation light. The at least one of the parameters of the water is determined via: (a) measuring the spectral components of light prior to treating the water with said at least one ultrasonic transducer, (b) treating the water with said at least one ultrasonic transducer, (c) remeasuring the spectral components of light to get the difference in said spectral components of light, and (d) determining the value of the at least one parameter of the water based on the difference in said spectral components of light.

A system for extraction of optical properties of a turbid medium by using diffuse reflectometry may include at least one light source, an optical receiver, at least one separator, and at least one processor configured to control the optical receiver, while the radiation is provided to the turbid medium in the radiation input area of the at least one light source, to sequentially open each LC cell from the array of LC cells, and simultaneously receive radiation, passed through the sequentially opened LC cells and corresponding microlenses, by corresponding photodetectors from the array of photodetectors to obtain the distribution of radiation intensity; and extract the optical properties of the turbid medium based on the distribution of radiation intensity.

A flow path device includes: a first substrate having a pair of first main surfaces, a groove and a first recessed portion; and a second substrate having a pair of second main surfaces. The groove includes an opening located in one of the pair of first main surfaces. The first recessed portion includes another opening located in another one of the pair of first main surfaces and overlaps the groove. One of the pair of second main surfaces is located on a side of the one of the pair of first main surfaces to cover the opening of the groove. The groove is a band-like shape, and includes a first planar part and a second planar part connected to the first planar part. The second planar part has a width larger than the first planar part. The first recessed portion overlaps the second planar part.

A fine ratio measuring device that measures a ratio of fines adhering to the surface of a material in the form of lumps, the fine ratio measuring device includes: an illumination unit that illuminates the material in the form of lumps; a spectrometer that performs spectral analysis on light reflected from the material in the form of lumps to measure spectral reflectance; and an arithmetic device that extracts at least one feature quantity from the spectral reflectance measured by the spectrometer and computes the fine ratio from the extracted at least one feature quantity.