A new liquid flow cell assembly for light scattering measurements is disclosed which utilized a floating manifold system. The assembly operates with minimal stacked tolerances by aligning the cell to the windows within a manifold and independently aligning the cell to the read head directly. This configuration enables the ability to replace the flow cell or the flow cell/manifold assembly within a light scattering instrument without the need to realign the flow through elements with the light scattering illumination source while still maintaining reproducible, quality data. Some embodiments employ wide bore cells which enable the measurement of process analytic technology (PAT) including online monitoring of reactions.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting assays on samples and/or processing of samples. The apparatus comprises a rotatably arranged cylindrical sample holder for holding a sample at a lateral surface of the cylindrical sample holder. The cylindrical sample holder is configured to be at least partly covered by a liquid layer. The apparatus further comprises a liquid dispensing means configured to add liquid to the liquid layer, a reagent dispensing means configured to add a reagent to the liquid layer and a liquid contacting means configured to distribute liquid within said liquid layer. The liquid contacting means comprises a plate-like element flexibly assembled in relation to the cylindrical sample holder. The present invention also relates to a method for conducting assays on samples and/or processing of samples.

Provided is a sample transport medium vial, which may include: a sample collection part having an extraction part formed at the front end thereof, having a handle part formed in the middle thereof, and having, at the rear end thereof, a push button that can be pressed with the fingers; a medium accommodation tube in which a medium accommodation space capable of accommodating the medium is formed, and which is formed in a shape that encompasses the extraction part so that the extraction part of the sample collection part can be protected; and a one-touch-type elastic push device, which is provided at the handle part so that the protrusion length of the extraction part from the handle part can be extended to a first length or contracted to a second length when a collector presses the push button once or twice.

A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.

A test unit having a light source (e.g., a laser) for illuminating an aerosol sample directed into a test chamber and a removable insert for the test unit. The test unit includes at least one detector for detecting the effect of the aerosol sample on light, i.e., the detector detects at least one property of light after the light has illuminated the aerosol sample. The removable insert may take a number of different forms. For example, the removable insert can form at least a portion of an unsealed or sealed test chamber when installed in an operating position. Further, the removable insert may include a removable support and at least one film or collection substance connected or applied to the removable support. The at least one film could be a filter or a non-filter. The filter could be a polarization filter (i.e., horizontal or vertical) or a fluorescence filter.

An apparatus and method to obtain electrophoretic mobility information from a dilute colloidal dispersion using electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) is disclosed. Both laser Doppler electrophoresis and phase analysis light scattering data analysis methods may be applied to a scattered light signal simultaneously. Unlike previous ELS apparatuses and methods, the disclosed apparatus and method can measure electrophoretic mobility distributions in high ionic strength media. It can detect the presence of electrochemical phenomena such as electrode polarization and electrolysis, and apply corrections to the measured electrophoretic mobility values thus providing electrophoretic mobility information about samples with greater accuracy, precision, and reliability than prior ELS implementations. Improvements to the optical configuration of the apparatus are also disclosed that increase the robustness of the apparatus. Many of the aspects of the disclosure may be applied to the measurement of electrophoretic mobilities of particles in low polarity media and also particles with low surface charge in polar or non-polar media with greater accuracy, precision, and reliability than prior ELS implementations.

Turbidity measurement systems and methods of using the same are described. A turbidity measurement system comprise a vessel configured to hold a wellbore fluid, wherein a permeable obstruction to flow is positioned in the vessel; a light source positioned to direct light at the vessel; a light detector positioned to measure light intensity of light emitted by the light source and passing through the vessel; and a backscatter detector positioned to measure the light intensity of reflected light emitted from the light source.

A system for analyzing fluid includes a housing having first and second opposing surfaces spaced to form a fluid chamber, a light source disposed to direct light at the first surface of the housing; and a digital imaging circuit disposed to detect light at the second surface of the housing. The digital imaging circuit includes a pixel array configured to capture one or more digital images of an illuminated fluid. The system also includes a processor configured to: capture multiple digital images of the fluid at different camera exposure levels, calculate a net radiant energy value at a plurality of different integration times within at least two images, calculate a slope of the net radiant energy value with respect to integration time in a selected image, and determine size distribution and volume fraction of particles within the fluid based on the calculated slope.

The present invention is a cuvette assembly for use in optically measuring at least one characteristic of particles within a plurality of liquid samples. The cuvette assembly comprises a main body having internal walls and external walls, and a plurality of cuvettes within the main body at least partially being defined by the internal walls. Each of the plurality of cuvettes has a liquid-input chamber for receiving a respective one of the plurality of liquid samples, a filter, and an optical chamber for receiving a respective filtered liquid sample caused by passing the respective one of the plurality of liquid samples through the filter. Each of the optical chambers includes an entry window for allowing transmission of an input light beam through the filtered liquid sample and an exit window for transmitting a forward scatter signal caused by the particles within the filtered liquid sample.

An instrument determines a concentration of bacteria in a plurality of fluid samples, and comprises a housing, a rotatable platform, a plurality of fluid containers, a light source, a sensor, and a motor. The rotatable platform is within the housing. The fluid containers are located on the rotatable platform. Each fluid container holds a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid samples, and has an input window and an output window. The light source provides an input beam for transmission into the input windows of the fluid containers and through the corresponding fluid samples. The input beam creates a forward-scatter signal associated with the concentration of bacteria. The motor rotates the rotatable platform so that the input beam sequentially passes through each fluid sample. A sensor within the housing detects the forward-scatter signal exiting from the output window associated with the fluid sample receiving the input beam.