An automatic analytical apparatus includes a reaction container for mixing a sample with a reagent to react the sample to the reagent, a measurement unit that irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction container with light and measures the intensity of transmitted light or scattered light, a control unit that processes time-series light intensity data obtained through the measurement in the measurement unit, a storage unit that stores one or more approximation functions each approximating to a time-series change in the light intensity data, and an output unit that outputs a processing result of the control unit. The control unit selects any one of the approximation functions stored in the storage unit, calculates an approximate curve indicating a time-series change in the light intensity data using the selected approximation function, calculates deviation feature information based on deviation information between the light intensity data and the approximate curve, and detects and classifies an abnormality included in the light intensity data using the deviation feature information.

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.

An automated assay-fluid dispensing system includes a database that associates assay protocols with assay procedures, the procedures including a first assay procedure specifying dissimilar first and second channel procedures for driving first and second channels of a fluid-dispenser cassette. The system includes a controller with a procedure selector to select or to assist a human to select an assay procedure from the database to be executed in an assay run. The controller also includes a cassette driver to drive the cassette to dispense fluids automatically to multiple sites during the assay run so that fluids in the first and second channels are dispensed in accordance with the dissimilar first and second channel procedures. The system includes a cassette interface to engage the cassette so that the controller can drive it to implement the assay run.

The present invention relates to the field of consumable materials for automatic analytical instruments and relates to a method for producing plastic cuvettes with increased scratch resistance.

A system for determining the growth/dissolution rate of colloidal particles is disclosed and includes multiple light sources and multiple sensors. A light source is constructed to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a specimen chamber that holds the colloidal particles. The chamber allows a portion of the combined beam to scatter perpendicularly or at some other angle to the combined beam. The scattered portion of the beam is directed to a sensor that detects electromagnetic radiation. The sensor is connected to processor that activates the light source and obtains an image from the sensor. Multiple images are taken at a time interval and for each image taken, and a total image intensity level is calculated and normalized. A formula is then calculated that fits the normalized values over time and a slope is determined from the formula.

A nephelometric turbidimeter vial arrangement includes a vial and a separate vial cap. The vial comprises a transparent cylindrical vial body configured to enclose a vial interior, a bottom inlet window, and a top vial opening configured to be circular. The separate vial cap comprises a light trap cavity. The separate vial cap is configured to close the top vial opening. The light trap cavity comprises an inner surface which comprises a light absorbing surface. The light trap cavity is configured to be open to the vial interior.

The present invention comprises an optical train (50) and optional wavelength-selective photodetectors. The optical train (50) uses reflecting elements (600) including mirrors and/or prisms to fold the light path of the transmitted UV light beam to direct it through the body (100) of the instrument, through a sample vessel (200) using at least one pass but preferably two or more passes and into illumination contact with a photodetector (400). With each additional pass, the Beer-Lambert path length is effectively increased. Separate second optical train (53) and third optical train (54) exist for the detection and measurement of scattered light by illumination contact with one or more photodetectors.

There is provided a composite structure including: at least two substrates which are made of thermoplastic resin and which are bonded by thermocompression; and at least one member which is made of a material whose heat distortion temperature is higher than a heat distortion temperature of the thermoplastic resin and which is inserted into a space formed in at least one of the substrates. The member inserted in the space is fixed and held by wall surfaces which form the space of the substrates and which are thermally deformed by thermocompression.

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.

A fluid characterization measuring instrument is disclosed that comprises a sample vessel for a bulk complex sample fluid having a capacity that is substantially larger than a domain size of the complex sample fluid and that is sufficiently large to cause bulk scattering effects to substantially exceed surface effects for the complex fluid sample, a coherent light source positioned to illuminate the bulk complex sample fluid in the sample vessel and a first fibre having a first end positioned to receive backscattered light from the sample after it has interacted with the sample. The first fibre can also be positioned close enough to an optical axis of the coherent light source and to the sample vessel to substantially decrease a contribution of multiply scattered light in the backscattered light. The instrument can further comprise a first photon-counting detector positioned to receive the backscattered light from a second end of the fibre, correlation logic responsive to the first photon-counting detector and single-scattering fluid property analysis logic responsive to the correlation logic and operative to derive at least one fluid property for the sample fluid.