An optical measurement instrument is an integrated instrument that includes an optical cavity with a light source, a sample cuvette, and an optical sensor. The instrument can be used for taking measurements of organism concentration in one or more samples. Preferably, the instrument holds multiple, individually-loaded, independent fluid samples and determines bacteria concentration via a forward-scattering signal. The instrument can incorporate onboard incubation to promote bacterial growth in the samples such that, once a certain bacterial concentration is achieved, the higher concentration sample can be used with a mass spectrometer to identify the type of bacteria. The instrument and mass spectrometer can be a part of a network for medical diagnostic testing data where data is stored in a manner that is inherently untainted by patient identifiable information.

Systems and method are disclosed for measuring an analyte (e.g., glucose) in a fluid (e.g., blood) using a tunable source. The system can draw blood from a patient and deliver the blood to a sample cell. Some or a particular component of the fluid (e.g., plasma) may be positioned at a sample portion of the sample cell for measurement. The sample cell can include a cuvette with two window pieces defining a gap for fluid analysis. Wider gaps can facilitate measurement of larger biological fluid components, and laser optical sources can provide sufficient power to traverse larger gaps. Tunable sources can provide for measurement of a wider variety of components. Aspects of the system can be adjusted to accommodate measurement of multiple analytes with multiple wavelengths.

An assay-protocol-specific multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette for an automated assay fluid dispensing system may include a structure with multiple fluid channels within the structure to contain and control respective assay fluids. Each fluid channels may have an outlet. A driver interface may be carried by the structure removably and mechanically engageable with a dispenser driver of a dispenser so that the dispenser driver can control the dispensing of fluids from the structure directly onto underlying reaction sites while each of the fluid channels remain as part of the structure. An assay-protocol-indicative cassette-type identifier may be formed in or attached to the structure and indicative of different assay protocols for all of the multiple fluid channels. The assay-protocol-cassette-type identifier may be readable by the cassette driver in response to the multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette being removably connected to the dispenser.

A special-purpose cuvette assembly with features that create a small, restricted volume to minimize bulk movements of liquid and minimize backscattering-induced broadening of light. The special-purpose cuvette assembly enables recording of Brownian movements of nanoparticles in a liquid when it is placed in a suitable optical device comprising a light sheet and an optical microscope attached to a video camera that is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the light-sheet plane.

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.

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 small angle laser scatterometer with a temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell and a characterization method, the scatterometer formed by sequentially arranging a laser source, an adjustable attenuator, a beam expanding lens, a polarizer, the temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell, an analyzer, a transmission-type projection screen and an image acquisition device. The temperature-pressure-controllable sample cell is composed of a visual autoclave, a temperature control component, a rapid cooling component and a pressure control component. An evolution process of microstructures of polymer materials in specific atmosphere and rapid temperature and pressure changing environments on a scale of 0.5 m to 10 m. Researching a condensed state evolution law of the polymer materials in high-pressure environments can provide a process solution for regulating crystallization and phase separation of the polymer materials and new thought for further and deep reveal of a polymer material crystallization mechanism.

[Problems] Objects include providing a cover film for testing which can be well fixed to a substrate having a groove and in which a pressure sensitive adhesive does not invade into the groove, providing a testing member comprising the cover film for testing, and providing a method of manufacturing the cover film for testing.

[Solution] The cover film for testing (1, 2) comprises a base material (10) and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer (20) laminated on one surface side of the base material (10). The cover film for testing (1, 2) has a region in which the pressure sensitive adhesive layer (20) does not exist in the plan view.

This automatic analysis apparatus is provided with: an analysis port comprising a reaction container holding part that holds a reaction container storing the liquid mixture of a sample and a reagent, a light source that emits light to the liquid mixture stored in the reaction container held by the reaction container holding part, and a detector that detects light generated when the light from the light source is emitted to the liquid mixture; and a control unit that controls the analysis port, and analyzes the sample on the basis of information about the detected light. The automatic analysis apparatus is characterized in that: the surface of an inner wall of the reaction container holding part is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source; and the control unit executes control so as to emit the light from the light source in a state where the reaction container is not held by the reaction container holding part, to detect the light reflected on the surface of the inner wall of the reaction container holding part by the detector, and to not use the analysis port for analysis when the result of the detection shows that the detected light is less than a first value determined in advance.

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 includes a unitary body made of a single type of transparent material. The unitary body includes a plurality of optical chambers for receiving the liquid sample, an entry side wall for allowing transmission of an input light beam into the respective liquid sample, and an exit side wall for transmitting a forward scatter signal caused by the particles within the respective liquid sample. Each of the plurality of optical chambers is separated by internal walls of the unitary body.