Flow cell and optical system for analyzing fluid

A system for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• a flow cell including:
• a flow cell body for containing a reference material including at least one transparent rod, and
• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a static optical arrangement including at least a first and a second lens for directing light from a light source, through the flow cell body, to a light detector;
• at least a first and a second transparent surface deployed on opposing surfaces of the flow cell body, the flow cell body positionable to align the first transparent with the first lens and the second transparent surface with the second lens, wherein an optical path through the flow cell body is defined in part by the transparent surfaces and the static optical arrangement;
• and
• a switching mechanism operative to adjust an amount of the reference material deployed in the optical path by translationally moving the at least one transparent rod in and out of the optical path to effect switching of the flow cell between a reference measurement state corresponding to a first light intensity measurement, and a fluid sample measurement state corresponding to a second light intensity measurement.

A flow cell for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a pair of transparent windows deployed on opposing surfaces of the hollow chamber, each of the transparent windows aligned with a respective lens of a static lens arrangement to define a light path through the hollow chamber;
• and
• a switching mechanism including at least one transparent rod deployed in the at least one hollow chamber and contacting the fluid sample, the switching mechanism operative to translationally move the at least one transparent rod in and out of light path so as to change the length of the light path through the hollow chamber between at least a first light path length and a second light path length.

A flow cell for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• a flow cell body for containing a reference material that includes at least one transparent rod, the flow cell body including:
• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample, and
• opposing surfaces each having at least one transparent portion thereof, wherein an optical path for light to traverse through the flow cell body is defined in part by the transparent portions;
• and
• a switching mechanism including a rotational mechanism having at least one rotating arm having the at least one transparent rod attached thereto, the switching mechanism operative to adjust an amount of the reference material deployed in the optical path by rotating the rotational mechanism to alternately position the at least one transparent rod in and out of the optical path so as to effect switching of the flow cell between a reference measurement state corresponding to a first light intensity measurement, and a fluid sample measurement state corresponding to a second light intensity measurement.

A system for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• a flow cell including:
• a flow cell body for containing a reference material including at least one transparent rod, and
• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a static optical arrangement including at least a first and a second lens for directing light from a light source, through the flow cell body, to a light detector;
• at least a first and a second transparent surface deployed on opposing surfaces of the flow cell body, the flow cell body positionable to align the first transparent with the first lens and the second transparent surface with the second lens, wherein an optical path through the flow cell body is defined in part by the transparent surfaces and the static optical arrangement;
• and
• a switching mechanism including a rotational mechanism that includes at least one rotating arm having the at least one transparent rod attached thereto, the switching mechanism operative to adjust an amount of the reference material deployed in the optical path by rotating the rotational mechanism to alternately position the at least one transparent rod in and out of the optical path so as to effect switching of the flow cell between a reference measurement state corresponding to a first light intensity measurement, and a fluid sample measurement state corresponding to a second light intensity measurement.

A flow cell for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a pair of transparent windows deployed on opposing surfaces of the hollow chamber, each of the transparent windows aligned with a respective lens of a static lens arrangement to define a light path through the hollow chamber;
• and
• a switching mechanism including a rotational mechanism that includes at least one rotating arm having at least one transparent rod attached thereto, the at least one transparent rod deployed in the at least one hollow chamber and contacting the fluid sample, the switching mechanism operative to rotate the rotational mechanism to alternately position the at least one transparent rod in and out of the light path so as to change the length of the light path through the hollow chamber between at least a first light path length and a second light path length.

A flow cell for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• a flow cell body for containing a reference material that includes a transparent rod, the flow cell body including:
• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample, and
• opposing surfaces each having at least one transparent portion thereof, wherein an optical path for light to traverse through the flow cell body is defined in part by the transparent portions;
• and
• a switching mechanism operative to adjust an amount of the reference material deployed in the optical path by rotating the transparent rod about an axis of rotation that is substantially normal to the optical path so as to effect switching of the flow cell between a reference measurement state corresponding to a first light intensity measurement, and a fluid sample measurement state corresponding to a second light intensity measurement.

A system for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• a flow cell including:
• a flow cell body for containing a reference material including a transparent rod, and
• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a static optical arrangement including at least a first and a second lens for directing light from a light source, through the flow cell body, to a light detector;
• at least a first and a second transparent surface deployed on opposing surfaces of the flow cell body, the flow cell body positionable to align the first transparent with the first lens and the second transparent surface with the second lens, wherein an optical path through the flow cell body is defined in part by the transparent surfaces and the static optical arrangement;
• and
• a switching mechanism operative to adjust an amount of the reference material deployed in the optical path by rotating the transparent rod about an axis of rotation that is substantially normal to the optical path so as to effect switching of the flow cell between a reference measurement state corresponding to a first light intensity measurement, and a fluid sample measurement state corresponding to a second light intensity measurement.

A flow cell for analyzing a fluid sample, comprising:

• at least one hollow chamber for containing the fluid sample;
• a pair of transparent windows deployed on opposing surfaces of the hollow chamber, each of the transparent windows aligned with a respective lens of a static lens arrangement to define a light path through the hollow chamber;
• and
• a switching mechanism including a transparent rod deployed in the at least one hollow chamber and contacting the fluid sample, the switching mechanism operative to rotate the transparent rod about an axis of rotation that is substantially normal to the light path so as to change the length of the light path through the hollow chamber between at least a first light path length and a second light path length.