Membrane permeation device and corresponding method

A system for generating a representation and measuring the permeation or diffusion of one or more substances through a membrane, the system including:

• a housing comprising:
• a first window and a second window through which ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) electromagnetic radiation can pass;
• and
• a support mechanism, to hold a membrane in use;
• the system further comprising:
• a UV-VIS light source;
• and
• a UV-VIS CMOS detector;
• wherein,
• the first window and the second window are located on respective opposing walls of the housing and are parallel to each other;
• the membrane support mechanism is positioned inside the housing and transverses at a right angle the first window and the second window, such that the housing is partitioned into a first and second chamber;
• the first and second chambers are vertically aligned with the membrane located between the two in use;
• the first window and the second window being partitioned between the first and second chamber;
• the first chamber is capable of holding a fluid in use;
• the second chamber is capable of holding a substance in use;
• the UV-VIS light source is located adjacent to the first window;
• and
• the UV-VIS CMOS detector is located adjacent to the second window such that:
• UV-VIS electromagnetic radiation emitted from the UV-VIS light source passes in a straight path through both the first window and the second window and chambers, respectively;
• and
• in use, the fluid and substance held in the first and second chambers, respectively, have equal optical path lengths such that the contents of the first chamber and the contents of the second chamber can be viewed, imaged and analyzed concurrently.