Microcuvette cartridge

The microcuvette cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the blister packs contain one or more of reagents to be mixed with the fluid specimen.

A microcuvette cartridge for optical measurement of a specimen, comprising:

• a substrate having a recess on an upper surface thereof to receive a fluid specimen therein, said substrate having a plurality of cavities therein to receive the fluid specimen transported from the recess, said substrate further defining a plurality of channels communicating with the recess and with the plurality of cavities, respectively, to transport the fluid specimen from the recess to the plurality of cavities, said substrate further having one or more of windows at positions corresponding to the plurality of cavities, the windows being transparent to wavelength of light with which the optical measurement is to be carried out so as to allow the light to interact with the fluid specimen in the cavities,
• wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of channels is made of a shrinkable porous material so as to remove a gas from the channels, and
• wherein at least some of the plurality of channels have at least one flow restrictor to temporarily stop a flow of the fluid specimen in the channel.

The microcuvette cartridge according to claim 19,

• wherein at least a portion of said substrate comprises a bottom layer, a top layer, and an intermediate layer interposed between the bottom layer and the top layer, and
• wherein the intermediate layer is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).