Cuvette for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter and assembly utilizing the same

A cuvette for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter, said cuvette comprising:

• a housing having a passage therein, said passage having a biocompatible surface and being adapted to receive blood;
• said housing having a wall with an outer face;
• an optical window leading from said outer face to said passage, said optical window being transmissive to an optical signal so that the parameter of the blood can be measured;
• the optical window including a region of the wall and a deformable optical coupling element on said outer face at said region of said wall;
• first and second coupling members on said housing for use in releasably coupling to an optical head;
• the first coupling member being useful in pivoting the housing to the optical head;
• and
• the optical window being nearer to the first coupling member than to the second coupling member.

An assembly for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter comprising:

• an optical head including a body having an outer face, means for directing light from said outer face of the body and means for receiving light through the outer face of the body;
• a cuvette including a housing having a passage therein, said passage having a biocompatible surface and being adapted to receive blood;
• said housing having a wall with an outer face;
• said cuvette including an optical window leading from said outer face of the housing to said passage, said optical window being transmissive to an optical signal from the optical head and an optical signal from the passage so that the parameter of the blood can be measured;
• the optical window including a region of the wall and a deformable optical coupling element on said outer face of the housing at said region of said wall;
• a pivotal connection for pivoting the cuvette to the optical head for pivotal movement to a closed position in which said outer faces are in confronting relationship;
• and
• a retainer for retaining the cuvette and the optical head in the closed position.

A cuvette for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter, said cuvette comprising:

• a housing having a passage therein, said passage having a biocompatible surface and being adapted to receive blood;
• said housing having a wall with an outer face;
• an optical window leading from said outer face to said passage, said optical window being transmissive to an optical signal so that the parameter of the blood can be measured;
• a magnet carried by said wall for use in providing information about the cuvette;
• said passage being elongated and the magnet and the optical window being spaced longitudinally of the passage;
• and
• the optical window being bisected by an axial reference lane which extends through a longitudinal axis of the passage and said magnet lying on one side of said plane.

A cuvette for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter, said cuvette comprising:

• a housing having a passage therein, said passage having a biocompatible surface and being adapted to receive blood;
• said housing having a wall with an outer face;
• an optical window leading from said outer face to said passage, said optical window being transmissive to an optical signal so that the parameter of the blood can be measured;
• a magnet carried by said wall for use in providing information about the cuvette;
• said passage being elongated and the magnet and the optical window being spaced longitudinally of the passage;
• and
• said wall having a recess opening at said outer face and said magnet being retained in said recess.