Patent ID: 9677988
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: B01F,B65D,G01N

Claim:
1. A holder assembly for a particle analyzer, comprising: a holder for securing a sample container having a liquid sample contained therein, the liquid sample comprising one or more liquids, the holder being rotatable about an axis of rotation, the holder including one or more inner surfaces with suitable reflectance for causing radiation that is at least one of scattered, reflected, diffracted, refracted, or radiated from one or more particles within the liquid sample to be redirected within the holder until the radiation is received by a detector that is fixed to the holder; one or more holding elements for securing at least a portion of the sample container within the holder such that the sample container is fixed with respect to the one or more inner surfaces of the holder, the one or more holding elements configured to secure the sample container in alignment with the axis of rotation of the holder; an input aperture defined through the one or more inner surfaces of the holder, the input aperture configured to receive a beam of radiation generated by a radiation source fixed to the holder, whereby the beam of radiation enters the holder and transmits through the sample container and into the liquid sample, wherein the input aperture defines a transmission axis for the radiation source, the transmission axis being offset from a fixed position of the detector; and an output aperture defined through the one or more inner surfaces of the holder, the output aperture configured to receive the radiation that is at least one of scattered, reflected, diffracted, refracted, or radiated from the one or more particles within the liquid sample, whereby the radiation is directed through the output aperture to the detector that is fixed to the holder.