Patent ID: 9170191
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring an optical property of a sample, comprising: providing a source of optical energy and a pair of windows; wherein one of the pair of windows is configured to receive radiation from the source of optical energy over free space and the other of the pair of windows is configured with an incorporated optical detector that is utilized to optically interrogate a disposed sample therebetween the pair of windows, wherein the pair of windows are both moveable with respect to the positioning of the source of optical energy to adjust the spacing between them; providing a processor adapted to control a separation between configured surfaces of the pair of windows at a variable distance (P) in order to pull the disposed sample into a column contained by surface tension or to squeeze the sample during optical analysis, wherein the processor is additionally configured to collect and store information of different optical path lengths automatically of the pulled and/or squeezed sample(s); using the information collected to monitor the expected light absorbance changes as the path length is changed; and warning a user that the collected data is likely in error if a measured result varies from an expected Beers law and/or interpolated change rate.