Patent ID: 7727772

Claim:
A fluid contamination analyzer comprising: (a) a sample cell, comprising: (i) a trapping medium for entrapping a contaminant from an aqueous fluid flowing through the trapping medium, the trapping medium having an outer surface and an inner surface; (ii) the trapping medium is translucent and has an essentially closed form defined by the outer surface, with a cavity formed inside thereof defined by the inner surface; (iii) an outer structural support surface and an inner structural support surface formed on or adjacent to the outer surface and the inner surface respectively; and (iv) a radiation source illuminating the trapping medium with excitation radiation to cause the entrapped contaminant to generate a secondary radiation indicative of an identity of the entrapped contaminant, or the identity and concentration of the entrapped contaminant; the radiation source is placed inside the cavity to illuminate the trapping medium from inside thereof outwards; (b) a detector for detecting the secondary radiation; and (c) a reflective shell at least partly encompassing the sample cell and the detector, the shell having a shape defining two focal points so that radiation generated at one of the focal points is substantially reflected by the reflective shell to the other focal point, the sample cell being disposed at or in close proximity to one of the focal points, and the detector being disposed at or in close proximity to the other focal point to receive the secondary radiation generated by the entrapped contaminant.