Patent ID: 8852509

Claim:
A device for analyzing a plurality of characteristics of an aqueous solution, comprising: a portable hand-held housing having an interior; a test element receiving port configured to receive a wetted test element; circuitry in the housing for selectively generating radiation for interrogating a plurality of different portions of a wetted test element when placed within the test element receiving port, for receiving radiation reflected from the test element, and for generating a display responsive to the reflected radiation and indicative of the plurality of different characteristics of the aqueous solution; and, wherein the test element receiving port is proximate portions of the circuitry generating the radiation and receiving the reflected radiation and the radiation-transmissive test element receiving port comprises: a slot formed in the housing proximate portions of the circuitry generating the radiation and receiving the reflected radiation; a radiation-transmissive test element placement member attached to the housing toward a bottom of the slot, closing the slot and isolating an interior of the housing and the circuitry from an exterior of the housing while permitting the generated radiation to pass out of the housing and the reflected radiation to pass back into the housing.