Patent ID: 8297302

Claim:
A flow cell device for observing a fluid comprising: a housing defining an inlet and an outlet; first and second viewing members disposed opposite one another in the housing so as to form an aperture between the first and second viewing members that is in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the first viewing member comprising a first window having a first surface facing the aperture and a first spray ring disposed around a periphery of the first window, the first spray ring including a first plurality of cleaning ports in fluid communication with a cleaning fluid inlet port disposed in the housing; and the second viewing member comprising a second window opposite the first window, wherein the first spray ring does not extend toward the second viewing member past the first surface of the first window and each of the first plurality of cleaning ports is oriented within the first spray ring such that when a cleaning fluid is provided under pressure to the cleaning fluid inlet port, the cleaning fluid is ejected from each of the first plurality of cleaning ports across an entire width of the aperture to the second window.