Patent ID: 8681340

Claim:
An analyzer comprising: a source of electromagnetic radiation, a detector for said radiation and a drophead in the form of a solid body which is transparent to said electromagnetic radiation, the drophead comprising a terminal surface which is adapted to receive a drop of liquid to be tested, wherein at least one of said source and said detector comprises an optical fiber for respectively transmitting or receiving said electromagnetic radiation to or from said received drop of liquid through said transparent drophead, the optical fiber terminating behind said terminal surface of said drophead the drophead being positioned in use relative to the source and detector to illuminate a drop received thereon and to cause an interaction in the path of the electromagnetic radiation between the source and detector, wherein said terminal surface of said drophead is dimensioned to constrain a drop which covers said terminal surface and is confined to said terminal surface to adopt a shape which is dominated more by surface tension forces than by gravitational forces.