Abstract: An optical analyzer for determining an analyte in a fluid of interest such as a body fluid of interest satisfying the foregoing need and embodying the present invention may include a housing; combination optically transparent cuvette and lancet mounted removably in the housing, the cuvette may receive an optically transparent reagent test system for reacting with the body fluid to produce a change in at least one optical transmissive characteristic of the system indicative of the analyte; a cuvette carrier mounted slidably in the housing and for removably receiving the cuvette; a spring actuator mounted in the housing and connected to the cuvette carrier, the spring actuator may be compressed and released to advance the carrier and thereby advance the lancet into engagement with a portion of a body to produce the body fluid; depth control apparatus for controlling the depth of penetration of the lancet into the body portion; an electrooptical system mounted in the housing in optical engagement with the cuvett

Abstract: A gel body is provided with a reagent system which interacts with a sample portion which diffuses into the gel to change the transmissive properties of the gel. The gel body is used in an assay for various analytes, and preferably has a shape and index of refraction whereby a beam of light can be transmitted through the gel body by total internal reflectance.

Abstract: Apparatus for and process of facilitating reaction between analyte contained in a sample and test reagent system at least one of which sample and test reagent system is a liquid, wherein the liquid one of the sample and test reagent system is placed in a reservoir, the other of the analyte and test reagent system is placed in capillary means dimensioned for entry into the reservoir, the reservoir and capillary means being mounted for at least relative movement towards each other and entry of the capillary means into the reservoir to draw by capillary attraction the liquid one of the sample and test reagent system from the reservoir into the capillary means and to bring the analyte and test reagent system into contact in the capillary means and facilitate the reaction.

Abstract: Cuvette with or without a lancet secured thereto and extending therefrom for producing skin puncture to produce body fluid of interest, the cuvette is made of optically transparent material and is provided with a shape and a plurality of optical elements such as integrally formed optical elements for causing a light beam to pass therethrough by total internal reflectance and for causing the beam of light to be reflected back along a line different from the direction of the line of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette such as back along a line generally parallel to the line of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette and in the opposite direction to the direction of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette.

Abstract: Self-sufficient incubation assembly for the in vitro cultivation of microorganisms such as bacteria and for being energized by a self-contained energy source, including a heater for heating means, such as a culture growth dish assembly or a cuvette, for receiving a culture growth medium seeded with microorganisms, to a physiological temperature to cultivate the microorganisms, and electrical circuitry which interconnects the heater with the energy source and which includes a temperature control element in intimate physical contact with the seeded culture growth receiving means to cause the temperature of the control element to be substantially the same as the temperature of the medium; the electrical circuit in operation produces heat and due to its intimate physical contact with the means for receiving the seeded culture growth medium supplements the heating of the medium by the heater and the supplementation reduces the total energy required to be supplied by the energy source to cultivate the microorganism

Abstract: The combination of a cuvette for receiving a medium undergoing change in optical characteristics which change modifies the energy level of a ray of energy passing through the medium and wherein the cuvette is provided with integrally formed first and second ray modifying optical means, such as collimating and collecting lens, wherein the first ray modifying optical means receives and modifies the ray in a first manner, such as by collimation, and transmits the ray into the medium and wherein the second ray modifying optical means receives and modifies the ray in a second manner, such as by collection, upon the ray passing through the medium and transmits the ray from the cuvette; and an electrical circuit including photoemissive and photosensitive means, such as a photoemitter and photodetector, wherein the photoemissive means is in intimate optical contact with the first ray modifying optical element of the cuvette and wherein the photosensitive means is in intimate optical contact with the second ray modify

Abstract: A cuvette provided with integral optical elements for use in photometric measurements, wherein the cuvette includes means, such as a cell, for receiving a medium, such as a seeded culture growth medium, undergoing change in optical characteristics which change modifies the energy level of a ray of energy, such as a transilluminating ray of light, passing through the medium, and wherein the cuvette is further provided with integrally formed first and second ray modifying optical means, such as integrally formed collimating and collecting lens, wherein the first ray modifying means receives and modifies the ray in a first predetermined manner, such as by collimation, and transmits the ray into the medium and wherein the second ray modifying optical means receives and modifies the ray in a second manner, such as by collection, upon the ray passing through the medium and transmits the ray from the cuvette.