Internal reflection element for micro-sample analysis

Claim 1

A MULTIPLE PASS INTERNAL REFLECTION ELEMENT COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT MEMBER HAVING A RECEIVING SURFACCE ENABLING AN INCIDENT RADIATION BEAM TO ENTER THE MEMBER AND HAVING A SAMPLING SURFACE ORIENTED RELATIVE TO THE INCIDENT BEAM SO THAT THE LATTER IS INCIDENT THEREON AT AN ANGLE EXCEEDING THE CRITICAL ANGLE FOR TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF REFLECTING SURFACES ORIENTED RELATIVE TO THE SAMPLING SURFACE AND FUNCTIONING IN PAIRS TO RECEIVE THE BEAM REFLECTED FROM THE SAMPLING SURFACE AT AN ANGLE EXCEEDING THE CRITICAL ANGLE AND TO REDIRECT IT BACK ONTO SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME POINT OF THE SAMPLING SURFACE AT AN ANGLE EXCEEDING THE CRITICAL ANGLE, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN EXITING SURFACE ORIENTED RELATIVE TO THE SAMPLING SURFACE TO ENABLE A BEAM INCIDENT ON THE EXISTING SURFACE TO EXIT FROM THE MEMBER.