Can I use it to measure turbidity in a PVC tube in real time?

[cheesealmighty]

I'm a neurosurgery resident in Turkey. We are working on a system that will measure CSF density and content in real time.

We want to measure turbidity of the otherwise clear CSF that flows through the closed yet transparent line. So that we can see if the cell count/protein content of the fluid is increasing. Would it possible for us to modify the test chamber so that rather than a rectangular cuvette, a fluid line enters the measurement chamber and exits without interruption. We are thinking of an opaque chamber that forms an "U" so it can be dark inside for the measurement?

This is the device we're using for the CSF drainage: http://www.medtronic.me/content/dam/medtronic-com/products/neurological/critical-care/mns-duetqrg.pdf

And would it be possible to differentiate what is causing the turbidity increase? As in, can we guess whether leukocytes or the erythrocytes increasing? And can we check if the glucose or protein levels are increasing within the CSF?

[dusjagr]

Interesting application!
Definately worth to look deeper into it, using open science hardware approches.
Feel free to post your interest to this forum too:
https://forum.openhardware.science/

our turbidity meter is more of do-it-yourself educational device, far from being used in a medical setting with real patients.

[cheesealmighty]

As long as it can give reliable measurements, it can be refined later. This is more of a experimental device. Practically, it isn't much different from taking photos of the translucent tube/collection chamber.

Thanks I'll try that site as well.