Imaging chamber for an imaging system

1 . An imaging chamber configured to receive a flow of a fluid sample, the imaging chamber comprising:

a reservoir comprising:

a contrast-enhancing agent, wherein the contrast-enhancing agent is encapsulated within an encapsulation of the reservoir, the reservoir configured to receive the flow of the fluid sample; and

a mixing device comprised within the reservoir, wherein the mixing device facilitates mixing of the flow of the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent to form a fluid mixture;

a seal-breaking mechanism configured to break the encapsulation of the reservoir to release the contrast-enhancing agent for mixing with the fluid sample; and

an imaging window in fluid communication with the reservoir to receive the fluid mixture from the reservoir, wherein the imaging window is downstream from the reservoir, wherein the fluid mixture flows towards the imaging window from the reservoir and the fluid mixture is imaged by an imaging system.

2 . The imaging chamber of claim 1 , wherein the imaging window is optically clear, wherein the imaging chamber is configured to be imaged by the imaging system, and wherein the imaging system comprises an illumination device and an imaging device.

3 . The imaging chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a flow restriction device that is configured to be in an open position and in a closed position, wherein the flow restriction device is configured to allow a flow of the fluid sample and/or a flow of the contrast-enhancing agent to flow through and/or past the flow restriction device when the flow restriction device is in the open position, and wherein the flow restriction device is configured to prevent the flow of the fluid sample and/or the flow of the contrast-enhancing agent to flow through and/or past the flow restriction device when the flow restriction device is in the closed position.

4 . The imaging chamber of claim 1 , wherein the seal-breaking mechanism is further configured to puncture a tube that comprises the flow of the fluid sample.

5 . The imaging chamber of claim 4 , wherein the fluid sample is a peritoneal dialysis effluent.

6 . The imaging chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a puncturing mechanism that is configured to pierce a drainage bag or tube, wherein the imaging chamber receives the flow of the fluid sample through the puncturing mechanism.

7 . An imaging system configured to receive an imaging chamber, wherein the imaging system comprises:

an illumination device; and

an imaging device, wherein the imaging system is configured to receive the imaging chamber between the illumination device and the imaging device, wherein the imaging chamber comprises:

a reservoir comprising a contrast-enhancing agent, wherein the contrast-enhancing agent is encapsulated within an encapsulation of the reservoir, the reservoir is configured to receive a flow of a fluid sample;

a mixing device comprised within the reservoir, wherein the mixing device facilitates mixing of the flow of the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent to form a fluid mixture;

a seal-breaking mechanism configured to break the encapsulation of the reservoir to release the contrast-enhancing agent for mixing with the fluid sample; and

an imaging window in fluid communication with the reservoir to receive the fluid mixture from the reservoir, wherein the imaging window is downstream from the reservoir to receive the fluid mixture from the reservoir flows towards the imaging window from the reservoir wherein the fluid mixture is imaged by the imaging system, and wherein the imaging device is configured to be aligned with the imaging window of the imaging chamber.

8 . The imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the imaging system comprises an agitation device that is configured to agitate or shake the imaging chamber.

9 . The imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the imaging system is configured to receive the flow of the fluid sample and the imaging chamber is configured to be within the imaging system when it receives the flow of the fluid sample.

10 . A method for imaging a fluid mixture with an imaging system, the method comprising:

receiving, by an imaging chamber, a flow of a fluid sample, wherein the imaging chamber comprises a reservoir and an imaging window;

mixing, within the reservoir, the flow of the fluid sample with a contrast-enhancing agent to form a fluid mixture, wherein the reservoir comprises of the contrast-enhancing agent, wherein the contrast-enhancing agent is encapsulated within an encapsulation of the reservoir, the reservoir is configured to receive a flow of a fluid sample;

configuring a seal-breaking mechanism to break the encapsulation of the reservoir and to release the contrast-enhancing agent for mixing with the fluid sample;

receiving, by the imaging window, the fluid mixture, wherein the imaging window is in fluidic communication with the reservoir, wherein the imaging window is downstream from the reservoir, wherein the fluid mixture flows towards the imaging window from the reservoir; and

imaging, by the imaging system, the fluid mixture.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the fluid sample comprises receiving the fluid sample from a bag or tube.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising opening a flow restriction device of the imaging chamber.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein mixing the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent comprises mixing the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent with a mixing device.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the fluid sample comprises a PD effluent.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the imaging system comprises a digital holography imaging device.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein mixing the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent is performed by hand outside of the imaging system.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein mixing the fluid sample with the contrast-enhancing agent is performed inside the imaging system by an agitation device of the imaging system.