System for Conducting the Identification of Bacteria in Biological Samples

• US 20110042582A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pocared Diagnostics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pocared Diagnostics Ltd.
• Inventors: Holley, Dave, Ingber, Gal, Talbert, Sherwood, Tallarico, John, Atterbury, William G., Klausing, Thomas A., Schaefer, Jason A., Laudo, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,519,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/458.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0609 Holders integrated in container to position an object
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0851 Bottom walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/12 Specific details about materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/168 Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1844 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50851 specially adapted for heating or cooling samples laboratory heating apparatus B01L7/00; incubators C12M
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/36 of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0382 Frustoconical, tapered cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6419 Excitation at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00346 Heating or cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0429 Sample carriers adapted for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0449 using centrifugal transport of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0332 : with temperature control control of temperature G05D23/00; cryostats F17C3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 : Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0633 : Directed, collimated illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 : having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Claims

1. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:

a rectangular-shaped container made of a transparent material and containing the biological sample,

said container having a rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening.

2. An optics cup as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wet ribbon liner for light collection through the biological sample for the optical analysis of the biological sample.

3. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the wet ribbon liner is made of a reflective material which is shaped and formed to partially clad the inside of the container including the lower tapered area.

4. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the wet ribbon liner is made of a reflective material which is shaped and formed to substantially clad the inside of the container including the lower tapered area.

5. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the wet ribbon liner is fastened to a flange of the rectangular opening of the container through a crimping process.

6. An optics cup according to claim 1, wherein the cup is an injection molded cup and made of a leaching resistance material for minimizing the amount of contaminants leached out of the biological sample.

11. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the wet ribbon liner is secured to the flange of the rectangular opening of the container by at least a one-way retention tab.

12. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the ribbon liner is secured to the flange of the rectangular opening of the container by at least a heat staked pin.

13. An optics cup according to claim 2, wherein the container further includes a snap mechanism and wherein the wet ribbon liner is secured to the container by the snap mechanism.

7. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:

a rectangular-shaped container made of a transparent material and containing the biological sample,

said container having a rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening and an inner surface at least along the tapered area coated with a layer of reflective material.

8. An optics cup according to claim 7, wherein the layer of reflective material is aluminum and is coated to the inner surface of the container through a process selected from the group consisting of a vacuum metallization process and an electroplating process.

9. An optics cup according to claim 7, wherein the layer of reflective material extends partially along the inner surface of the container including the lower tapered area.

10. An optics cup according to claim 7, wherein the layer of reflective material extends substantially along the inner surface of the container including the lower tapered area.

14. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:

a two-piece construction having an upper piece with an upper rectangular opening and a lower rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower piece including a lower tapered area for holding the biological sample.

15. An optics cup according to claim 14, wherein the upper piece and the lower piece are bonded together and wherein the lower piece contains a layer of reflective material.

16. An optics cup according to claim 14, wherein the upper piece and the lower piece are bonded together through a bonding process selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic butt welding process, an ultrasonic shear welding process, a press fit process, a snap fit process and a solvent weld process using a press fit or snap fit process.

17. A disposable sample cup for containing a biological specimen for optical analysis of the bacteria in the biological specimen, comprising:

a rectangular-shaped container having a tapered area, a rectangular-shaped top opening for receiving the biological specimen, and an inner reflective surface,

said container further including two parallel spaced-apart sidewalls, two spaced apart end walls and a horizontal floor, and

said two spaced-apart end walls including a first end wall having the tapered area contiguous to the horizontal floor.

18. A disposable sample cup according to claim 17, wherein said tapered area is a straight wall.

19. A disposable sample cup according to claim 18 wherein said straight wall has an angle of approximately 45°

relative to one of the spaced apart end walls.

20. A disposable sample cup according to claim 17, wherein the inner reflective surface is selected from the group consisting of a narrow aluminum ribbon and an aluminum coating and wherein the inner reflective surface is arranged along the first end wall, the tapered area, the horizontal floor and the second end wall of the container.

21. A disposable sample cup according to claim 17, wherein the container is made of transparent material selected from the group consisting of plastic and glass.

22. A disposable sample cup according to claim 17, wherein the container further includes a flange along the perimeter of the rectangular-shaped opening for supporting the sample cup during analysis of the biological specimen.

23. A disposable cartridge for use in the identification and quantification of micro-organisms in biological samples, comprising:

a plurality of compartments for positioning and supporting a plurality of disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette and an optics cup containing the processed biological sample for use in an optical analysis;

the optics cup having a rectangular shape and a tapered area into which a light source travels for the optical analysis of the processed biological sample and a reflective surface for enhancing the optical analysis; and

the compartment for positioning and supporting the optics cup having a rectangular-shaped opening for receiving and supporting the rectangular-shaped optics cup.

24. The disposable cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the disposable cartridge is injection molded and made of a plastic material.

25. The disposable cartridge of claim 23, wherein the compartments for positioning and supporting the centrifuge tube and the pipette are cylindrical shaped and extend substantially the length of the centrifuge tube and the pipette.

26. The disposable cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the compartment for positioning and supporting the optics cup is substantially enclosed within the disposable cartridge and has a configuration similar to that of the optics cup.

27. The disposable cartridge according to claim 23, including at least one attachment clip configured for cooperating with a magazine opening for attaching the cartridge therein.

28. The disposable cartridge according to claim 27 including at least one alignment member.

29. An optical reader for analyzing bacteria in a biological specimen, comprising:

an optics cup containing the biological specimen;

an illumination arrangement including a xenon light source and a system of turning mirrors, filters and a filter wheel supported in a plurality of carriages for producing an illumination beam;

said plurality of carriages being arranged at an angle so as to decrease the distance between the light source and the optics cup and to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the illumination beam;

an anchor shoe for supporting the optics cup and having a slit for producing a collimated beam from the illumination beam and directing the collimated beam into the optics cup containing the biological sample to produce fluorescent emissions; and

an optical collection device for receiving the fluorescent emissions of the collimated beam from the biological specimen and the optics cup and directing the fluorescent emissions to a detection device for the analysis of bacteria in the biological specimen.

30. The optical reader of claim 29, wherein the filter wheel includes a plurality of narrowband filters and wherein the filter wheel is selectively employed to change the narrowband filters so that the deuterium radiation from the light source is restricted to a narrow band of ultraviolet light ranging from 260 nm to about 300 nm.

31. The optical reader of claim 29, wherein the optics cup includes a rectangular-shaped container having a tapered area and has an inner reflective surface.

32. The optical reader of claim 31, wherein the container further includes two parallel spaced-apart sidewalls, two spaced apart end walls and a horizontal floor, and wherein a first end wall includes the tapered area contiguous to the horizontal floor.

33. The optical reader of claim 31, wherein the tapered area is a straight wall.

34. The optical reader of claim 33, wherein the straight wall has an angle of approximately 45°

relative to one of the spaced apart end walls.

35. A method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of a collimated beam generated in an optical reader for the optical analysis of a biological specimen contained in an optics cup, the steps comprising:

a) providing a light source for producing an illumination beam;

b) directing the illumination beam into a first optical system including a filter and a turning mirror so as to bend the path of travel of the illumination beam of the light source;

c) directing the illumination beam produced in step b) into a second optical system including a filter and a turning mirror so as to bend the path of travel of the illumination beam produced in step b) at a 45°

angle; and

d) directing the illumination beam as a result of step c) into a slit to produce a collimated beam which is directed into the biological specimen in the optics cup to produce fluorescent emissions which are directed to an optical collection device and then to a detection device for the analysis of bacteria in the biological specimen.

36. A system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in a plurality of optics cup in an optical analysis, comprising:

a carousel for supporting a plurality of disposable cartridges, each supporting a disposable optics cup containing a specimen to be optically analyzed by an optical analyzer;

the carousel having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the disposable cartridges;

a turntable having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the openings in the carousel;

a tubing system surrounding the turntable for carrying chilled water from a thermal electric cooler to the turntable and cool water from the turntable to the thermal electric cooler; and

a fan in association with the tubing system for circulating chilled air through the plurality of openings of said turntable to cool and then control the temperature of the specimens.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the turntable is aluminum, wherein the optics cups and the disposable cartridges are plastic, and wherein convective cooling through the aluminum turntable and the plastic of the disposable cartridges and the optics cups occurs for the rapid cooling of the specimens in the optics cups.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of the specimens is located in an optical analyzer.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of the specimens in the optical analyzer is adapted to cool the specimens from ambient temperatures down to a desired temperature and to substantially maintain the temperature of the specimens at the desired temperature until the processing of the samples in the optical analyzer is completed.

40. A system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in a plurality of optics cups in an optical analysis, comprising:

a carousel for supporting a plurality of disposable cartridges, each supporting a disposable optics cup containing a specimen to be optically analyzed by an optical analyzer;

the carousel having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the disposable cartridges;

a turntable having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the openings in the carousel; and

an aluminum block located below the turntable and having a plurality of passageways in association with the turntable for carrying chilled air from a thermal electrical cooler to the turntable and cool air from the turntable to the thermal electrical cooler for cooling the samples and controlling the temperature of the specimens.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the turntable is aluminum, wherein the optics cups and the disposable cartridges are plastic, and wherein convective cooling through the aluminum turntable and the plastic of the disposable cartridges and the optics cups occurs for the rapid cooling of the specimens in the optics cups.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens is located in an optical analyzer.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in the optical analyzer is adapted to cool the specimens to a desired temperature and to substantially maintain the temperature of the samples at the desired temperature until the processing of the samples in the optical analyzer is completed.

44. A spectrometer for use in an optical reader for analyzing the presence of contaminants in a biological fluid specimen contained in an optics cup, comprising:

a collection lens system for receiving an illumination beam from the optics cup containing the specimen;

a spectrometer slit arranged adjacent the collection lens system through which the illumination beam travels in a first optical path after exiting the optics cup;

a first cylindrical lens located adjacent the spectrometer slit for receiving the illumination beam in its first optical path;

a system of mirrors including at least a first mirror for collimating the illumination beam traveling through the first cylindrical lens and for reflecting the illumination beam into a second optical path;

a plane diffraction grating located in the second optical path for receiving the illumination beam reflected from the first mirror, dispersing the illumination beam into its spectral components to form a plurality of dispersed beams and reflecting the dispersed beams along a third optical path;

a second cylindrical lens positioned relative to the system of mirrors;

said system of mirrors further including at least a second mirror for receiving and for focusing the plurality of dispersed beams toward the second cylindrical lens in a fourth optical path; and

a CCD device allocated adjacent the second cylindrical lens for receiving the plurality of dispersed beams traveling through the second cylindrical lens for the analysis of the presence of contaminants in the specimen.