System for detecting bacterial growth in a plurality of culture vials
First Claim
1. A system for detecting bacterial growth in a plurality of sample vials, said system comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of sample vials containing a sensor;
a mount structure capable of mounting said plurality of sample vials within said housing;
a frame movably mounted in said housing;
a portion of a bacterial growth detection station mounted on said frame for gathering a first and second type of information to make a determination of whether each of said plurality of sample vials is experiencing bacterial growth, wherein said second type of information is provided by said sensor in a particular sample vial and said bacterial growth detection station portion on said frame includes a first light radiation source at a first location and a detector at a second location spaced from said first location by a first distance;
said mount structure includes a pair of light stubs spaced by a distance which approximates said first distance and positioned adjacent to each of said vials, one of said pair of stubs receiving said first light radiation and the other of said pair of stubs directing a reflected radiation out of said particular sample vial and into said detector to provide said first type of information; and
a controller for moving said frame to position said bacterial growth detection station portion adjacent to said particular sample vial mounted in said mount structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting the presence of bacterial growth in a plurality of sample vials incorporates a single test station moveable along each of the plurality of sample vials. In one embodiment, the sensor station is movably mounted on a rod, and that rod is movably mounted on a pair of spaced rods. The rod which carries the test station may move along the spaced rods to change the location of the test station in a first dimension and the test station is moveable along its rod to change location in a second dimension. In this way, the test station may be moved through two dimensions to move serially to the location of each of the plurality of sample vials. In another aspect of this invention, a bar code is associated with each of the sample vials, and the test station makes a reading of that bar code concurrent with a determination being made as to whether there is any bacterial growth in the sample vial. In this way, it is ensured that the results of the evaluation of whether bacterial growth is ongoing will be associated with the proper sample vial. In a third aspect of this invention, the sample vial incorporates a plurality of distinct types of bacterial sensors. Thus, the advantages of each of several types of bacterial sensors may be incorporated into a single sample vial.
195 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for detecting bacterial growth in a plurality of sample vials, said system comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of sample vials containing a sensor; a mount structure capable of mounting said plurality of sample vials within said housing; a frame movably mounted in said housing; a portion of a bacterial growth detection station mounted on said frame for gathering a first and second type of information to make a determination of whether each of said plurality of sample vials is experiencing bacterial growth, wherein said second type of information is provided by said sensor in a particular sample vial and said bacterial growth detection station portion on said frame includes a first light radiation source at a first location and a detector at a second location spaced from said first location by a first distance; said mount structure includes a pair of light stubs spaced by a distance which approximates said first distance and positioned adjacent to each of said vials, one of said pair of stubs receiving said first light radiation and the other of said pair of stubs directing a reflected radiation out of said particular sample vial and into said detector to provide said first type of information; and a controller for moving said frame to position said bacterial growth detection station portion adjacent to said particular sample vial mounted in said mount structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification