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Effective monitoring system for anthrax smallpox, or other pathogens

  • US 7,312,071 B2
  • Filed: 12/06/2002
  • Issued: 12/25/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A cartridge for detecting microorganisms, comprising:

  • an intake or receptacle through which a fluid or a gas enters said cartridge or is added to said cartridge;

    a filtering means through which said fluid or gas passes and retains microorganisms present in said fluid or gas;

    an exhaust chamber, wherein said filtering means is interposed between said intake or receptacle and said exhaust chamber;

    a medium reservoir on a side of said filtering means opposite said retained microorganisms, comprising a microbial growth medium and a reservoir breakable seal;

    a plunger means, wherein pressure placed on said plunger means;

    (i) engages a hermetic seal between said medium reservoir and filtering means;

    (ii) breaks said reservoir breakable seal and forces growth medium through said filtering means in a direction opposite of flow of said fluid or gas; and

    (iii) backwashes said microorganisms from said filtering means and suspends said microorganisms in said growth medium;

    an incubation chamber for incubating and growing said microorganisms;

    a thermally conductive surface for controlling the temperature of said incubation chamber;

    an incubation chamber breakable seal through which said growth medium passes into a test chamber for detecting said microorganisms;

    a detection means within said test chamber;

    whereinsaid detection means determines the presence or absence of said microorganism without killing said microorganisms or inhibiting said growth; and

    a transmission means;

    wherein said presence or absence of said microorganism is reported via said transmission means to an assay analyzer.

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