Optical cup
First Claim
1. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:
- a rectangular-shaped container containing the biological sample, said container including a pair of side walls, a first end wall, and a second end wall,said container having a rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending from the first end wall in an inwardly and downwardly direction relative to the rectangular opening, and, wherein the tapered area is angled at an angle A5 of between approximately 43.5° and
44.5°
relative to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup, and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second end wall to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container along a path that is parallel to the incoming illumination beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light, 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.
42 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:
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a rectangular-shaped container containing the biological sample, said container including a pair of side walls, a first end wall, and a second end wall, said container having a rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending from the first end wall in an inwardly and downwardly direction relative to the rectangular opening, and, wherein the tapered area is angled at an angle A5 of between approximately 43.5° and
44.5°
relative to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup, and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second end wall to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container along a path that is parallel to the incoming illumination beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A disposable cartridge for use in the identification and quantification of micro-organisms in biological samples, comprising:
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a plurality of compartments for positioning and supporting a plurality of disposable components including 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 extending from a first end wall of the optics cup into which a light source travels for the optical analysis of the processed biological sample and a reflective surface for enhancing the optical analysis, wherein the tapered area extends in a direction outwardly as a second end wall extends upwardly from the floor at an angle A5 of between approximately 43.5°
-44.5°
with respect to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup, wherein the tapered area cooperates with the second end wall to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container along a path that is parallel to the incoming illumination beam; andthe compartment for positioning and supporting the optics cup having a rectangular-shaped opening for receiving and supporting the rectangular-shaped optics cup. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification