Method and system for detecting biological molecules in samples

• US 9,097,672 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Queen's University At Kingston, Pathogen Detection Systems, Inc. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Queen's University At Kingston, Pathogen Detection Systems, Inc. (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Brown, R. Stephen, Marcotte, Eric, Wilton, Doug, Gallant, Peter, Dolphin, David, Underwood, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lankford, Blaine
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERKE-SCHLESSEL, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/704,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6417 Spectrofluorimetric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/12 Meat; fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1826 organic contamination in water

Abstract

A system for detecting presence of an organism having an enzyme in a sample, comprising: a cartridge for containing the sample and a substrate such that the enzyme can react with the substrate to produce a biological molecule; a partitioning element mounted in a recess in a base of the cartridge, the partitioning element allowing partitioning of the biological molecule thereinto; a light source for irradiating the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element; and, a detector for detecting fluorescence of the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element, the detected fluorescence being indicative of presence of the organism in the sample; wherein the light source is in a raised cartridge mount of the system that mates with the recess in the base of the cartridge.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting presence of an organism in a sample, comprising:

a removable cartridge that contains the sample and a substrate such that an enzyme of the organism can react with the substrate to produce a biological molecule, wherein the cartridge has a base including an inwardly-projecting recess;

a partitioning element associated with the recess, wherein the partitioning element has a protruding portion that projects substantially axially into the cartridge;

a test chamber that receives the cartridge and maintains the cartridge in a selected position, wherein the test chamber includes a raised cartridge mount that engages the recess in the cartridge and is in optical communication with the partitioning element;

an excitation light source disposed in the raised cartridge mount in an orientation relative to the axially projecting protruding portion, wherein the orientation is selected such that excitation light propagates into the protruding portion substantially along its entire length, and such that reflection of excitation light is reduced; and

,

a detector that detects fluorescence of the biological molecule partitioned into the partitioning element, the detected fluorescence being indicative of presence of the organism in the sample.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the test chamber comprises an incubator having a heating system associated therewith.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected position minimizes residue build-up on the protruding portion of the partitioning element and avoids contact of the sample with a lid of the cartridge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the selected position comprises the protruding portion projecting axially at an angle of about 25 degrees relative to horizontal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the raised cartridge mount includes a sensor for detecting whether the cartridge is present.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the excitation light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the excitation light source is an angle of about 32.5 degrees relative to the axially projecting protruding portion.