Optical cup
First Claim
1. The 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 spaced-apart side walls, a pair of spaced-apart end walls, and a floor,said container having a top rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending from the first spaced-apart end wall inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening and a surface at least along the tapered area coated with a layer of reflective material to reflect illumination introduced into the top opening, and wherein each of the side walls has an angle B1, B2 of 3°
in a direction outwardly as the side walls extend upwardly from the floor with respect to a vertical axis extending through the rectangular opening, wherein the lower tapered area is angled at an angle A5 of approximately 45°
relative to the vertical axis and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second spaced-apart end wall which extends inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening at an angle B3 from the vertical axis to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container, wherein the angle A5 deviates from a 45°
angle by an amount of ½
the deviation of the angle B3 from the vertical axis such that the incoming illumination beam and the reflected outgoing illumination beam are parallel and such that the illumination beam does not illuminate the floor of the cup.
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.
44 Citations
14 Claims
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1. The 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 spaced-apart side walls, a pair of spaced-apart end walls, and a floor, said container having a top rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending from the first spaced-apart end wall inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening and a surface at least along the tapered area coated with a layer of reflective material to reflect illumination introduced into the top opening, and wherein each of the side walls has an angle B1, B2 of 3°
in a direction outwardly as the side walls extend upwardly from the floor with respect to a vertical axis extending through the rectangular opening, wherein the lower tapered area is angled at an angle A5 of approximately 45°
relative to the vertical axis and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second spaced-apart end wall which extends inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening at an angle B3 from the vertical axis to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container, wherein the angle A5 deviates from a 45°
angle by an amount of ½
the deviation of the angle B3 from the vertical axis such that the incoming illumination beam and the reflected outgoing illumination beam are parallel and such that the illumination beam does not illuminate the floor of the cup. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A disposable sample cup for containing a biological specimen for optical analysis of the bacteria in the biological specimen, comprising:
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a rectangular-shaped container having a tapered area, a rectangular-shaped top opening for receiving the biological specimen, and a reflective surface, said container having a top opening further including two spaced-apart sidewalls, two spaced apart end walls and a horizontal floor, said spaced-apart side walls each extending in a direction outwardly as the side walls extend upwardly from the floor at an angle B1, B2 of between 3°
with respect to a vertical axis extending between said opening and a fill-line specimen location located on said side walls and end walls, andsaid two spaced-apart end walls including a first end wall having the tapered area contiguous to the horizontal floor, and wherein the first end wall extends in a direction outwardly as the second end wall extends upwardly from the floor at an angle A5 of approximately 45°
with respect to the vertical axis extending between said opening and said fill-line specimen location and wherein the second end wall extends upwardly from the floor at an angle B3 with respect to the vertical axis;
wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second end wall to reflect an incoming illumination beam introduced into the top opening through the sample and out of the container, wherein the angle A5 deviates by an amount of ½
the deviation of the angle B3 from the vertical axis such that the incoming illumination beam and the reflected outgoing illumination beam are parallel and such that the illumination beam does not illuminate the floor of the cup. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. The 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 spaced-apart side walls, a pair of spaced-apart end walls, and a floor, said container having a top rectangular opening for receiving the biological sample and a lower tapered area extending from a first end wall inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening and a portion of the container at least along the tapered area coated or layered with reflective material, and wherein each of the side walls has an angle B1, B2 of between 3°
in a direction outwardly as the side walls extend upwardly from the floor with respect to a vertical axis extending through the top rectangular opening, wherein the container is made of plastic or glass and the reflective material is incorporated into the plastic or glass, wherein the tapered area is angled at an angle A5 relative to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second end wall which extends inwardly and downwardly relative to the rectangular opening at an angle B3 from the vertical axis to reflect an incoming illumination beam introduced into the top opening through the sample and out of the container, wherein the angle A5 deviates from a 45°
angle by an amount of ½
the deviation of the angle B3 from the vertical axis such that the incoming illumination beam and the reflected outgoing illumination beam are parallel and such that the illumination beam does not illuminate the floor of the cup.
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Specification