System for conducting the identification of bacteria in urine

• US 9,606,105 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pocared Diagnostics Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pocared Diagnostics Ltd.
• Inventors: Ingber, Gal, Atterbury, William G., Barnes, Russell H., Boyd, Douglas E., Dennis, Joseph D., Gurfinkel, Jonathan, Holley, Dave, Huckaby, Steven E., Klausing, Thomas A., Sadeski, Kevin, Schaefer, Jason A., Scott, K. Bryan, Stillman, Carol, Talbert, Sherwood, Tallarico, John, Laudo, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAVARES, JULIE L
• Application Number:
  US14/330,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20150010993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0444 for cuvettes or reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0448 composed of interchangeable ring elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0458 Multiple concentric rows of wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0415 Carrusel, sequential
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/493 urine
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.

Claims

1. An optical cup or cuvette for holding a processed fluid sample and for use in an optical analysis, comprising:

a container having an open portion through which a light travels for the optical analysis of the fluid sample, said container including a reflective surface for enhancing the optical analysis, said container having a sidewall that is continuously tapered along its length to a truncated conical end,

wherein during optical analysis, the light is directed downwardly through the open portion of the container and into the fluid sample, wherein the tapered sidewall is configured to assist with the optical analysis and the reflective surface of the container reflects fluorescent emissions back in an upwardly direction out of the fluid sample and through the open portion of the container to an optical collection unit for optical analysis.

2. The optical cup or cuvette of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, and aluminum and wherein the reflective surface is selected from the group consisting of a coating or a layer of material.

3. The optical cup or cuvette of claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is an inner reflective surface of the container.

4. The optical cup or cuvette of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a disposable material.

5. The optical cup or cuvette of claim 1, wherein the container is configured for placement within a cartridge body for optical analysis in the identification and quantification of micro-organisms.