Optics cup with curved bottom
First Claim
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1. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:
- a generally rectangular-shaped container adapted to contain the biological sample, said container including a pair of side walls having a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first end wall, and a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall, and a floor,said container having a top 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,wherein the tapered area extends downwardly to the floor,wherein the floor has the shape of an inverted arch extending along the entire length of the floor,wherein the inverted arch is symmetric about and uniform along the longitudinal axis and the arch is curved,wherein a portion of the container along at least the tapered area is reflective for reflecting illumination introduced into the top opening and for light collection to enhance optical analysis of the biological sample, andwherein the arch is oriented such that the light inside the illuminated cup traveling away from an optical collection cone will be reflected to collection points along the longitudinal axis.
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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 optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.
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Citations
26 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 generally rectangular-shaped container adapted to contain the biological sample, said container including a pair of side walls having a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first end wall, and a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall, and a floor, said container having a top 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, wherein the tapered area extends downwardly to the floor, wherein the floor has the shape of an inverted arch extending along the entire length of the floor, wherein the inverted arch is symmetric about and uniform along the longitudinal axis and the arch is curved, wherein a portion of the container along at least the tapered area is reflective for reflecting illumination introduced into the top opening and for light collection to enhance optical analysis of the biological sample, and wherein the arch is oriented such that the light inside the illuminated cup traveling away from an optical collection cone will be reflected to collection points along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:
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a generally rectangular-shaped container adapted to contain the biological sample, said container including a top rectangular opening, a pair of side walls having a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first end wall, and a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall, and a floor, and wherein the second end wall extends at an angle B3 of between 1°
-3°
with respect to a vertical axis extending through a meeting point between the floor and the 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, wherein the tapered area extends downwardly to the floor and wherein the tapered area is angled at an angle of between approximately 43.5° and
44.5°
relative to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup,wherein the floor has the shape of an inverted arch extending along the entire length of the floor, wherein the inverted arch is symmetric about and uniform along the longitudinal axis and the arch is curved, wherein a portion of the container along at least the tapered area has a layer of reflective material for reflecting illumination introduced into the top opening and to enhance light collection through the biological sample for the optical analysis of the biological sample, and wherein the arch is oriented such that the light inside the illuminated cup traveling away from an optical collection cone will be reflected to collection points along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. An optics cup for holding a biological sample for use in an optical analysis comprising:
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a generally rectangular-shaped container with a top rectangular opening and adapted to contain the biological sample, said container including a pair of side walls having a longitudinal axis therebetween, a first end wall, and a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall, and a floor, 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, wherein the tapered area extends downwardly to the floor, wherein the floor has the shape of an inverted arch extending along the entire length of the floor, wherein the inverted arch is symmetric about and uniform along the longitudinal axis and the arch is curved, wherein a portion of the container along at least the tapered area is reflective for reflecting illumination introduced into the top opening and for light collection to enhance optical analysis of the biological sample wherein the arch is oriented such that the light inside the illuminated cup traveling away from an optical collection cone will be reflected to collection points along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification