"System for Conducting the Identification of Bacteria in Biological Samples

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; 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.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of an emissions beam generated in an optical reader for the optical analysis of a biological specimen contained in an optics cup, the steps comprising:
 a) providing a light source for producing an illumination beam;   b) directing the illumination beam into a first optical system including a filter and a turning mirror so as to bend the path of travel of the illumination beam of the light source;   c) directing the illumination beam produced in step b) into a second optical system including a filter and a turning mirror so as to bend the path of travel of the illumination beam produced in step b) at a 45° angle; and   d) directing the illumination beam as a result of step c) into the biological specimen in the optics cup to produce fluorescent emissions which are directed to an optical collection device and then to a detection device for the analysis of bacteria in the biological specimen.   
     
     
         36 . A system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in a plurality of optics cup in an optical analysis, comprising:
 a carousel for supporting a plurality of disposable cartridges, each supporting a disposable optics cup containing a specimen to be optically analyzed by an optical analyzer;   the carousel having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the disposable cartridges;   a turntable having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the openings in the carousel;   a thermal electric cooler coacting with the turntable; and   a fan in association with the turntable for circulating chilled air through the plurality of openings of said turntable to cool and then control the temperature of the specimens.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the turntable is aluminum, wherein the optics cups and the disposable cartridges are plastic, and wherein convective cooling through the aluminum turntable and the plastic of the disposable cartridges and the optics cups occurs for the rapid cooling of the specimens in the optics cups. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of the specimens is located in an optical analyzer. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of the specimens in the optical analyzer is adapted to cool the specimens from ambient temperatures down to a desired temperature and to substantially maintain the temperature of the specimens at the desired temperature until the processing of the samples in the optical analyzer is completed. 
     
     
         40 . A system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in a plurality of optics cups in an optical analysis, comprising:
 a carousel for supporting a plurality of disposable cartridges, each supporting a disposable optics cup containing a specimen to be optically analyzed by an optical analyzer;   the carousel having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the disposable cartridges;   a turntable having a plurality of openings, each associated with one of the openings in the carousel; and   an aluminum block located below the turntable and having a plurality of passageways in association with the turntable for carrying chilled air from a thermal electrical cooler to the turntable and cool air from the turntable to the thermal electrical cooler for cooling the samples and controlling the temperature of the specimens.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the turntable is aluminum, wherein the optics cups and the disposable cartridges are plastic, and wherein convective cooling through the aluminum turntable and the plastic of the disposable cartridges and the optics cups occurs for the rapid cooling of the specimens in the optics cups. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens is located in an optical analyzer. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the system for cooling and controlling the temperature of specimens in the optical analyzer is adapted to cool the specimens to a desired temperature and to substantially maintain the temperature of the samples at the desired temperature until the processing of the samples in the optical analyzer is completed. 
     
     
         44 . A spectrometer for use in an optical reader for analyzing the presence of contaminants in a biological fluid specimen contained in an optics cup, comprising:
 a collection lens system for receiving an illumination beam from the optics cup containing the specimen;   a spectrometer slit arranged adjacent the collection lens system through which the illumination beam travels in a first optical path after exiting the optics cup;   a first cylindrical lens located adjacent the spectrometer slit for receiving the illumination beam in its first optical path;   a system of mirrors including at least a first mirror for collimating the illumination beam traveling through the first cylindrical lens and for reflecting the illumination beam into a second optical path;   a plane diffraction grating located in the second optical path for receiving the illumination beam reflected from the first mirror, dispersing the illumination beam into its spectral components to form a plurality of dispersed beams and reflecting the dispersed beams along a third optical path;   a second cylindrical lens positioned relative to the system of mirrors;   said system of mirrors further including at least a second mirror for receiving and for focusing the plurality of dispersed beams toward the second cylindrical lens in a fourth optical path; and   a CCD device allocated adjacent the second cylindrical lens for receiving the plurality of dispersed beams traveling through the second cylindrical lens for the analysis of the presence of contaminants in the specimen.   
     
     
         45 . A spectrometer for use in an optical reader for analyzing the presence of contaminants in a biological fluid specimen contained in an optics cup, comprising:
 a collection lens system for receiving an illumination beam from the optics cup containing the specimen;   a spectrometer slit arranged adjacent the collection lens system through which the illumination beam travels in at least a first optical path after exiting the optics cup;   at least a first cylindrical lens located adjacent the spectrometer slit for receiving the illumination beam in its first optical path;   a system of mirrors including at least a first mirror for collimating the illumination beam traveling through the first cylindrical lens and for reflecting the illumination beam into a second optical path;   a plane diffraction grating located in the second optical path for receiving the illumination beam reflected from the first mirror, dispersing the illumination beam into its spectral components to form a plurality of dispersed beams and reflecting the dispersed beams along a third optical path,   said system of mirrors further including at least a second mirror for receiving and for focusing the plurality of dispersed beams toward the second cylindrical lens in a fourth optical path; and   a device for receiving the illumination beam and for performing the analysis of the presence of contaminants in the specimen.   
     
     
         46 . The spectrometer of  claim 45 , including a second cylindrical lens positioned relative to the system of mirrors. 
     
     
         47 . The spectrometer of  claim 45 , wherein the device for receiving the illumination beam and for performing the analysis of the presence of contaminants in the specimen comprises a CCD device.