Optical cup

摘要

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.

主权项

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.