| 主权项 |
1. A device for detecting and/or enumerating microorganisms in a specimen, the microorganisms in the specimen generating carbon dioxide gas, the device comprising:
optical instrumentation, the optical instrumentation including at least one light source unit and a photodetector; a container, the container having an outer wall, the outer wall having an upper end and a lower end,
the container also having a lower floor connected to the lower end of the central wall, the lower floor and the outer wall of the container defining a central chamber,
the container further having a cell projecting outward and away from the lower floor the central chamber at a location distal to the upper end of the outer wall,
the cell communicating with the central chamber, the cell having a first planar wall and a second planar wall each projecting outward from the lower floor of the central chamber,the first and second planar walls disposed in parallel spaced relationship to one another and each having at least one section transparent to light,the cell also has a lower wall disposed contiguously between the first and second planar walls; an incubation zone defined in the central chamber of the container, the incubation zone containing growth media in which the specimen is cultured; a detection zone located in the cell defined in the container, the detection zone containing a matrix which is substantially transparent to light and capable of absorbing carbon dioxide gas while substantially preventing liquid and solid penetration into the matrix,
wherein the light source unit and the photodetector of the optical instrumentation are positioned external to the cell and the light source produces light that is aimed at the transparent first planar wall of the cell and passes through the matrix present in the detection zone, and at least one indicator reagent disposed in the matrix, the indicator reagent sensitive to carbon dioxide gas that is generated by the microorganisms in the incubation zone and diffuses into the matrix from the incubation zone,
wherein the matrix is a silicone rubber, wherein the silicone rubber is substantially transparent to light,the matrix has an upper surface in chemical contact with the liquid growth medium and side surfaces in contact with the first and second planar walls of the cell, andthe matrix is configured to facilitate penetration and propagation of the light produced external to the container by the light source, through the matrix, and also configured to facilitate interaction of the propagating light with the indicator reagent present in the matrix to yield interactive light that escapes through the transparent second planar wall at a point that is substantially collinear with the point of external light penetration to the detection zone and contacts the photodetector; wherein the interactive light is indicative of one of the following: the presence of microorganisms in the specimen, the concentration of microorganisms, in the specimen, or the presence and concentration of microorganisms in the specimen. |
