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. An 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 side walls, a first end wall, and a 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, and, wherein the tapered area is angled at an angle A5 of between approximately 43.5° and 44.5° relative to a vertical plane extending through the optics cup, and wherein the lower tapered area cooperates with the second end wall to reflect an incoming illumination beam through the sample and out of the container along a path that is parallel to the incoming illumination beam.