초록 ▼

Described herein are methods and apparatus for rapid detection of microorganisms in biological samples (e.g. blood) for analysis to determine the presence or absence of infectious microorganisms in the samples. The apparatus includes a cartridge with a lid and a tray, a mechanism for isolating a bul

Described herein are methods and apparatus for rapid detection of microorganisms in biological samples (e.g. blood) for analysis to determine the presence or absence of infectious microorganisms in the samples. The apparatus includes a cartridge with a lid and a tray, a mechanism for isolating a bulk sample into multiple smaller samples, and a sensor disposed on the tray to determine the presence or absence of microorganisms. The cartridge lid includes projections that, in a first position, allow for sample to distribute evenly in the cartridge tray and, in a second position, isolate the sample into multiple smaller volume samples. The apparatus and method shorten the time-to-detection of a microorganism in a sample and reduce the steps required from sample collection to microorganism detection.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample, the apparatus comprising: a container lid having a plurality of sets of downward projecting walls;a container tray adapted to receive a sample and to be assembled with the container lid in a first position and a second posi

1. An apparatus for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample, the apparatus comprising: a container lid having a plurality of sets of downward projecting walls;a container tray adapted to receive a sample and to be assembled with the container lid in a first position and a second position; anda plurality of rods projecting upwardly from the container tray and a plurality of vent apertures formed in the container lid, wherein the vent apertures are adapted to receive the respective rods, and allow the rods to advance into the vent apertures, the rods being dimensioned to seal the respective vent apertures when fully advanced thereinwherein, when in the first position, a plurality of compartments defined by the sets of downward projecting walls in the container lid are open to each other thereby permitting the sample to flow from compartment to compartment within the container tray;wherein, when in the second position, the plurality of compartments are sealed off from each other, each sample portion being confined to its respective compartment, each of the plurality of compartments being defined by one set of downward projecting walls, the container lid from which the downward projecting walls extend, and the container tray. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of compartments includes a sensor configured to detect at least one of the presence, absence or growth of a microorganism. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a biosensor coating applied to the container tray. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one compartment includes a vessel projecting upward from a surface of the container tray. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vessel of the at least one of the plurality of compartments is at least partially filled with a resin gel. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container lid comprises projections having an irregular surface configured to conform to an irregular surface on container tray sidewalls, the corresponding irregularities allowing the container lid to lock on the container tray in a first locking configuration and to be advanced to lock on the container tray in a second locking configuration. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the irregular surface of the lid is a plurality of sawteeth and the irregular surface of the container tray is a plurality of notches. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rods are fully advanced into the vent apertures when the container lid advances from a first locked configuration to a second locked configuration. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure vent formed in the container lid and a raised block formed in the container tray, the pressure vent aligning with the raised block, such that, when the container tray is assembled with the container lid in the second position, the raised block closes the vent. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a re-sealable foil covering the pressure vent. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container lid further comprises a plurality of access apertures, at least one of the access apertures of the plurality of access apertures aligning with a respective compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one access aperture being adapted to receive an access device therethrough to remove sample from the respective compartment of the plurality of compartments. 12. A method for determining the presence of a microorganism in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing a container lid with a plurality of sets of downward projecting walls and a plurality of vent apertures formed therein;providing a container tray with one or more sensors and one or more rods projecting therefrom, the container tray being adapted to be assembled with the container lid such that the downward projecting walls define a plurality of compartments in the container tray and at least one of each of the one or more sensors is disposed in each of at least a portion of the plurality of compartments and wherein, in the first position, the plurality of compartments defined by the downward projecting walls are open to each other;assembling the container lid to the container tray in a first position;introducing a sample into the assembly;moving the assembly from the first position to a second position wherein in the second position, the plurality of compartments are closed to each other and sample portions in each compartment in the plurality of compartments are isolated from each other and the step of moving the assembly from the first position to the second position further comprises advancing at least one rod projecting upwardly from the container tray into sealed engagement with a corresponding vent aperture in the container lid; andinterrogating the sensor to determine at least one of the presence or the absence of a microorganism in the sample or, if a microorganism is present, its response to a condition or a reagent to which the sample is subjected. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of assembling the container lid to the container tray in the first position further comprises conforming projections of the container lid having an irregular surface to an irregular surface on the container tray sidewalls, such that the container lid locks on the container tray in a first locking configuration. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of moving the assembly from the first position to the second position further comprises advancing projections of the container lid to conform to the irregular surface on the container tray sidewalls in a second locking configuration.