Akzo N.v.

Biomerieux, Inc.

Akzo Nobel N.v.

John G Link

Mark S Wilson

Thomas B Givens

Joseph G Karp

Jones M Hyman

Thierry Vivet

Mark W Segrist

Dennis M Connor

Douglas G Haugen

C Hermas Swope

Charles Hermas Swope

John D Walsh

Timothy J Fischer

Christopher S Ronsick

Ron Robinson

Sherif Eldin

Paul Joseph Braun

Vinod Kumar Rai

Julie F Hoffman

Janet B Callahan

William Chester Hulette

John Walsh

Mark Wilson

Mary King

H Kelly Herrington

Alagarsamy A Subbiah

Mark Segrist

Dennis Connor

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for detecting foam in a specimen container. The method includes the following steps: transporting a specimen container into a locator well; centering the specimen container in the locator well; rotating the specimen container around a vertical axis in the locator well; imaging the specimen container during the rotation; analyzing an image of the specimen container captured during the rotation; and detecting foam in the specimen container based on the analysis of the image. An apparatus configured to perform the steps is also provided. The method and apparatus may be used in conjunction with a system for automatically determining whether a sample is positive for microorganism growth.

Method and apparatus for detection of foam in specimen containers

The present invention is directed to a separation device or container that can be used in the separation, isolation or pelleting of microorganisms from a test samples known to contain or suspected of containing said microorganisms. Subsequently, the separated, isolated or pelleted microorganism sample can undergo one or more interrogation steps to provide measurements useful for the characterization and/or identification of microorganism. In one aspect of the present invention, the interrogation steps can occur in situ in the separation device or container described herein.

Separation device for use in the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms

This invention relates to a novel, fully automated spectrophotometric analyzer and method used for testing blood samples in the clinical laboratory for thrombosis and hemostasis properties. The analyzer tests samples in a fully randomized format, and is fully automated in the areas of specimen handling, sample preparation, optical inspection, data analysis and total quality control for imprecision and bias.

Method and instrument for automatically performing analysis relating to

An apparatus in which scattered light is measured, said apparatus having a light source aligned to direct illumination toward an interface between a sample container and an aqueous solution at an angle less than the critical angle. A detector to measure the scattered light is located at a place outside the envelope of the critical angle.

Scattered light detection apparatus

Cuvette

A cuvette for use in an optical instrument which includes a linear drive mechanism formed of a lead screw for positioning the cuvette along a linear path in the instrument. The cuvette has a body including at least one reaction well and an engaging feature for operatively engaging the threads of the lead screw so that the cuvette can be positioned along the linear path of the instrument. Preferably the reaction well of the cuvette has a trapezoid-shape cross section in a plane parallel to the optical path of the instrument in order to maximize the optical viewing area.

Cuvette and linear drive mechanism therefor

A device and method for optical calibration of an optical instrument that measures optical characteristics along an optical path. A controllable shutter having electrically alterable optical characteristics is placed across the optical path of the instrument. An electrical control is connected to the shutter for selectively providing a variable voltage to the shutter to electrically alter optical characteristics of the shutter in a controlled manner so that the optical characteristics of the shutter correspond to selected optical characteristics.

Liquid crystal device for calibration and testing of optical instruments

A multichannel optical monitoring system for monitoring the spectral transmission of a plurality of samples. A plurality of light beams are generated and a plurality of optical monitoring stations are arranged along a pathway, each station having an optical path formed by one of the light beams transverse to the pathway and along which optical characteristics are monitored. A drive mechanism moves a plurality of reaction wells, each containing a reaction volume, along the pathway from station to station so that respective reaction volumes dwell periodically in each optical path for transmitting a respective one of the light beams. A diffraction grating is arranged for diffracting the beams transmitted by respective ones of the reaction volumes. The diffracted beams are focussed and at least one array of photodetectors is positioned for receiving the diffracted and focussed beams for producing electrical signals representing the spectral content of the diffracted beams. An electronic circuit detects the electrical signals of the array, which signals may be stored for further processing and evaluation.

Multichannel optical monitoring system

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Durham, NC, United States of America

John G Link