# US 11,029,249 B2 · Sample detection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,249 B2 - Document ID: US11029249B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/461,919 - Filed: 2017-11-20 - Published: 2019-09-12 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-18 - Assignees: University Court of the University of St Andrews - Applicants: University Court of the University of St Andrews - Inventors: Robert J. H. Hammond; Stephen H. Gillespie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029249B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/51: inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule (G01N21/53 takes precedence) - B01L 3/502: {with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures} - B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip} - C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} - G01N 15/06: Investigating concentration of particle suspensions (by weighing G01N5/00; investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions G01N15/04; investigating individual particles G01N15/10) - B01L 2200/026: Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2300/0681: Filter - B01L 2300/0854: Double walls - B01L 2300/0864: comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting - B01L 2300/0874: Three dimensional network - B01L 2300/168: Specific optical properties, e.g. reflective coatings - G01N 15/01: specially adapted for biological cells, e.g. blood cells (investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood G01N15/05) - G01N 15/075: by optical means - G01N 21/11: Filling or emptying of cuvettes - G01N 2021/4726: {Detecting scatter at 90°} - G01N 2021/513: {Cuvettes for scattering measurements} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES ## Abstract An apparatus (150) comprises a first detection chamber (130) for receiving microorganisms and configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the first detection chamber (130); a medium (120) configured to permit passage of microorganisms from a sample (110) through the medium (120) into the first detection chamber (130); and at least one second detection chamber (140) configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber (140). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising a one-piece cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a specimen chamber for receiving a sample; a first detection chamber for receiving microorganisms and configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the first detection chamber; a medium comprising a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the microorganisms from the sample through the medium into the first detection chamber; wherein the specimen chamber and the first detection chamber form separate chambers, the one-piece cartridge having walls defining the specimen chamber and the first detection chamber, respectively; and at least one second detection chamber configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber, wherein the at least one second detection chamber contains a substance potentially capable of inhibiting growth of the microorganisms, the substance comprising an antibiotic in freeze-dried form. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scattered light from the first detection chamber and the second detection chamber comprises light that has been transmitted into a respective detection chamber and scattered by the microorganisms in the detection chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semipermeable membrane has a pore size of about 2 μm-10 μm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection chamber is configured to allow quantitative measurement of the microorganisms via detection of the scattered light from the first detection chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second detection chamber is configured to allow quantitative measurement of the microorganisms via detection of the scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample is a primary or clinical sample. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided between the specimen chamber and the first detection chamber, and wherein the semipermeable medium is provided within the opening and/or covers substantially the whole area of the opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection chamber contains a bacterial growth fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first light source for emitting light into the first detection chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first light source comprises a laser or a LED. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first detection chamber is capable of reflecting light emitted by the first light source inside the first detection chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first detection chamber has a first light entry aperture to allow light emitted by the first light source to enter the first detection chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first detection chamber has a first light exit aperture located opposite the first light entry aperture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising at least one second light source for emitting light into one or more of the at least one second detection chambers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each second detection chamber has a respective light entry aperture to allow the at least one second light source to emit light into the at least one second detection chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one second detection chamber has a respective light exit aperture located opposite the respective light entry aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first light source is used to emit the light into the at least one second detection chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first detector for detecting the scattered light from the first detection chamber and generating a signal indicative of the scattered light from the first detection chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first detection chamber has a light detection outlet associated with the first detector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second detection chamber includes a plurality of second detection chambers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second detection chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the first detection chamber. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer mechanism to allow transfer of at least part of the sample from the first detection chamber to the at least one second detection chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises one or more valves. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second detector for detecting scattered light in of the at least one second detection chamber and generating a signal indicative of the scattered light detected by the at least one second detector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the at least one second detection chamber has a detection outlet associated with the at least one second detector. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second detection chamber is capable of reflecting light emitted by the light source into the second detection chamber. ### Claim 27 A one-piece cartridge comprising: a specimen chamber for receiving a sample; a first detection chamber for receiving microorganisms and configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the first detection chamber; a medium comprising a semipermeable membrane configured to permit passage of the microorganisms from the sample through the medium into the first detection chamber; wherein the specimen chamber and the first detection chamber form separate chambers, the one-piece cartridge having walls defining the specimen chamber and the first detection chamber, respectively; and at least one second detection chamber configured to allow detection of the microorganisms via detection of scattered light from the second detection chamber, wherein the at least one second detection chamber contains a substance potentially capable of inhibiting growth of the microorganisms, the substance comprising an antibiotic in freeze-dried form. ### Claim 28 A method for monitoring a biological material, the method comprising: introducing a biological sample into a specimen chamber; allowing selective passage of microorganisms from the biological sample in the specimen chamber through a medium comprising a semipermeable membrane into a first detection chamber; emitting light into the first detection chamber so that the light at least partly passes through and is scattered by the biological sample, and detecting light scattered in the first detection chamber; and emitting light into at least one second detection chamber so that the light at least partly passes through and is scattered by the biological sample, and detecting light scattered in the at least one second detection chamber, wherein the at least one second detection chamber contains a substance potentially capable of inhibiting growth of the microorganisms, the substance comprising an antibiotic in freeze-dried form. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising analysing the detected scattered light from the first detection chamber, wherein the detected scattered light from the first detection chamber is indicative of an amount of microorganisms in the biological material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising transferring at least part of the biological sample from the first detection chamber to the at least one second detection chamber when an amount of the microorganisms in the first detection chamber is an infectious or pathogenic amount. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising monitoring the detected scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber over time, or detecting the scattered light from the at least one second detection chamber in response to expiry of a predetermined period of time after introduction of the biological sample. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising analysing the detected scattered light from the first detection chamber so as to allow quantitative measurement of the microorganisms. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, further comprising analysing the detected scattered light detected from the at least one second detection chamber so as to allow quantitative measurement of the microorganisms.