Use of radioisotopes for rapid identification of microorganisms

An apparatus for identifying a microorganism from radioactive trace material comprising the combination of

• means for incubating samples of the microorganism with a plurality of preselected substrates each having radioactive trace material therein, said means for incubating including
• a disposable tray having a plurality of depressions formed therein, and
• a relatively rigid support body having a plurality of depressions formed in a major surface thereof in a pattern identical to said tray so that said tray can be placed in mating relationship with said body;
• means for collecting gaseous material evolved from the means for incubating in zones arranged in a predetermined pattern, said means for collecting including
• a planar sheet of getter material,
• support means for said sheet, said support means including a cover having side edges extending from one face thereof, said getter material being adhered to said one face, and electromagnetic radiation reflecting means attached to an outer surface of one of said side edges of said cover;
• means for storing a plurality of said means for collecting;
• a plurality of radioactive particle detectors,
• conveyor means for individually transporting said means for collecting from said means for storing along a path, said conveyor means including
• a source of electromagnetic radiation,
• radiation responsive means for detecting reflected radiation from said source and for producing electrical signals representative thereof;
• and means for mounting said source and responsive means in a position to illuminate and receive reflections from said reflecting means as said tray approaches said radioactive particle detectors,
• said reflecting means being changeable to identify the nature of the analysis to be performed;
• means for mounting said ratioactive particle detectors adjacent said path in an array similar to a segment of said pattern;
• means for controlling and driving said conveyor means to move each said means for collecting to a location along said path
• at which a first segment of zones in said pattern is adjacent said detectors, pause at said location;
• and then sequentially move to positions at which each segment of zones are exposed to said detectors;
• means electrically connected to each of said detectors for accumulating a count of radioactive particles detected by each detector at each zone;
• means for storing a record of counts representative of known microorganisms incubated in known substrates;
• means for comparing a plurality of said known counts with a plurality of counts derived from said detectors and for displaying the results of the comparisons.

An apparatus for identifying a microorganism from radioactive trace material comprising the combination of

• means for incubating samples of the microorganism with a plurality of preselected substrates each having radioactive trace material therein;
• means for collecting gaseous material evolved from the means for incubating in zones arranged in a predetermined pattern;
• means for storing a plurality of said means for collecting;
• a plurality of radioactive particle detectors;
• conveyor means for individually transporting said means for collecting from said means for storing along a path;
• means for mounting said radioactive particle detectors adjacent said path in an array similar to a segment of said pattern;
• means for controlling and driving said conveyor means to move each said means for collecting to a location along said path at which a first segment of zones in said pattern is adjacent said detectors, pause at said location;
• and then sequentially move to positions at which each segment of zones are exposed to said detectors;
• means electrically connected to each of said detectors for accumulating a count of radioactive particles detected by each detector at each zone;
• means for storing a record of counts representative of known microorganisms incubated in known substrates;
• means for comparing a plurality of said known counts with a plurality of counts derived from said detectors and for displaying the results of the comparisons;
• said means for storing comprising
• a plurality of upstanding parallel guide members on opposite sides of said path to define a vertical chute in which said means for collecting can be stacked;
• said conveyor means comprising an endless band having a plurality of protruding lugs for engaging the bottom one of said means for collecting stacked between said guide members.