Compact high-volume microorganism detection apparatus
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorKlaus W. Berndt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention describes an automated compact high-volume microorganism detection apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a large number of sample containers. The containers are placed in a plurality of vessels that hang vertically on horizontal rods mounted to the circumference of a cylindrical spool that is rotated around a horizontal shaft. During rotation of the spool, the vessels can remain vertically oriented or can be tilted by an arbitrary angle, before they fall back into their original vertical orientation. Depending on the percentage of tilt selected, sample agitation will be absent, soft, or more vigorous.
Claims12
A compact microorganism detection apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sample tubes each having a sample suspected to contain a microorganism;
- a plurality of vessels including a plurality of chambers in a top surface for receiving said sample tubes;
- a spool rotatable about a horizontal axis having a plurality of rods mounted to the circumference of said spool, wherein each of said plurality of rods receives one of said plurality of vessels such that said vessel hangs in a vertical orientation;
- a mechanism for rotating said spool about said axis;
- and
- means for detecting microorganisms within each sample tube in each of said plurality of vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.