Abstract:
An instrument determines a concentration of bacteria in a plurality of fluid samples, and comprises a housing, a rotatable platform, a plurality of fluid containers, a light source, a sensor, and a motor. The rotatable platform is within the housing. The fluid containers are located on the rotatable platform. Each fluid container holds a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid samples, and has an input window and an output window. The light source provides an input beam for transmission into the input windows of the fluid containers and through the corresponding fluid samples. The input beam creates a forward-scatter signal associated with the concentration of bacteria. The motor rotates the rotatable platform so that the input beam sequentially passes through each fluid sample. A sensor within the housing detects the forward-scatter signal exiting from the output window associated with the fluid sample receiving the input beam.
Abstract:
An optical measurement instrument is an integrated instrument that includes an optical cavity with a light source, a sample cuvette, and an optical sensor. The light source and sensor are on a bench that is on a translational or rotational mechanical platform such that optical beam can be moved to multiple sample containers. The instrument can be used for taking measurements of organism concentration in multiple samples as a production tool for microbiology. Preferably, the instrument holds multiple, individually-loaded, independent fluid samples and determines bacteria concentration via a forward-scattering signal. The instrument can incorporate onboard incubation to promote bacterial growth in the samples during the test. In another aspect, the instrument can be a part of a network for medical diagnostic testing data where data is stored in a manner that is inherently untainted by patient identifiable information.