US 12,071,610 B2
Apparatus and method for performing microorganism detection
Zhonghui Hugh Fan, Gainesville, FL (US); Xiao Jiang, Gainesville, FL (US); Trevor B. Tilly, Gainesville, FL (US); John Lednicky, Gainesville, FL (US); and Chang-Yu Wu, Gainesville, FL (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed by University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/140,696.
Application 17/140,696 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2019/044490, filed on Jul. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/712,571, filed on Jul. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0230533 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. C12M 1/34 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/36 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/569 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 41/46 (2013.01) [B01L 3/527 (2013.01); C12M 23/44 (2013.01); C12M 41/48 (2013.01); G01N 33/56916 (2013.01); G01N 33/56983 (2013.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B01L 2200/026 (2013.01); B01L 2200/028 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0616 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for preparing a sample for use in detecting microorganisms comprising:
a collector unit having at least a first reservoir for holding at least a first liquid;
a buffer unit including at least second, third and fourth reservoirs for holding at least second, third and fourth liquids, respectively, the collector unit and the buffer unit mechanically coupled together in a manner that allows a user to create relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit by exerting a force on the buffer unit, on the collector unit, or on both; and
a valve mechanism that causes the second, third and fourth liquids to be released from the second, third and fourth reservoirs, respectively, into the first reservoir, in turn, when the user creates the relative movement between the collector unit and the buffer unit to cause the second, third and fourth reservoirs to come into temporary alignment with the first reservoir for respective time periods, the valve mechanism comprising:
a post having a proximal end connected to a surface of the collector unit and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
a first valve opening disposed in a bottom of the second reservoir;
a first ball movably positioned in the first valve opening when the first valve opening is in a closed state, wherein when the second reservoir is in temporary alignment with the first reservoir, the post comes into contact with the first ball to move the first ball away from the first valve opening to thereby place the first valve opening in an opened state;
a second valve opening disposed in a bottom of the third reservoir;
a second ball movably positioned in the second valve opening when the second valve opening is in a closed state, wherein when the third reservoir is in temporary alignment with the first reservoir, the post comes into contact with the second ball to move the second ball away from the second valve opening to thereby place the second valve opening in an opened state;
a third valve opening disposed in a bottom of the fourth reservoir; and
a third ball movably positioned in the third valve opening when the third valve opening is in a closed state, wherein when the fourth reservoir is in temporary alignment with the first reservoir, the post comes into contact with the third ball to move the third ball away from the third valve opening to thereby place the third valve opening in an opened state.