Patent Description:
In any circumstance, movement of the testing instrument may result in the instrument accidently tipping over or falling. Any tipping of the testing instrument may also result in the spilling of the liquid samples contained within the sample tubes housed by the testing instrument. Due to the cost and time required to prepare the liquid samples and conduct the subsequent procedures, it is desired to prevent or otherwise resist the spilling of any liquid contained in sample tubes during movement of the testing instrument. Additionally, electrical damage to the instrument's internal components or damage to the sample tubes may result in the event the testing instrument tips over or falls. Further, traditional testing instruments are often incapable of preventing or resisting tipping of the testing instrument due to unstable base designs, poor weight distribution, and/or unsuitable material choice. Patent document <CIT> discloses a prior art optical testing instrument.

The inventors have identified numerous other deficiencies with existing technologies in the field, the remedies for which are the subject of the embodiments described herein.

Accordingly, the current invention provides a handheld optical testing instrument according to claim <NUM> and a method of manufacturing a handheld optical testing instrument according to claim <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the at least one support element may be defined radially inward of an edge of the bottom shell surface.

In some cases, a portion of the at least one support element may be recessed in the bottom shell surface.

In some other embodiments, the testing position may define a substantially upright orientation of the optical testing instrument when positioned on the surface, wherein the optical testing instrument may be supported by the at least one support element in the testing position, such that the optical testing instrument may receive a sample.

In some cases, the angled position may define a tilted orientation of the optical testing instrument when positioned on the surface, wherein the optical testing instrument may be configured to be supported by the translational surface in the angled position.

In some embodiments, the at least one support element may further include three legs disposed such that the three legs each protrude from the bottom shell surface. In such an embodiments, the three legs may further include a skid resistant material.

In some cases, the translational surface may further include an annular portion of the bottom shell surface extending circumferentially along an edge of the bottom shell surface.

In yet another embodiment, the bottom shell surface may be circular. In such an embodiment, the at least one support element may further include three legs, wherein a first leg is located along the diameter of the bottom shell surface, and a second and third leg are each located equidistant from the diameter and equidistant from the first leg.

In other cases, the translational surface may further include a plastic material configured to allow the optical testing instrument to slide along the surface while in the angled position.

In any embodiment, the bottom shell surface may further include a charging element such that the optical testing instrument may be further configured to be received by a platform.

Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale, and wherein:.

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

The instruments and accompanying methods and systems described herein are directed to an improved optical testing instrument. The optical testing instrument may facilitate optical interrogation of a sample by supporting and positioning the sample in optical alignment with one or more optical density sensors and emitters. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid sample may be held in a sample tube, and the tube may be supported and interrogated by the optical testing instrument. <FIG> shows an example optical testing system <NUM> in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical testing system <NUM> includes an optical testing instrument <NUM> (also referred to herein as the "handheld unit") and a platform <NUM> (also referred to herein as the "base station"). The optical testing instrument <NUM> may be configured to hold sample tubes <NUM> for a testing procedure (e.g., optical density testing). The optical testing system <NUM> may comprise an optical testing instrument <NUM> (e.g., handheld unit) and a platform <NUM> (e.g., base station). In some embodiments, the optical testing instrument <NUM> is battery operated for convenience and flexibility and is configured to perform optical testing procedures. In such an embodiment, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may transmit data to the platform <NUM> via Bluetooth® or another wireless or wired protocol. The platform <NUM> may then be wire or wirelessly connected to a computer for receiving the testing procedure data (e.g., optical density data) in real time. In some embodiments, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may hold two sample tubes or a fused, dual sample tube. Further details regarding the instrument, its structure, and operation may be found in the in <CIT>, and entitled "OPTICAL DENSITY INSTRUMENT AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING THE SAME," and in <CIT>, and entitled "OPTICAL DENSITY INSTRUMENT AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING THE SAME,".

With reference to <FIG>, the optical testing instrument <NUM> of <FIG> is illustrated. The optical testing instrument <NUM> may include a shell <NUM> configured to receive one or more fluid samples <NUM> (e.g., contained by sample tubes <NUM>) and a bottom shell surface <NUM>. As described above, the shell <NUM> may be configured to receive one or more sample tubes <NUM> containing fluid samples <NUM> (e.g., fluid suspensions of microorganisms for turbidity testing) and may further house various optical density testing instruments including, but not limited to, emitters (e.g., an LED or other light source) and sensors (e.g., photodetectors, photodiodes, or the like). These optical density testing instruments and sensors may be configured such that an emitter may transmit light into a sample tube (e.g., sample tubes <NUM>) such that at least a portion of the transmitted light reflects off of the fluid sample contained therein (e.g., fluid samples <NUM>). The proportion of light reflected to light passing through the sample may be used to determine the turbidity. Various detectors may also be configured to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light reflected by the fluid samples <NUM>. The orientation of the various emitters and detectors housed within the shell <NUM> may be positioned such that various optical testing procedures may be conducted. Further details regarding the operation of the emitters and detectors, including calibration, zeroing, and data collection, in addition to various optical testing procedures, may be found in <CIT>, and entitled "METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CONTROLLING COMPONENTS OF A DETECTION DEVICE.

The optical testing instrument <NUM> may define a bottom shell surface <NUM>. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the bottom shell surface <NUM> may be configured to provide support for the optical testing instrument <NUM>. In some embodiments, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be configured to rest upon a substantially flat surface (e.g., desktop or the like) during both operation (e.g., performing a testing procedure) as well as during rest (e.g., between testing procedures).

As shown in <FIG>, the preferred orientation and operational orientation of the optical testing instrument <NUM> is in an upright testing position as shown. When the optical testing instrument <NUM> is properly oriented in a testing position, one or more sample tubes <NUM> containing fluid sample <NUM> may be placed substantially vertically in the shell <NUM> (e.g., via a cavity defined therein). Although described herein with regard to a substantially vertical orientation, the present disclosure contemplates that the testing position of the optical testing instrument may be oriented at any position so long as a liquid sample may be properly housed therein such that optical testing procedure may be properly conducted and in which the support elements (e.g., support elements <NUM> shown in <FIG>) are planted on the surface that supports the optical testing instrument. In order to resist or otherwise prevent the tipping over of the optical testing instrument, the bottom shell surface <NUM> may be configured as shown in <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, a bottom view of a bottom shell surface <NUM> is illustrated. The bottom shell surface <NUM> may define at least one support element <NUM> and a translational surface <NUM>. The at least one support element <NUM> may, in some embodiment, comprise feet (e.g., protrusions, pedestals, stands, or other supportive elements) configured to support the optical testing instrument <NUM> in a testing position (e.g., an upright orientation in which the support elements <NUM> are contacting a surface as show in <FIG>). As shown in <FIG>, in a preferred embodiment, the bottom shell surface <NUM> may define three support elements <NUM> (e.g., legs <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>) disposed such that the three support elements each protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom shell surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the support elements <NUM> may protrude from the bottom shell surface <NUM> at an acute angle to the bottom shell surface <NUM> with a non-zero perpendicular component dimension of the support elements <NUM> (e.g., the support elements may be angled while still protruding from the bottom shell surface <NUM>). As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, the component of the protrusion of each of the three support elements <NUM> perpendicular to the bottom shell surface <NUM> may raise the optical testing instrument <NUM> such that the translational surface <NUM>, described hereinafter, does not contact a supporting surface (e.g., a substantially flat desktop or the like) when in the testing position.

In some embodiments, the support elements <NUM> may comprise a plurality of individual elements. In some other embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise a single, large support element (e.g., a flat disk). In some embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise two or more support elements. In some embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise three or more support elements. In some embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise four or more support elements. In some embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise five or more support elements. In some embodiments, the at least one support element may comprise six or more support elements.

The support elements <NUM> may, in some embodiments, be configured such that a portion of the at least one support element <NUM> (e.g., three protruding feet) is recessed in the bottom shell surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the support elements <NUM> may define feet (e.g., three feet <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>) each having a height of approximately <NUM>/<NUM>th inches. In such an embodiment, the <NUM>/<NUM>th inch feet may each be recessed approximately <NUM>/<NUM>th inches within the bottom shell surface <NUM>. The use of a recesses as described herein may function, in some embodiments, to allow the translational surface <NUM> to more easily contact a support surface when the optical testing instrument in oriented in an angled position (e.g., sliding or otherwise translating across a support surface as shown in <FIG>). Although described and illustrated in <FIG> with three feet (e.g., support elements <NUM>), the present disclosure contemplates that any number of support elements having any cross-sectional shape may be utilized by the present invention. Further, although the bottom shell surface <NUM> is illustrated with a circular cross-sectional shape, the present disclosure contemplates that any cross-sectional shape may be equally applicable to the proposed invention.

In some embodiments, the support elements <NUM> may comprise a non-skid or skid resistant material. In such an embodiment, the support element may be comprised of a material that resists translational movement. By way of example, the support elements <NUM> may be manufactured from a rubber material such that, when the optical testing instrument <NUM> is oriented in a testing position, the support elements <NUM> (e.g., contacting a support surface) may resist the translational movement of the optical testing instrument <NUM>, for example, via friction with the surface on which the optical testing instrument is resting. By way of a more particular example, if a user applies a force to the optical testing instrument <NUM> while oriented in a testing position, the skid resistant support elements <NUM> may resist the applied force and further prevent sliding of the optical testing instrument <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the support elements <NUM> may define a coefficient of friction that is greater than a coefficient of friction of the translational surface <NUM>. In such embodiments, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may grip the surface (e.g., a table or lab bench) with the support elements <NUM> and cause the instrument <NUM> to tend to tip when pushed. In some instances, where the instrument <NUM> is pushed at or below a predetermined height on the shell <NUM> or with a sufficiently high angle of attack, the support elements <NUM> may slide.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the support elements <NUM> may be positioned on the bottom shell surface <NUM> such that a first leg <NUM> is located along a diametric line <NUM> of the circular bottom shell surface <NUM>, and a second and third leg <NUM> are each located equidistance from the diametric line <NUM> and the first leg <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, this positioning of the support elements <NUM>, along with recessing the support elements a portion into the bottom shell surface <NUM> may be combined in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the support elements may be circumferentially equidistant from each adjacent support element and each support element may be equidistant from a center of the bottom surface <NUM>. Additionally, in some embodiments as shown in <FIG>, the support elements <NUM> may be spaced a distance from the outer edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>. Particularly, the support elements <NUM> may be disposed on a concentric circle having a diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the bottom shell surface <NUM>. As described below, in such an embodiment, the translational surface <NUM> may be positioned as an annular portion of the bottom shell surface extending radially outward from the support elements <NUM> to the outer edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>.

The translational surface may be configured with a lower coefficient of friction to allow the optical testing instrument to slide when supported by the translational surface (e.g., when the optical testing instrument is tipped as described herein. As depicted in <FIG>, the translational surface <NUM> of the bottom shell surface <NUM> may, in some embodiments, comprise a substantially flat surface. As described above, in an instance in which the optical testing instrument <NUM> is oriented in a testing position, the translational surface <NUM> may be positioned substantially parallel to the support surface (e.g., a substantially flat table, workbench, desktop or the like). Also described above, in an embodiment in which the support elements <NUM> are approximately <NUM>/<NUM>th inches in total height and recessed approximately <NUM>/<NUM>th inches into the bottom shell surface <NUM>, the translational surface <NUM> may be raised <NUM>/<NUM>th inches above the support surface. In some embodiments, the translational surface <NUM> may be a section or portion of the bottom shell surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the translational surface <NUM> may be a contiguous section or portion of the bottom shell surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, all of the bottom shell surface <NUM> may have the lower friction coefficient than the support elements <NUM>, and the portion of the bottom shell surface <NUM> that contacts the support surface may be considered the translational surface. In some embodiments, the translational surface <NUM> may be defined as an annular portion of the bottom shell surface <NUM> extending circumferentially around an edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>. By a more particular example, the translational surface <NUM> may be defined by the bottom shell surface <NUM> as an annular portion of the bottom shell surface extending radially outward from the support elements <NUM> to an edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, in light of this disclosure, that the support elements <NUM> and bottom shell surface <NUM> may take many shapes and forms so long as the instrument <NUM> is permitted to translate on the translational surface <NUM> when tipped, rather than tipping completely over. To facilitate the translation, a portion of the translational surface <NUM> need only be positioned opposite the direction of force from the support elements <NUM> that form the fulcrum of the instrument. Said differently, when the instrument <NUM> is tipped about a pivot axis on one or more of the support elements <NUM>, the translational support surface <NUM> is pivoted into contact with the support surface. In many instances, this means that portions of the translational surface <NUM> are positioned radially outward of the support elements <NUM>. In some further embodiments, the translational support surface <NUM> engages the support surface before the instrument can tip past the point that its center of gravity carries the instrument the rest of the way over.

As will be understood by the above description of the bottom shell surface <NUM> of the optical testing instrument <NUM>, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be operationally oriented in a testing position (e.g., an upright, operational position). As described above, the testing position may be, in some embodiments, the preferred and/or resting orientation of the optical testing device <NUM> such that the optical testing device <NUM> may receive a sample tube <NUM> and corresponding fluid samples <NUM>. When oriented in a testing position, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be supported by the support elements <NUM>. However, in an instance in which a sufficient force (e.g., force <NUM>) is applied to the optical testing instrument <NUM> such that the optical testing instrument tips and contacts the translational surface <NUM> against the support surface (e.g., the support surface <NUM> shown in <FIG>), the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be oriented in an angled position as shown in <FIG>. By way of example, when the optical testing instrument <NUM> is applied with a sufficient force to begin to tip over, the translational surface <NUM> (e.g., at a position radially outward from the support elements <NUM>) may contact the support surface and one or more of the support elements <NUM> may no longer contact the support surface (e.g., support elements <NUM> opposite the direction of tilt may be lifted off of the support surface) or may only loosely contact the support surface (e.g., with all or most of the downward force removed. If a sufficiently strong tipping force is applied to the instrument <NUM>, the support elements <NUM> may leave the support surface entirely. In either embodiment, the optical testing instrument may then be oriented in an angled position and may translate (e.g., by sliding) some distance along the support surface through contact with the translational surface <NUM>. In this manner, while the support elements <NUM> prevent the optical testing instrument <NUM> from sliding about the support surface when in the testing position, the translational surface <NUM>, having a lower coefficient of friction than the support elements, prohibits the instrument from tipping entirely over by translating across the support surface instead. The effect of the disparate frictional coefficients of the translational surface <NUM> and support elements <NUM> is that the greater the force applied to the optical testing instrument <NUM>, the less surface area of the support elements <NUM> contacts the support surface (e.g., a bench or table) and the more likely the optical testing instrument is to slide along the support surface resting on the translational surface.

With reference to <FIG>, in an instance in which the optical testing instrument <NUM> is oriented in an angled position, the translational surface <NUM> may at least partially support the optical testing instrument <NUM> on the support surface <NUM>. By way of continued example, once the optical testing instrument is located in an angled position, the translational surface <NUM> (e.g., an annular portion extending along the edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>) may contact the support surface. As described above, in some embodiments, the translational surface <NUM> may comprise a smooth plastic material such that the optical testing instrument translates (e.g., slides) along the support surface when in an angled position. By way of a more particular example, when the optical testing instrument <NUM>, whether accidently or intentionally, is forced (e.g., pushed, hit, or the like with a force <NUM>) from a testing position (e.g., upright orientation) to an angled position (e.g., translational surface contacting the support surface), the optical testing instrument <NUM> may slide along the support surface <NUM> (via the assistance of the translational surface <NUM>), and then return to a testing position. As described herein, the translational surface <NUM> operates to partially allow the translational movement of the optical testing instrument <NUM>, when pushed, such that the optical testing instrument <NUM> does not topple or tip over, but instead may tip back from the angled position to return to the testing position after sliding to dissipate the force applied to the instrument. Although described herein as a general angled position, the present disclosure contemplates that the angled position may encompass any angular displacement experienced by the optical testing instrument <NUM>. For example, the angled position may comprise any position at which the translational surface <NUM> contacts the table surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the translational surface <NUM> may refer to a portion of the bottom surface <NUM> that contacts the support surface.

In some embodiments, the translation of the optical testing instrument <NUM> may begin when the tipping force or inertia of the instrument overcomes the static friction between the instrument (e.g., including the combination of translational surface <NUM> and support element <NUM> surfaces currently touching the support surface) and the support surface <NUM>. For example, if the support elements <NUM> have a higher coefficient of friction than the translational surface <NUM>, the greater the portion of the instrument's weight that is transferred to the translational surface <NUM>, the more likely the instrument is to slide. In this manner, the instrument <NUM> may begin translating while both the translational surface <NUM> and one or more of the support elements <NUM> are in contact with the support surface <NUM>. In such embodiments, as the instrument <NUM> tips, a greater and greater portion of the weight of the instrument is transferred to the translational surface <NUM>, thus gradually lowering the frictional resistance between the instrument and the support surface <NUM>. Once the lateral force between the instrument <NUM> and the support surface <NUM> overcomes the decreasing frictional resistance, the instrument begins to translate. The stability of the tool may depend upon the height of the support elements <NUM>, the coefficients of friction of the support elements <NUM> and the translational element <NUM>, the distance between the support elements <NUM> and the contact point of the translational element <NUM> (e.g., the point, proximate the edge of the bottom shell surface <NUM>, at which the translational surface <NUM> contacts the support surface <NUM>), the center of gravity of the instrument <NUM>, the width of the instrument <NUM>, the shape of the bottom shell surface <NUM>, and the properties of the support surface <NUM>.

In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG>, the instrument <NUM> may pivot about two or more support elements <NUM> about a common contact axis extending therebetween. In such embodiments, the instrument <NUM> may pivot about the two or more support elements <NUM> until the translational surface <NUM> contacts the support surface.

In some embodiments, the optical testing instrument may further define an electrical connector <NUM> (e.g., floating pin connector or the like) such that the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be received by a platform <NUM>. By way of example, in some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be configured to be received by or otherwise electrically connected with a platform <NUM>. As described above, this electrical connection may allow electrical communication between the optical testing instrument <NUM> and the platform <NUM> such that testing procedure data (e.g., gathered by the optical testing instrument <NUM> conducting a testing procedure) may be transmitted from the optical testing instrument <NUM> to the platform <NUM>. Similarly, in some embodiments, the electrical connector <NUM> may be configured to allow the optical testing instrument <NUM> (e.g., handheld unit) to be recharged (via a battery system or the like).

The present disclosure contemplates that the present invention may be created from any suitable material known in the art (e.g., plastics, polymers, ceramics, and the like). By way of example, the optical testing instrument <NUM> may be created by an injection molding process such that the shell <NUM> and bottom shell surface <NUM> are molded by the injection molding process. In such an example, the shell <NUM> and bottom shell surface <NUM> may be comprised of a smooth plastic material (e.g., any plastic or material with a low coefficient of friction) such that the translational surface <NUM> may support the optical testing instrument <NUM> while sliding along a support surface. In such an embodiment, the support elements <NUM> may equally be created by an injection molding procedure such that the support elements <NUM> are integral to the bottom shell surface <NUM>. The support elements <NUM> created from an injection molding procedure may then, in some embodiments, be made of (such as in the case of insertion molding), or coated with a skid resistant material (e.g., rubber or any suitable material with a higher coefficient of friction) such that the support elements <NUM> may support the optical testing instrument <NUM> when oriented in a testing position. Although the shell <NUM>, including bottom shell surface <NUM> and translational surface <NUM>, may be described as a single, molded piece of material, any portion or sub-portion of the shell <NUM> may be separately formed or attached without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

In an alternative embodiment, the shell <NUM> and bottom shell surface <NUM> may be defined by an injection molding process, but the support elements <NUM> may be separately affixed to the bottom shell surface <NUM>. In such an embodiment, the support elements <NUM> may comprise a skid resistant material or may be coated in a skid resistant material. Although described above in reference to an injection molding process, the present disclosure contemplates that any suitable manufacturing process (e.g., extrusion, machining, <NUM>-D printing, or the like) may be utilized to create any of the elements described herein.

Claim 1:
A handheld optical testing instrument configured to rest on a surface and shaped to be held by a user, the optical testing instrument comprising:
a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube, wherein the cavity is configured to support the sample tube in an upright position in an instance in which the optical testing instrument is in a testing position, the shell comprising a bottom shell surface, wherein the bottom shell surface comprises:
at least one support element, wherein the at least one support element is configured to engage the surface to support the optical testing instrument in a testing position; and
a translational surface configured to engage the surface to support the optical testing instrument in an angled position,
wherein the optical testing instrument is shaped to be held by a user about the shell such that the user can hold the sample tube upright within the optical testing instrument during handheld operation,
wherein in an instance in which the optical testing instrument receives a sufficient lateral force, the optical testing instrument is arranged to tilt from the testing position to the angled position to cause the translational surface to engage and slide relative to the surface to prevent the optical testing instrument from tipping past a point where the optical testing instrument tips over such that the optical testing instrument is arranged to return to the testing position in an instance in which the lateral force is removed and
wherein, in both the testing position and the angled position, a center of gravity of the optical testing instrument is disposed above points on the surface that are radially inward of an engagement point of the translational surface that engages the surface.