Patent ID: 12246874

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, panels for AST testing, and example of which is illustrated inFIG.1have many structural features. For example, the panel90illustrated inFIG.1includes a variety of structural features that can be used for handling the panel using automated apparatus. These include an interstices gap93near a central region of the panel running in a generally longitudinal direction, a concave region98in a central portion of a top surface of the panel90, bumps96at the upper and lower extremes of the panel90, among others. Disposed in the concave region of the plate is a plurality of sample wells91. The depth of those wells91is defined by the height of the side wall98.

The illustrated panel,90, has two ports95and97. Port95receives inoculated ID broth for the ID side of the panel90and Port97receives inoculated AST broth for the AST side of the panel. The ID side contains wells with dried biochemical substrates and additional fluorescent control wells. The AST side contains wells with dried antimicrobial agents and an additional growth control well. Panels are available as ID only (Phoenix™ NID Panels, Phoenix™ PID Panels), AST only (Phoenix™ NMIC Panels, Phoenix™ PMIC Panels), or ID/AST combination (Phoenix™ NMIC/ID Panels, Phoenix™ PMIC/ID Panels).

Prior to inoculation, the panel is placed on an inoculation station with the inoculation ports95and97at the top of the panel90for filling. Separate inoculated ID and AST broths are added, respectively to the ID and AST ports (ports95and97, respectively). The inocula flow down the panel in serpentine fashion, filling the panel wells as the liquid front progresses toward the pad. The pad absorbs excess inoculum. Caps99are inserted in the fill ports. The caps99can be placed on the panel either manually or using an automated apparatus. The caps99are illustrated inFIG.4. When the consumable caps99are introduced into the system or apparatus, the caps are packaged together. Transparent packaging101is illustrated inFIG.4. An air admittance port is located in the divider area of the panel lid to ensure adequate oxygen tension in the panel for the duration of the test. The packaged caps are placed in a cap holder110integrated with a cap holder drawer120. The cap holder110can either be placed in, attached to, or formed with drawer120.

Referring toFIG.2, after inoculation, the panels90, with caps99placed on ports95and97are placed in a tray150or another carrier. This is not required. In automated apparatus, the inoculated panels may be transported directly to a panel testing instrument160(FIG.3).

Panel testing instrument160generally includes a housing162defining a cavity164therein and a door166that is operated either manually or automatically for accessing cavity164. Housing162may include a panel holder168disposed in the cavity164that includes a plurality of receptacles or panel holding structures170for receipt of individual panels90. Panel holder168and the receptacles170may be moveable within the cavity164by activation of a receptacle actuator (e.g. a motor and belt) (not shown) so that each receptacle is presentable to a door opening for receiving or removing panel90. In one example, panel holder168can be a drum with a plurality of receptacles170that is rotatable around an axis.

As noted above, each inoculated panel90is closed with two caps99. These caps are packed in a cylindrical bag101. Caps99are used one by one, and the bag101needs to be removed from the caps99before those caps99can be used to close the ports95,97on the panel90.

The consumable holder described herein is, in the described embodiment, configured to accept packages of the above-described caps. However, the skilled person could readily adapt the holder described herein to accept other types of consumables (e.g. cups, lids, etc.) that are delivered into an apparatus in a packaged stack and wherein the packaging is removed from the consumables while they are held in the stack. While the consumable holder is described in the embodiments and drawings as a cap holder, the consumable holder described herein is not limited to a cap holder, but can be used with other stackable consumables as described hereinabove. The consumable (e.g. the above-described cap) holder110is adapted to receive the consumable caps99in the bag101. Referring toFIG.5, the consumable holder110has a plurality of cylindrical receptacles111. The receptacles111are have diameter large enough to receive caps99therein. Each cylindrical receptacle111has a side opening112that runs along the entire height of the receptacles111in the consumable holder110from the proximate top end113to the distal bottom end114. A support flange115is positioned proximate the distal end114of the receptacle111to support the caps99disposed in the consumable holder110.

The caps99in bag101are placed in the cylindrical receptacles111as illustrated inFIG.6. Note that the bag101has some length116that exceeds the height of the stack of caps99. The bag101in which the stack of caps is packaged, in one embodiment, has short and long sides, one at each end. The short and long sides provide an indication to the operator or the automated apparatus the proper direction for placing the stack of caps in the cap holder110. The longer side of the bag101is used to guide the caps into the cap holder. The short side is located at the top of the bag101, which, as noted elsewhere herein, is weakened to facilitate removing the bag from the caps when the caps are placed in the cap holder.

The consumable holder110is integrated with a front portion117. The assembly of consumable holder110and front portion117forms drawer120. Panel90is seen resting on another portion of an alternative embodiment of the housing262.

Referring toFIG.7, the excess part116of the bag101is pulled through the opening112in the receptacle111. The bag101is pulled downward such that the excess length116extends below the lowest cap99in the stack of caps.

Referring toFIG.8, with continued downward pull, the excess portion116of the bag101clears the topmost caps99in the stack held by the consumable holder110in the receptacles111.

Referring toFIG.9, with continued downward pull, more of the bag101is removed from the stack of caps99held in the receptacle111of the consumable holder110. At the bottom of the consumable holder110, the end part116of the bag101is pulled out manually or automatically through the opening112. The opening in the flange115cooperates with the opening112along the height of the consumable holder110to permit removal of the bag while retaining the stack of caps99in the consumable holder110. The length of the end part116of the bag101is sufficient for grasping either manually, as illustrated, or using an automated apparatus for withdrawing the bag101from the consumable holder110.

FIG.10illustrate the consumable holder110/drawer120assembly after the bag has been removed. The caps99, rest in the receptacle111of the consumable holder110, retained in place by the flange115at the bottom of the receptacles111.

FIG.11is a top view of the consumable holder110/drawer120assembly with caps99retained in receptacles111therein. The opening112runs the complete height of the consumable holder110. The drawer120can be slid in and out from the housing262. However, the holder110does not need to be disposed in a drawer. The holder might be disposed in a stationary housing that allows for the stack of packaged caps to be inserted into the consumable holder and the packaging removed from the caps while held in the consumable holder. Such housing would need to permit access to the unpackaged stack of consumables (e.g. caps) being held in the holder. Also, the flange disposed in the proximal end of the receptacles111might be replaced by another retaining mechanism such as a slightly telescoping lower portion that will support the caps99in the receptacles without allowing the caps to fall through the distal end of the receptacles111. The one caveat on any such retaining mechanism is that it should not prevent the packaging from being completely removed from the stack of caps. In one embodiment the flange may be biased to move upward in the receptacles as caps are removed from the top of the holder. The lessened weight on the flange caused by cap removal allows the flange to remove upward in response.

For the automated process of capping, the bag needs to be removed first, and the individual caps are carried or otherwise fed to a holder of the automated cap system. If the caps remain in the packaging, the caps must be removed manually and place on the panel. Placing the caps on the panel manually takes operator time that might be deployed elsewhere or is not required and is inefficient.

FIG.12is a section view of the consumable holder110. In this embodiment, the flange150is in effect a lip with a narrower diameter portion170underlying the receptacle111. The caps99at the bottom of the stack are illustrated in the partial cutaway view ofFIG.12A.FIG.12B is a full cut-away view of the consumable caps99, disposed in the receptacles111of the consumable holder110.

In one embodiment, the packaging101has a weakened portion at the proximate end of the packaging (i.e. the portion of the packaging101that overlies the top cap in the stack of caps held in the packaging). Weakened portion, as used herein are portions that facilitate tearing. Weakened portions that facilitate the tearing of plastic packaging include, by way of example and not limitation, perforations, pre-torn portions, stamped portion, etc.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.