Abstract: A method and apparatus detects and optionally determines the amounts of bacteria in a fluid sample that may include non-bacterial cells, such as somatic cells. The device has a processing chamber for receiving the sample. The processing chamber includes a somatic cell lysis agent that preferentially disrupts somatic cells to release their contents including somatic cell-derived ATP. The somatic lysis agent is selected to leave bacterial cells intact. The processing chamber also holds a plurality of beads that have an ATP-reactive enzyme, such as ATPase, bound to their surfaces. The somatic cell-derived ATP and endogenous ATP in the sample are eliminated by reaction with the ATP-reactive enzyme. Once the reaction reaches an end point, the sample is transferred to a detection chamber while the beads and the bound ATP-reactive enzymes are retained in the processing chamber.

Abstract: An adapter connects a surgical instrument, such as a retractor, with a self-retaining retraction device. The adapter includes a retractor interface sized and shaped to releasably connect with the proximal end of a surgical retractor. The adapter also includes a device interface sized and shaped to releasably connect with the self-retaining device. The adapter allows the same self-retaining device to be used with different retractors. The adapter may also include a joining portion that holds the longitudinal axis of the retractor at a selected angle with respect to the self-retaining device.