Abstract: A closed elongate canister having a generally rectangular cross-section formed by a front wall, a five-section back wall and two side walls, the walls of dimensions to house a plurality of ID test rotors stacked one atop another within the canister.

Abstract: A cup-like broth container comprising four mutually opposed pairs of connected sidewalls with a protruding rib formed on each of four perpendicularly opposed single sidewalls and four Y-shaped clamping ridges attached to and extending outwardly from a single one of the four sidewalls located between the four sidewalls having a protruding rib.

Abstract: A random access microbiological analyzer for performing AST and ID tests on samples using on-board inventories of different AST test arrays and different ID test rotors within separate AST and ID incubation and analysis chambers.

Abstract: An elongate canister having a generally rectangular cross-section sized to house a plurality of antibiotic susceptibility test arrays stacked one atop another and maintained secure within an environmentally controlled inventory chamber in a random access microbiological analyzer.

Abstract: A circular shaped rotor to facilitate automated identification testing of microorganisms in a microbiology analyzer having two circular arrays of microwells downwardly projecting from the top of the rotor connected to a recessed central region by a plurality of microchannels formed in the upper surface and connecting the recessed central portion to the second plurality of microwells; the rotor is further adapted to be rotated by a source of rotational energy and moved throughout the analyzer using troughs formed near its outer diameter.

Abstract: A method for rapidly mixing a liquid solution in a container by causing a small magnetic mixing member to rapidly revolve within the solution in a generally circular pattern in response to a pair of revolving magnetic fields positioned alongside the container.

Abstract: Mixing a liquid solution in a container by rotating a pair of bar-shaped magnets in a coordinated pattern in which lines parallel to the axes of the bar-shaped magnets remain normal to one another, the magnets disposed in close proximity to and on opposite sides of the container a distance above the bottom of the container so that a magnetic mixing member is caused to rotate in the liquid about the same distance above the bottom of the container. Relative vertical movement of the magnets and the container generates a vortex-like mixing action throughout the container.

Abstract: A microbiological test array with a generally flat base having a plurality of upwardly projecting microwells connected by a microchannel to an open reservoir formed in a top surface generally parallel to the base of the test array. The reservoir has an opening to permit an inoculum-broth liquid solution to flow from the reservoir through the microchannel, to a sacrificial evaporation well having an air vent port adapted to control a vacuum filling process, and subsequently to be distributed into each of the plurality of microwells.

Abstract: A method for rapidly mixing a liquid solution in a sample container by causing a small magnetic mixing member to rapidly revolve or orbit the container's axis within the solution in a generally circular pattern in response to a revolving magnetic field positioned in close proximity to the sample container.

Abstract: A vortex mixer which engages and produces a vortex mixing of a liquid within a liquid container by means of centrifugally activated swing-cams. A pair of vertical swing-cams acts to engage the container to the mixer and a horizontal swing-cam provides circular movement to the lower portion of the container. The upper portion of the container is slideably supported so that the container rotates in reaction to the vortex mixing action and thereby produces shear mixing of the liquid.