Automated microbiological testing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A microbiological-assay method for identifying an organism grown on one chromagenic semisolid nutrient media, said organism exhibiting at least one color on said nutrient media, said method comprising:
- generating a digitized electrical signal encoding an image of said organism on said nutrient media;
storing the encoded image;
digitally processing said encoded image to detect the at least one color of said organism on said nutrient media;
storing chromatic characteristics of a multiplicity of known organisms in an electronic library; and
operating a computer to compare the detected color of said organism with chromatic characteristics stored in said library.
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Abstract
A microbiological testing method or assay for identifying an organism grown on one chromagenic semisolid nutrient media such as agar, where the organism exhibits at least one color or chromatic aspect. A digitized electrical signal is generated encoding an image of the organism on the nutrient media. The encoded image is stored and digitally processed to detect the color of the organism on the nutrient media. Chromatic characteristics of a multiplicity of known organisms are stored in an electronic library. A computer is operated to compare the detected color of the organism with chromatic characteristics stored in the library.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A microbiological-assay method for identifying an organism grown on one chromagenic semisolid nutrient media, said organism exhibiting at least one color on said nutrient media, said method comprising:
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generating a digitized electrical signal encoding an image of said organism on said nutrient media;
storing the encoded image;
digitally processing said encoded image to detect the at least one color of said organism on said nutrient media;
storing chromatic characteristics of a multiplicity of known organisms in an electronic library; and
operating a computer to compare the detected color of said organism with chromatic characteristics stored in said library. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A microbiological-assay apparatus comprising:
- a support for holding a container of chromagenic semisolid nutrient media wherein an organism of unknown identity is grown, said organism exhibiting at least one color on said nutrient media;
an optical scanning device aimed at said support for generating a digitized electrical signal encoding an image of said organism on said nutrient media;
a memory operatively connected to said scanning device for temporarily storing the encoded image;
a digital processor operatively connected to said memory for analyzing said encoded image to detect the at least one color of said organism on said nutrient media;
an electronic library storing chromatic characteristics of a multiplicity of known organisms; and
a computer operatively connected to said processor and said library, said computer being programmed to compare the detected color of said organism with chromatic characteristics stored in said library. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- a support for holding a container of chromagenic semisolid nutrient media wherein an organism of unknown identity is grown, said organism exhibiting at least one color on said nutrient media;
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42. A microbiological-assay method for testing an organism grown on solid nutrient media for antibiotic susceptibility, comprising:
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providing a container of semisolid nutrient media on which is disposed an organism of unknown type and an elongate strip provided at different locations with different concentrations of an antibiotic composition;
after an incubation period, optically scanning the nutrient media, said strip, and a growth region of said organism;
in response to the optical scanning, generating a digitized electrical signal encoding an image of said strip and said growth region on said nutrient media;
storing the encoded image;
digitally processing said encoded image to detect an intersection point of an edge of said growth region and said strip; and
operating a computer to determine a minimum inhibitory concentration of said antibiotic composition based on the detected intersection point. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification