Method of and apparatus for detecting microorganisms
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting fluorescent substances in a microorganism sample, the apparatus comprising:
- stage means for placing thereon a microorganism sample subjected to fluorescent staining, and for transporting the sample to permit the same to be scanned;
light source means for protecting excitation light of a predetermined wavelength onto the sample so that a fluorescent light is originated from the sample;
slit means having a slit of a predetermined width through which the fluorescent light from the sample passes;
sensor means for sensing the fluorescent light which has passed through the slit to obtain an electric signal;
signal filter means for limiting a frequency band of the electric signal from the sensor means to a frequency band predetermined depending on a width of the slit as imaged onto the sample and a speed of the scanning of the sample; and
signal processing means for processing the band-limited electric signal so as to detect fluorescent substances in the sample,wherein the sample includes a plurality of colonies of microorganisms having diameters in the range of D1 to D2 and the frequency band of the electric signal is selected to obtain electric signals at a frequency R that corresponds to the diameter of an individual colony, where
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=S/(W+D) (Hz)wherein S is the speed of the scanning of the sample,W is the width of the slit as imaged onto the sample, andD is the diameter of a colony being scanned, andthe frequency range extends at least from a frequency R1 for colonies of diameter D1 to a frequency R2 for colonies of diameter D2.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microorganism detecting apparatus comprising a fluorescence microscope section which is furnished with a motor-driven stage for placing thereon a microorganism sample subjected to fluorescent staining, and a light source portion for projecting excitation light of predetermined wavelength on the sample; a detection section which detects and photoelectrically converts fluorescence of specified wavelength from the microorganism sample at a position posterior to the microscope section; a filter unit which limits the band of frequencies ascribable to noise in relation to an electric signal from the detection section; a signal processor which reads the output value of the band-limited signal from the detection section, and which processes the read output value; and an automatic inspection section which drives the stage so as to permit the microorganism sample to be scanned over its whole area, and which stores each signal detection part in the sample so as to permit a fluorescent substance at the part to be verified.
72 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting fluorescent substances in a microorganism sample, the apparatus comprising:
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stage means for placing thereon a microorganism sample subjected to fluorescent staining, and for transporting the sample to permit the same to be scanned; light source means for protecting excitation light of a predetermined wavelength onto the sample so that a fluorescent light is originated from the sample; slit means having a slit of a predetermined width through which the fluorescent light from the sample passes; sensor means for sensing the fluorescent light which has passed through the slit to obtain an electric signal; signal filter means for limiting a frequency band of the electric signal from the sensor means to a frequency band predetermined depending on a width of the slit as imaged onto the sample and a speed of the scanning of the sample; and signal processing means for processing the band-limited electric signal so as to detect fluorescent substances in the sample, wherein the sample includes a plurality of colonies of microorganisms having diameters in the range of D1 to D2 and the frequency band of the electric signal is selected to obtain electric signals at a frequency R that corresponds to the diameter of an individual colony, where
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=S/(W+D) (Hz)wherein S is the speed of the scanning of the sample, W is the width of the slit as imaged onto the sample, and D is the diameter of a colony being scanned, and the frequency range extends at least from a frequency R1 for colonies of diameter D1 to a frequency R2 for colonies of diameter D2. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a microorganism sample subjected to fluorescent staining, comprising:
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stage means for placing thereon a microorganism sample subjected to fluorescent staining, and for transporting the sample to permit the sample to be scanned; light source means for projecting an excitation light of a predetermined wavelength onto the sample so that a fluorescent light is originated from the sample; slit means having a slit of a predetermined width through which the fluorescent light from the sample passes; first optical filter means for filtering the fluorescent light from the sample to obtain a first band-limited light of a first wavelength band; second optical filter means for filtering the fluorescent light from the sample to obtain a second hand, limited light of a second wavelength; first sensor means for sensing the first band-limited light which has passed through the slit to obtain a first electric signal; second sensor means for sensing the second band-limited light which has passed through the slit to obtain a second electric signal; signal filter means for limiting a frequency band of the electric signals from the sensor means to a frequency band predetermined depending on a width of the slit as imaged onto the sample and a speed of the scanning of the sample; and processing means for processing the band-limited first and second electric signals to discriminate the microorganisms from auto-fluorescent foreign matter in the sample by utilizing a discrepancy between fluorescence spectra from the microorganisms and the auto-fluorescent foreign matter, wherein the sample includes a plurality of colonies of microorganisms having diameters in the range of D1 to D2, and the frequency band of the electric signals is selected to obtain electric signals at a frequency R that corresponds to the diameter of an individual colony, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">R=S/(W+D) (Hz)wherein S is the speed of the scanning of the sample, W is the width of the slit as imaged onto the sample, and D is the diameter of a colony being scanned, and the frequency range extends at least from a frequency R1 for colonies of diameter D1 to a frequency R2 for colonies of diameter D2. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification