Method for early detection and identification of microbial-colonies, apparatus for performing the method and computer program
First Claim
1. Method for detection of microbial colonies on a surface within an apparatus, comprising:
- obtaining one or a plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) of the surface using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a laser diode, said digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) being represented by at least two-dimensional matrices of pixel values;
applying a mathematical correction function to the pixel values for compensating any curvature of the surface;
calculating a statistical noise distribution based on at least one of the digital images (I0) received from the CCD camera;
applying the statistical noise distribution calculated in the calculation step to the one or the plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4); and
detecting an object of interest as a candidate for a microbial colony on the surface based on deviation of pixel values from the noise distribution,wherein the pixel values captured by the CCD camera are values representing the relative height of a point or area of the surface.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for detection of microbial colonies on a surface, comprising the steps of obtaining one or a plurality of digital images I0, I1, I2, I3, I4 of the surface, said digital images I0, I1, I2, I3, I4 being represented by at least two-dimensional matrices of pixel values, calculating a statistical noise distribution based on at least one of the digital images I0, applying the statistical noise distribution calculated in the calculation step to the one or the plurality of digital images I0, I1, I2, I3, I4, and detecting an object of interest as a candidate for a microbial colony based on deviation of pixel values from the noise distribution.
7 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Method for detection of microbial colonies on a surface within an apparatus, comprising:
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obtaining one or a plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) of the surface using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a laser diode, said digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) being represented by at least two-dimensional matrices of pixel values; applying a mathematical correction function to the pixel values for compensating any curvature of the surface; calculating a statistical noise distribution based on at least one of the digital images (I0) received from the CCD camera; applying the statistical noise distribution calculated in the calculation step to the one or the plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4); and detecting an object of interest as a candidate for a microbial colony on the surface based on deviation of pixel values from the noise distribution, wherein the pixel values captured by the CCD camera are values representing the relative height of a point or area of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for detection of microbial colonies on a surface, comprising:
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a device (1) for obtaining one or a plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) of the surface using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a laser diode, said digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4) being represented by at least two-dimensional matrices of pixel values; a first processor configured to apply a mathematical correction function to the pixel values for compensating any curvature of the surface; the first processor (3) configured to calculate a statistical noise distribution based on at least one of the digital images (I0) captured by the CCD camera; a second processor (5) configured to apply the statistical noise distribution calculated in the calculation step to the plurality of digital images (I0, I1, I2, I3, I4); and a detector (7) to detect an object of interest as a candidate for a microbial colony on the surface based on deviation of pixel values from the noise distribution, wherein the pixel values captured by the CCD camera are values representing the relative height of a point or area of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification