Patent EP0193385A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0193385A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Automated microbiological testing appparatus and method
Assignee: Sherwood Medical Co
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Filing: 1986-02-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a method for obtaining test results fro' microbiological test trays and strips includes an incubation chamber, an inspection station at which test trays may be inspected to determine the results of microbiological tests, a video camera disposed to form images of the test trays at the inspection station, and an image processor for receiving the images from the video camera and processing them to determine test results. Only predetermined areas of interest in the image made by the camera are electronically analysed. Each well of a given tray is assigned a partial result based upon the electronic analysis of the area or areas of interest within that well. The incubation chamber holds a number of tray carriers in two stacks. An elevator is provided to move any given carrier to a position at which it can be moved from the incubation chamber to the inspection station.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn Lawrence Farber
- 👤 Maria Carolina Navarro
- 👤 Manfred Karl Hegemann
- 👤 Samuel Gersen Cohn
- 👤 Cameron Otzen Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00346; G01N2035/00455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 87
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A microbiological testing apparatus comprising an incubation chamber (13) for incubating a plurality of microbiological test trays, said trays each having a plurality of wells; an inspection station (37) at which the test trays may be inspected to determine the results of the microbiological tests; moving means (29, 39) for transporting any predetermined test tray as desired from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37); and means for processing (43, 73) the image of the test tray at the inspection station (37) to determine test results.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A microbiological testing apparatus comprising an incubation chamber (13) for incubating a plurality of microbiological test trays, said trays each having a plurality of wells; an inspection station (37) at which the test trays may be inspected to determine the results of the microbiological tests; moving means (29, 39) for transporting any predetermined test tray as desired from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37); and means for processing (43, 73) the image of the test tray at the inspection station (37) to determine test results.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised thereby that the incubation chamber (13) is disposed vertically, the trays being stacked one above another, and said moving means (29, 39) including an elevator (27) for moving a predetermined test tray to a level corresponding to the inspection station (37).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised thereby that said moving means (29, 39) further includes means (51, 53) for moving a tray in the incubation chamber (13) at the level of the inspection station (37) from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised thereby that a stack of trays is disposed in the elevator (27), the stack being movable by the elevator (27) to present a predetermined test tray at the level of the inspection station (37).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, characterised thereby that the trays are disposed in at least two stacks in the incubation chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including means (89) for controlling the humidity in the incubation chamber (13).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including sensing means (223, 227) for determining the position of the elevator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterised thereby that the sensing means (223, 227) includes a Hall-effect sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised thereby that the trays are disposed in slots
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
(25) in the elevator (27) and further including sensing means (219, 221) for detecting whether a slot is occupied by a tray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
(25) in the elevator (27) and further including sensing means (219, 221) for detecting whether a slot is occupied by a tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterised thereby that the sensing means (219, 221) includes a photodiode sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised thereby that the moving means (29, 39) includes a track (51) from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37) along which the trays are transported.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterised thereby that two or more parallel tracks (51) are "provided.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to Claim 11 or 12, further including sensing means (231, 233) for determining the position of the trays on the track.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to Claim 13, characterised thereby that the sensing means (231, 233) includes a Hall-effect sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to Claims 11 to 14, further including a plurality of carriers (19) for carrying one or more trays each, said carriers (19) being movable along the track (51).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterised thereby that said carriers (19) are capable of carrying at least two trays each, one tray in a first location (101) on the carrier and one tray in a second location (103) on the carrier, the apparatus further including removing means (49) for removing a tray from one location without removing a tray from the other location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to Claim 16, characterised thereby that the removing means (49) includes means (109) for lifting the tray from the carrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, characterised thereby that the moving means (29, 39) further includes pulling means (53) engageable with a carrier (19) to transport the carrier along the track (51).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to Claim 18, characterised thereby that the pulling means (53) includes a bar (55) engageable in a recess (95) of a carrier (19).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including a waste bin (45) into which a tray may be dumped after the results for that tray are determined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to Claim 20, further including means (46A, 46B) for signalling when the waste bin (45) is full.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including dispensing means (77, 171, 47) for delivering reagents to the trays.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to Claim 22, further including a reagent dispensing station, a tray being movable from the incubation chamber to the dispensing station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to Claim 22 or Claim 23, characterised thereby that the dispensing means includes a plurality of reagent sources (173) and a set of normally open tubes (165) extending from the respective sources (173) to a dispensing head (47).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claim 24, characterised thereby that the dispensing means includes positive displacement means (171) for moving fluid in the normally open tubes (165) to dispense reagent therefrom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to Claim 24 or Claim 25, characterised thereby that the dispensing means further includes valve means (169) for providing one way flow through said tubes (165) and prevent dripping therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to Claim 26, characterised thereby that the valve means (169) includes a double- duckbill valve for each tube (165).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 25 to 27, characterised thereby that the positive displacement means (171) includes a solenoid (177) associated with each tube (165) and operable to deliver a predetermined amount of reagent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 24 to 28, further including sensing means (175A, 175B) for determining when the quantity of a reagent falls below a predetermined level.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 24 to 29, characterised thereby that one or more reagent sources is a replaceable module.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 22 to 30, characterised thereby that the moving means (29, 39) includes two parallel tracks (51), the dispensing means including a dispensing head (47) mounted generally above one track and means (59) for moving the dispensing head from said one track to the other track are provided.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in Claim 31, characterised thereby that the means for moving the dispensing head includes a third track (61) disposed above and generally at right angles to said two tracks (51).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised thereby that the trays are movable from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37) in carriers (19), a carrier (19) being capable of simultaneously transporting a susceptibility tray and an identification tray.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to Claim 33, characterised thereby that a carrier (19) includes a template (119) to facilitate the manual entering of identifying information on said carrier, the identifying information being readable by said image processing means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
113 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised thereby that the moving means (29, 39) includes an elevator (27) for moving trays vertically in the incubation chamber (13), two generally horizontal, parallel tracks (51) extending from the incubation chamber (13) to the inspection station (37) and means (53, 55) for moving said trays along said tracks, further including a dispensing head (47) disposed above and generally perpendicular to the parallel tracks (51) for dispensing reagent into trays, means (59, 61) for moving the dispensing head from one track to the other, and means (73) for co-ordinating the movement of the elevator, the trays and the dispensing head to perform desired functions on the trays.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
78 words
A microbiological testing apparatus comprising an incubation chamber (13) for incubating a plurality of microbiological test trays such as susceptibility trays and identification trays; an inspection station (37) at which the test trays may be inspected by the apparatus to determine the results of microbiological tests; means (29, 39) for moving any predetermined test tray as desired from the incubation chamber to the inspection station; and means (43, 73) for automatically determining test results at the inspection chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
78 words
A microbiological testing apparatus comprising an incubation chamber (13) for incubating a plurality of microbiological test trays such as susceptibility trays and identification trays; an inspection station (37) at which the test trays may be inspected by the apparatus to determine the results of microbiological tests; means (29, 39) for moving any predetermined test tray as desired from the incubation chamber to the inspection station; and means (43, 73) for automatically determining test results at the inspection chamber.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including a video camera (43) disposed to form images of the test trays at the inspection station (37).
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to Claim 37, further including a light source (41) for causing light to shine through test trays at the inspection station.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to Claim 37 or Claim 38, characterised thereby that either the camera (43) or the light source (41) is disposed above the inspection station and the other is disposed beneath the inspection station.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 37 to 39, characterised thereby that the camera (43) is disposed beneath the inspection chamber (37).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 38 to 40, characterised thereby that the light source (41) is a cold cathode lamp.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 38 to 41, characterised thereby that the light source (41) includes a diffuser plate to distribute light substantially equally over the inspection station.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to any one of Claims 37 to 42, further including filtering means (69) for selectively filtering the light received by the video camera to determine colours present in at least some of the wells.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to Claim 43, characterised thereby that the filtering means (69) also includes a neutral density filter.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claim 43 or Claim 44, characterised thereby that the filtering means (69) is disposed on the same side of the inspection station as the camera (43).
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to Claim 45, characterised thereby that the filtering means (69) and camera (43) are beneath the inspection station (37).
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
75 words
A carrier (19) for a microbiological test tray comprising a relatively rigid frame (97) defining one or more central openings (101, 103) for receiving a microbiological test tray; said frame having a pair of opposed, parallel shoulders (133, 135) suitable in use for riding on two parallel rails (91, 93); and detent means (95) integrally formed in the frame to receive driving means (55) by which the frame (97) may be moved along said rails.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
75 words
A carrier (19) for a microbiological test tray comprising a relatively rigid frame (97) defining one or more central openings (101, 103) for receiving a microbiological test tray; said frame having a pair of opposed, parallel shoulders (133, 135) suitable in use for riding on two parallel rails (91, 93); and detent means (95) integrally formed in the frame to receive driving means (55) by which the frame (97) may be moved along said rails.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
A carrier according to Claim 47, characterised thereby that the frame (97) defines two openings (101, 103) separated by a cross bar (99), each opening being suitable for receiving a tray.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
A carrier according to Claim 48, characterised thereby that the openings (101, 103) are sized to accommodate two different trays.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
A carrier according to Claim 48 or Claim 49, further including access means integrally formed in the frame to permit one only of the trays to be removed from the carrier.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
25 words
A carrier according to Claim 50, characterised thereby that the access means includes two slots (107) extending downwardly from the upper edge of the frame.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
A carrier according to any one of Claims 48 to 51, characterised thereby that the frame includes one or more projections (115) to hold at least one of the trays in position.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
A carrier according to Claim 52, characterised thereby that said projections hold only one of the trays in position.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
41 words
A carrier according to any one of Claims 47 to 53, characterised thereby that the frame (97) includes means (117) integrally formed therewith and extending generally out from one side of the frame for providing a preferred orientation for the carrier.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
30 words
A carrier according to any one of Claims 47 to 54, characterised thereby that the detent means (95) includes a recess formed in one of the shoulders of the frame.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
A carrier according to Claim 55, characterised thereby that the frame includes an upwardly extending ramp (121) disposed adjacent the recess.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
A carrier according to Claim 55 or Claim 56, characterised thereby that both shoulders have said recess.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of automatically reading the results from microbiological test trays and strips such as susceptibility trays and identification trays, said trays each having a plurality of wells, comprising the steps of making an image with a video camera of a tray to be read; electronically analysing only predetermined areas of interest in the image made by the camera, which areas of interest are substantially within the outlines of the tray wells; for each well of interest, electronically determining whether an area of interest therein has an associated value that exceeds a predetermined threshold for that area of interest; and electronically assigning a binary partial result to each well based upon whether the predetermined threshold for each corresponding area of interest is exceeded.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of automatically reading the results from microbiological test trays and strips such as susceptibility trays and identification trays, said trays each having a plurality of wells, comprising the steps of making an image with a video camera of a tray to be read; electronically analysing only predetermined areas of interest in the image made by the camera, which areas of interest are substantially within the outlines of the tray wells; for each well of interest, electronically determining whether an area of interest therein has an associated value that exceeds a predetermined threshold for that area of interest; and electronically assigning a binary partial result to each well based upon whether the predetermined threshold for each corresponding area of interest is exceeded.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 58, characterised thereby that the areas of interest for at least two different wells in a tray differ in shape.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 58 or Claim 59, characterised thereby that at least two wells of interest have different predetermined thresholds.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
56 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 60, including the further step of interposing at least one optical filter between the tray to be read and the video camera so that the binary partial result for at least one well of interest may represent whether a colour change has occurred in said well.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
53 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 61, characterised thereby that the tray may have an identifying product symbol thereon and further including the step of electronically determining the particular type of tray present at the inspection station by processing the image of the tray generated by the video camera.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 62, characterised thereby that the determining step includes electronically analysing the images only at predetermined areas where the product symbol is located.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
52 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 63, characterised thereby that the tray includes a position for manually writing thereon, and further including the step of electronically reading the writing by processing at least one predetermined area of interest in the image corresponding to the position of the writing.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 64, characterised thereby that the position of the writing in the image includes a plurality of areas of interest for each symbol of the writing.
Claim 72
Independent Claim
57 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 65, characterised thereby that the determining step includes determining the number of pixels in the area of interest that have a voltage which exceeds a predetermined voltage, a binary partial result being assigned to each well based upon the number of pixels that exceed the predetermined voltage.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
39 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 66, further including the step of storing the background light level for each pixel at least in the areas of interest to account for spatial variability of the light.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
43 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 67, characterised thereby that the trays are incubated for a predetermined time before being read, further including the step of reading a tray before significant incubation to determine baseline values for that tray.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to Claim 68, further including the step of comparing the baseline values for each well with the values after incubation.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 69, further including the step of determining the identity of a micro-organism by electronically analysing the binary partial results of the individual identification tray wells.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 70, further including the step of determining the susceptibility of a micro-organism by electronically analysing the binary partial results of the individual susceptibility tray wells.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
66 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 71, characterised thereby that an identification tray and a susceptibility tray for a single patient are mounted on a common carrier, further including the steps of reading the identification tray at a first predetermined time and storing the result, automatically discarding the identification tray, and then reading the susceptibility tray at a later, second predetermined time.
Claim 79
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 72 further including the steps of sequentially reading the wells of interest in a tray to generate a series of binary partial results.
Claim 80
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 73, characterised thereby that the spacing of the predetermined areas of interest is programmable.
Claim 81
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 74, characterised thereby that the shape of the predetermined areas of interest is programmable.
Claim 82
Independent Claim
48 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 75, characterised thereby that the trays are placed in an incubator prior to reading, further including the step of electronically recording the identity and position of a tray in the incubator after it is placed in the incubator.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 76, further including the steps of transporting the tray from the incubator to an inspection station, determining the identity of the tray by processing the video image, and transporting the tray back to the incubator.
Claim 84
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any one of Claims 58 to 77, including the further step of electronically recognising illogical combinations of binary partial results and signalling that fact.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claim 78, including the further step of retaining said tray when an illogical combination is detected.
Claim 86
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of automatically reading the results from microbiological test trays and strips such as susceptibility trays and identification trays, comprising the steps of moving a tray to be read to an inspection station; and electronically reading the tray at the inspection station with a camera which remains substantially stationary with respect to the tray while the tray is read.
Claim 87
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of automatically reading the results from microbiological test trays and strips such as susceptibility trays and identification trays, comprising the steps of moving a tray to be read to an inspection station; and electronically reading the tray at the inspection station with a camera which remains substantially stationary with respect to the tray while the tray is read.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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