Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein: said transfer of each sample to the corresponding sample-receiving receptacles of said series is made by a probe, and further including aspirating each sample from the corresponding separate sample container into the probe for sample transfer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including killing with a bacteria killing agent the treated and incubated ones of said sample aliquot portions prior to said flowing of sample from said sample-receiving receptacles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein: said sample transfer of each sample from the corresponding separate sample container to said sample-receiving receptacles of said series is by an individual probe for each sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as defined in claim 4 wherein: each aliquot portion of each sample during sample transfer to said sample-receiving receptacles of said series is dispensed in drops from the corresponding probe into the corresponding sample-receiving receptacles, and the drops are counted to determine each aliquot portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for antibiotic susceptibility analysis of a plurality of liquid samples in sequence, each including a different bacterial inoculum, comprising: means supporting each sample in a separate container, transfer means transferring sequentially each sample in equal aliquot portions to each one of a series of sample-receiving receptacles provided for each sample and in which a liquid nutrient is supplied including probe means for transfer of each sample from said separate sample containers to the corresponding sample-receiving receptacles of said series, and means aspirating each sample from the corresponding separate sample container into said probe means for sample transfer, means treating with different antibiotics at least certain ones of said sample aliquot portions in said sample-receiving receptacles of said series simultaneously, means introducing a bacteria killing agent into an untreated one of said aliguot portions in one of said sample-receiving receptacles of said series concurrently with said treatment, incubating means for said aliquot portions in said sample-receiving receptacles of said series, means sequentially flowing each of said samples from the corresponding sample-receiving receptacles of said series successively in equal aliquot portions thereof, and means coupled to said flow means and counting the bacterial cells in each of the aliquot portions of the same sample for comparison, utilizing the cell count of the killed aliquot portion as a base, to quantitatively indicate any inhibition to bacterial growth of each sample by each of said antibiotics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including means introducing a bacteria killing agent into a second untreated one of said aliquot portions in one of said sample-receiving receptacles of said series after incubation, the cell counts of said counted ones of said untreated aliquot portions indicating by comparison the uninhibited bacterial growth of the same sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including means introducing a bacteria killing agent into said ones of said sample-receiving receptacles of said series containing said treated ones of said sample aliquot portions after incubation, prior to said flow of sample from the receptacles of said series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said probe means comprises individual probe means for each of said separate sample containers, each individual probe means transferring the corresponding sample in said aliquot portions thereof to the corresponding ones of said sample-receiving receptacles of said series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said probe means dispenses the sample in drops from the probe means into the corresponding sample-receiving receptacles of said series to determine each aliquot portion, the probe means including a drop counter.