Cassette for disposable microorganism culturing media and automated scanning system
US5573950A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/809
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for counting microorganism colonies on at least one disposable microorganism culturing medium having a substantially planar substrate. The apparatus is adapted to interact with a cassette holding a number of similar substrates at once. The apparatus includes an imaging device capable of detecting colonies on the substantially planar substrate, a cassette positioning device for moving the cassette so that the substrates supported within the cassette are moved sequentially into a predetermined position relative to the imaging device, and an ejecting device for ejecting a substantially planar substrate in turn from the cassette when that substrate is in the predetermined position from the cassette and into an imaging position adjacent the imaging device. Suitable cassettes and a method for counting colonies on substrates supported within a cassette are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.