Patent ID: 6642953
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: B01L,C12M

Abstract:
A system for analyzing images produced by bacterial reactions, allowing microbiological reactions to be converted into numerical values which are subsequently used by a diagnosis software to determine: the amount of microorganisms present, indicative of an infection; the identification of the microorganism present in the sample; and the infection-causing organism's antimicrobial susceptibility pattern; wherein the reactions produced by the images which are to be captured and interpreted by means of the system proper occur in liquid culture mediums contained inside panel receptacles or on the surface of a solid culture medium or so-called plate, characteristic in that it comprises an apparatus (1) having a preferably prismatic-rectangular shape which internally defines a closed hermetic chamber (2) internally fitted with a digital camera (15) mounted on a support (16), a removable support (17) for the panel or plate concerned, and lighting means (18) and (19) complemented with light diffusers (20) and (21), whereas externally the apparatus (1), in correspondence with its front panel (3), includes a series of luminous indicators (4), a feeder (5) associated to the corresponding removable support (17), an opening button (6) acting on the feeder (5), a contrast switch (7) and a general switch (8); the rear panel (9) of said apparatus (1) being designed to include a cover (10) providing access to the internal components, as well as outlets (11), (12) and (13) supplying current to the lighting fixture and to the chamber, and a port for communicating with the central computer, respectively, said rear panel (9) also including the connections (14) to a TDM 436 control module.