Patent ID: 7016523
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: C12Q,G01N,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting the presence of colonies of microorganisms in a sample, comprising the step of: (a) preparing a light-permeable microorganism colony culture medium mixed with a sample; (b) pouring said microorganism colony culture mixture into a transparent container cell; (c) solidifying said microorganism colony culture in said container cell; (d) illuminating said container cell and medium with a coherent laser beam; (e) receiving the light projection generated by said colony culture medium with an image sensor; (f) detecting the presence of colonies of microorganisms by analyzing the projected image data obtained by said image sensor after colonies grow large enough to create shades on the image sensor and the colonies block the laser beam to produce projected image data of the colonies on the image sensor based on the unblocked illumination of the laser beam.