| Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Mounting platform for biological growth plate scannerUSPTO Application #: 20080090286Title: Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner Abstract: The invention is directed to a biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates. A biological growth plate can be loaded into the biological scanner. Upon loading of a biological growth plate, the biological scanner generates an image of the plate and may perform an analysis of the image. Various embodiments are directed to loading features that facilitate automated loading and proper positioning of a plate within the biological scanner, and ejection features that facilitate the automated ejection of the plate from the scanner. Additional embodiments are directed to features that allow a scanner unit of the biological scanner to be attached to a mounting platform of the scanner in different possible configurations. (end of abstract)
Agent: 3m Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul, MN, US Inventors: Albert VENT, Klaus D. KRAETZIG USPTO Applicaton #: 20080090286 - Class: 435287300 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Molecular Biology And Microbiology, Apparatus, Including Measuring Or Testing, With Sample Or Reagent Mechanical Transport Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080090286. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 10/306,416, filed Nov. 27, 2002, now allowed, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. FIELD [0002] The invention relates to techniques for analysis of biological growth plates to detect and enumerate bacteria or other biological agents in food samples, laboratory samples, and the like. BACKGROUND [0003] Biological safety is a paramount concern in modern society. Testing for biological contamination in foods or other materials has become an important and sometimes mandatory requirement for developers and distributors of food products. Biological testing is also used to identify bacteria or other agents in laboratory samples such as blood samples taken from medical patients, laboratory samples developed for experimental purposes, and other types of biological samples. Various techniques and devices can be utilized to improve biological testing and to streamline and standardize the biological testing process. [0004] In particular, a wide variety of biological growth plates have been developed. As one example, biological growth plates have been developed by 3M Company (hereafter "3M") of St. Paul, Minn. Biological growth plates are sold by 3M under the trade name PETRIFILM plates. Biological growth plates can be utilized to facilitate the rapid growth and detection of bacteria or other biological agents commonly associated with food contamination, including, for example, aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliform, enterobacteriaceae, yeast, mold, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, Campylobacter. The use of PETRIFILM plates, or other growth media, can simplify bacterial testing of food samples. [0005] Biological growth plates can be used to enumerate or identify the presence of bacteria so that corrective measures can be performed (in the case of food testing) or proper diagnosis can be made (in the case of medical use). In other applications, biological growth plates may be used to rapidly grow bacteria or other biological agents in laboratory samples, e.g., for experimental purposes. [0006] Biological scanners refer to devices used to scan or count bacterial colonies, or the amount of a particular biological agent on a biological growth plate. For example, a food sample or laboratory sample can be placed on a biological growth plate, and then the plate can be inserted into an incubation chamber. After incubation, the biological growth plate can be placed into the biological scanner for automated detection and enumeration of bacterial growth. In other words, biological scanners automate the detection and enumeration of bacteria or other biological agents on a biological growth plate, and thereby improve the biological testing process by reducing human error. SUMMARY [0007] In general, the invention is directed to a biological scanner for biological growth plates. A biological growth plate is inserted into the biological scanner. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanner generates an image of the plate and performs an analysis of the image. For example, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed by the biological scanner. In this manner, the biological scanner automates the analysis of biological growth plates. [0008] The biological scanner may incorporate an automated loading mechanism and an automated ejection mechanism to facilitate handling and analysis of biological growth plates by the scanner. The automated loading mechanism may be configured to draw the growth plate into the scanner and place the growth plate in a scanning position. In addition, the biological scanner may include a multiple orientation mounting platform that permits the scanner to be selectively placed in different positions for convenience and space requirements. The mounting platform may cooperate with the ejection mechanism to permit selection of the position of an ejection port for exit of the biological growth plate following analysis. [0009] In one embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner for biological growth plates comprising a drawer that opens to receive a biological growth plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner. The biological scanner may also include an apparatus, such as a clamp, pincer, securing lever, or the like, to temporarily hold the plate at a location inside the scanner when the drawer is subsequently closed following the movement of the plate into the scanner. The biological scanner may also include a conveyor to remove the plate from the scanner following release of the plate by the apparatus when the drawer is subsequently opened. For example, the drawer may form part of a scanner unit of the biological scanner, and the conveyor may be housed in a mounting platform of the scanner. [0010] In another embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner for biological growth plates comprising a scanner unit and a mounting platform. The scanner unit receives a biological growth plate to be scan, and the mounting platform ejects the biological growth plate after the plate has been scanned. The scanner unit and the mounting platform can be configured to allow the scanner unit and the mounting platform to be coupled to one another in a plurality of different possible positions relative to one another. By way of example, the scanner unit may house an imaging device and a processor. In addition, the scanner unit may include a drawer that opens to receive the plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner unit. The mounting platform may include a conveyor to eject the plate from a slot in the mounting platform after the plate has been scanned. [0011] In an additional embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner for biological growth plates comprising a drawer that opens to receive a biological growth plate and closes to move the plate into the scanner. The drawer may include a platform on which the plate rests, and one or more levers to elevate and lower the platform. In addition the biological scanner may include a platen inside the scanner, wherein upon closing the drawer, the lever(s) elevate the platform so that the plate is positioned adjacent the platen. [0012] In an added embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates, the scanner comprising a scanner unit that receives a biological growth plate to be scanned, and a mounting platform that ejects the biological growth plate after the plate has been scanned, wherein the scanner unit is positionable on the mounting platform in a plurality of different possible positions. [0013] In another embodiment, the invention provides a biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates, the scanner comprising a scanner unit that scans biological growth plates, and a platform to support the scanner unit, wherein one of the platform and the scanner unit delivers operating power to the other of the platform and the scanner unit and the scanner unit is positionable on the mounting platform in different positions. [0014] The invention may provide a number of advantages. For example, the invention may ensure that a biological growth plate can be inserted into a biological scanner, properly positioned within the scanner, imaged or otherwise scanned to identify or enumerate amounts of biological agents, and then ejected from the biological scanner in an automated fashion. In particular, the configurations described herein can automate the insertion and positioning of biological growth plates in a manner that ensures that reliable imaging can occur, thereby improving the integrity of automated scanning of such biological growth plates. Automation of the ejection of the plate from the biological scanner can also simplify the process for a user. Furthermore, the ability to select the position of the scanner unit relative to a mounting platform can allow the biological scanner to be conveniently placed in different laboratory environments that have different layouts or space limitations, e.g., while consistently providing operating power from the mounting platform to the biological scanner unit or from the biological scanner unit to the mounting platform in each position. [0015] Additional details of these and other embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages will become apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biological scanner in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0017] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of an exemplary biological scanner. [0018] FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views of an exemplary growth plate. [0019] FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating exemplary internal components of a biological scanner. Continue reading... Full patent description for Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Microbiological test device, assembly and method Next Patent Application: Culture dish for culturing biological cells Industry Class: Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Mounting platform for biological growth plate scanner patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 12.92092 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
