Automated microbial detection apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10006074-B2
Application number	US-78012610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2010
Priority date	May 15, 2009
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A method and automated apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of a microbial agent in a test sample is described herein. The apparatus may include one or more means for automated loading, automated transfer and/or automated unloading of a specimen container. The apparatus also includes a detection system for receiving a detection container, e.g., container or vial, containing a biological sample and culture media. The detection system may also include one or more heated sources, holding structures or racks, and/or a detection unit for monitoring and/or interrogating the specimen container to detect whether the container is positive for the presence of a microbial agent therein. In other embodiment, the automated instrument may include one or more, bar code readers, scanners, cameras, and/or weighing stations to aid in scanning, reading, imaging and weighing of specimen containers within the system.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of microorganism growth in a test sample, comprising:
(a) a housing enclosing an interior chamber;
(b) a holding structure contained within said interior chamber and comprising a plurality of wells each for holding a sealable specimen container;
(c) a container locator device comprising a rotatable disk containing one or more locator wells each capable of holding one of said specimen containers and a rotatable turntable for rotating the sealable specimen container within an entrance location, said rotatable disk configured to rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and thereby locate said specimen containers among one or more container work-flow stations;
(d) an automated loading mechanism for automated loading of said specimen container into said interior chamber, said automated loading mechanism comprises a conveyor belt and a guide rail, said conveyor belt configured to deposit one of said specimen containers into one of said locator wells, said guide rail positioned to guide said specimen container into said locator well; and
(e) an automated transfer mechanism located within said interior chamber configured for automated transfer of said specimen container within said interior chamber, wherein said automated transfer mechanism comprises a multi-axis robotic transfer arm, the robotic transfer arm further comprising:
a horizontal slide supporting a robotic head and a gripper mechanism; and
a pivot plate comprising a pivot plate guide rail, a pivot slot, and a pivot slot cam follower operable to allow the robotic head to slide along the horizontal slide,
wherein the gripper mechanism is configured to pick up the specimen container at the container pick-up station,
wherein the robotic head rotates from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation as the robotic head slides along the horizontal slide, and
wherein the specimen container is transferred to one of the plurality of wells in the holding structure in the horizontal orientation; and

(f) a detection unit located within said interior chamber for the detection of microorganism growth in said specimen container.

2. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said automated detection system further comprises an automated unloading mechanism configured for automated unloading of said specimen container from said detection apparatus.

3. The automated detection apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said automated unloading mechanism is configured to transfer said specimen container to a positive container location.

4. The automated detection apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said automated unloading mechanism is configured to transfer said specimen container to a negative container location.

5. The automated detection apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said automated unloading mechanism is said automated transfer mechanism.

6. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said holding structure is selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of stacked racks and one or more cylindrical drum.

7. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said holding structure further comprises an agitation assembly.

8. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said interior chamber comprises an incubation chamber, said incubation chamber comprising one or more heating elements.

9. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said one or more work-flow stations are selected from the group consisting of a bar code reading station, a container scanning station, a container imaging station, a container weighing station, a container pick-up station, a container transfer station, and a combination thereof.

10. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said automated loading mechanism comprises a container loading station, a transport mechanism, and a container entrance location, wherein said transport mechanism is configured to transport said specimen container from said loading station to said entrance location.

11. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said detection apparatus further comprises a bar code reader.

12. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said detection apparatus further comprises a controller, and wherein said controller is configured to control said automated loading mechanism, said container locator device and/or said automated transfer mechanism.

13. The automated detection apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said controller signals a specimen container detected as positive for microorganism growth with a positive indicator prompt on said housing.

14. The automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the holding structure further comprises a retention feature operable to hold the specimen container in one of the plurality of wells, the retention feature comprising a canted coiled spring and a v-shaped holding plate.

15. A method for the detection of microorganism growth in said automated detection apparatus of claim 1 , said method comprising the following steps:
(a) providing a specimen container comprising a culture medium for promoting and/or enhancing growth of said microorganism;
(b) inoculating said specimen container with a test sample to be tested for the presence of a microorganism;
(c) loading said inoculated specimen container into said detection apparatus using said automated loading mechanism;
(d) transferring said inoculated specimen container to said holding structure located within said detection apparatus using said automated transfer mechanism;
(e) incubating said specimen container within said incubation chamber; and
(f) periodically monitoring said specimen container for detection of said one or more by products of microorganism growth, wherein said specimen container is determined as positive for microorganism growth by the detection of said one or more by products of microorganism growth therein.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said interior chamber comprises an incubation chamber said incubation chamber comprising one or more heating elements to provide and/or maintain a climate-controlled interior chamber for promoting and/or enhancing microorganism growth therein.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said interior chamber comprises a cooling chamber said cooling chamber comprising one or more cooling elements for maintaining said cooling chamber at a temperature below room temperature.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said automated detection system further comprise a container locator device operable to move said specimen container among one or more work stations for obtaining one or more measurements or readings of the specimen container, and wherein said method further comprise as step (c)(1) moving said specimen container among one or more work stations using said container locator device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said one or more work stations are selected from the group consisting of a bar code reading station, a container scanning station, a container imaging station, a container weighing station, a container pick-up station, a container transfer station, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said step (c)(1) comprises moving said specimen container to a pick-up station, and wherein said method further comprises as step (c)(2) picking-up said specimen container from said pick-up station using said automated transfer mechanism.

21. The method of claim 15 , w

Assignees

• Robinson Ronnie J
• Fanning Mark Joseph
• Philipak Stanley Michael
• Remes Richard Scott
• Bishop James Clement
• Sommer Gary W
• Guerra Lawrence E
• Herron Michael A
• Bio Merieux Inc

Inventors

• Robinson Ronnie J
• Fanning Mark Joseph
• Philipak Stanley Michael
• Remes Richard Scott
• Bishop James Clement
• Sommer Gary W
• Guerra Lawrence E
• Herron Michael A

Classifications

• G01N2035/0406

  Individual bottles or tubes · CPC title

• C12M41/36 Primary

  of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404) · CPC title

• G01N2035/00148

  Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards · CPC title

• G01N35/026

  having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes · CPC title

• C12Q1/04 Primary

  Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)} · CPC title