Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2003-09-09
Naff, David M. (Department: 1651)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...
C435S252100, C435S283100, C435S283100, C435S309100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06617146
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically transferring bacterial specimens from specimen containers to the surface of culture medium plates, and to streaking such bacterial samples in programmable patterns to produce isolated bacterial colonies. In particular, it provides for the precise deposition of an inoculant at a specific location on the surface of a culturing medium, and the subsequent re-entry of a streaking tool at this same location to effect streaking. It further provides a versatile system for varying the streaking procedure in accordance with the specimen being treated. This invention also relates to an apparatus and method for automatically removing the top of either “jar-type” specimen container or a “swab-type” container while simultaneously identifying the specimen.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The isolation and identification of a sample of a bacterial specimen has for many years involved the inoculation of the sample onto a culture medium. The type of culture medium used and the method by which it is placed on the culture medium depends on the type of specimen being handled.
This invention relates in one aspect to two types of specimen containers. One type of specimen container, the “swab-type”, consists of a stylus- or wand-like stem attached to a cap removably fitted onto a separate, test-tube like container. A swab fixed at the opposite end of the stem from the cap is coated with and carries the bacterial specimen during transfer to the cultivating medium. The other type of specimen container, the “jar-type”, consists of a jar- or bottle-like vessel containing a liquid specimen, such as urine, a portion of which is to be transferred to inoculate the cultivating medium.
The receptacle containing the swab is typically a transparent tube having a closed end and an open end providing a narrow mouth. The swab shaft carries its absorbent pad —the swab tip— at the outer end of the stem remote from the cap end. While the stem extends into the tube from the cap when the cap is in place on the tube, variations in manufacturing may cause the stem to be deflected sideways. Hence, upon removal of the swab stem from the tube, the stem may deflect from alignment with the central axis of the cap causing the displacement of the swab tip sideways. The precise location of the swab relative to the cap and the axis of the cap will then be unknown.
Inoculation from a “swab-type” container requires identification of the specimen type, removal of the cap (with the stem and swab attached) from the receptacle and rolling the swab end (which is coated with the specimen) over a portion of the surface on a culture medium which is suited to the specimen. This transfer must occur at a specific deposit location and the sides of the swab should be equally exposed to the surface of the cultivating medium, without disrupting the surface, during transfer of bacteria to the deposit location. If the swab stem is bent, this operation is difficult to effect through automation.
An object of this invention is to effect inoculation of the cultivating medium at a deposit location whose position is recorded, followed by effecting streaking automatically, using the recorded deposit location to guide an automated streaking tool.
After inoculation occurs the swab is normally returned to its original container. In doing so the swab must be aligned with the mouth of the test-tube to prevent contamination of the exterior portion of the tube. This alignment must be arranged even when the swab stem is bent.
Inoculation from a “jar-type” container requires removal of the cap, extraction of a specified amount of liquid, e.g. urine, and placement of an amount of liquid onto the deposit location on the culture medium's surface. The container with its remaining liquid is then recapped and conveyed away for storage.
Inoculation from a “jar-type” container requires identification of the specimen (as by reading markings on the outside surface of the container), removal of the cap, extraction of a specified amount of urine, placement of that amount onto a defined area on the appropriate culture medium and recapping the jar. This procedure is time consuming, inconsistent and biohazardous. Automating the entire procedure would address all three of these concerns. Two critical parts of the inoculating process for the “jar-type” specimen container are the uncapping of the specimen container and the reading of the data imprinted on the container.
The isolation and identification of a specimen requires that the specimen sample be distributed or spread over the culture medium—“streaked”—in a one of several prescribed patterns that is correlated to the specific specimen. These patterns must provide an increasing dilution of the sample and are effected by a streaking tool. Once so streaked the prepared medium plates can then be incubated to promote bacterial growth. This bacterial growth can then be examined or subjected to further tests for isolation or identification of the bacteria type(s) present in the specimen.
Proper preparation of the media plates is biohazardous, time consuming and difficult to perform manually in a consistent manner. It is also difficult to maintain consistency between the techniques used by different technicians or even between different samples prepared by the same technician at different times.
An object of this invention is therefore to provide a method and apparatus for inoculating medical specimens from either the “swab-type” or “jar-type” containers onto culture media which closely simulates the effect of established manual procedures, but with improved consistency, accuracy and safety.
A further objective is to provide a method and apparatus for removing a specimen swab from a container, and to provide for reading data on the container.
A further objective is to provide a method in which a specimen swab, e.g. an elongate element, which is somewhat bent from its nominal position may be properly applied to the surface of a cultivating medium and then be reinserted into its originating receptable consistently and accurately.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for streaking bacterial samples in programmable patterns corresponding to the actual specimen being evaluated, which closely simulates the effect of established manual procedures, but with improved consistency, accuracy and safety.
Yet a further objective is to provide an efficient method and apparatus in which the cap of a jar-type container may be removed in parallel with reading data that has been imprinted, encoded or otherwise embedded on the container. An additional objective is to provide a method and apparatus in which the existence of a sufficient amount of liquid specimen in the container may be verified.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of this invention provides an automated overall specimen container transport, handling and inoculating system which integrates and improves standard procedures and techniques for transferring bacteria to a cultivating medium, followed by streaking of such bacteria on such medium using automated means. Thus a specimen delivery system conveys a sample specimen to a deposit location on a culture medium, recording the location of the deposit location in a memory. A streaking mechanism then effects streaking using the recorded deposit location data to guide the streaking tool.
According to a further feature of the invention, the mechanism of the system may dispense culture media as called for by the specimen's embedded data and
Bornath Anne M. C.
Mazilu Georgeta
Naccarato Frank
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Canadian Space Agency
Marsman Kathleen E.
Naff David M.
Ware Deborah K.
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