Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving viable micro-organism
Patent
1993-06-02
1999-01-26
Soderquist, Arlen
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving viable micro-organism
73 52, 422 64, 422107, 4352861, 4352871, 4352875, C12Q 104, C12M 134
Patent
active
058637524
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to micro-organism growth, and concerns a method and apparatus for monitoring the growth of micro-organisms, for example in blood culture bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring the growth of micro-organisms in liquid culture in a gas-tight container incorporating a flexible diaphragm capable of moving in response to pressure changes within the container, by detecting displacement of the diaphragm, wherein the position or conformation of the diaphragm is repeatedly sensed using distance-measuring means.
Preferably the distance-measuring means is capable of detecting a variation or the position or conformation of the diaphragm to an accuracy of 200.mu. or less, more preferably 100.mu. or less, even more preferably 50.mu. or less, eg about 10.mu..
The distance-measuring means is preferably a laser.
Preferably a portion or the container adjacent the diaphragm is used as a reference against which to detect any relative positional or conformational change of the diaphragm.
The distance-measuring means can desirably scan across the diaphragm, and use one or more fixed reference points associated with the diaphragm when determining any variation in the displacement of the diaphragm.
The container is conveniently constructed of rigid material, with the sole exception of the diaphragm, so that the diaphragm alone is displaced in response to pressure changes within the container. The diaphragm is conveniently made of resilient flexible plastics or rubber material.
The container preferably comprises a culture bottle, having a bottle closure incorporating a flexible diaphragm known as a septum.
In a preferred arrangement, the distance-measuring means repeatedly senses or scans a plurality of containers, as part of an automated monitoring system. The containers are conveniently arranged in an array with the array and distance-measuring means arranged for relative movement such that the containers are sequentially scanned by the distance-measuring means.
The containers can be located, for example, in a generally stationary holder such as a tray or flat bed arrangement with respect to which the distance-measuring means moves to scan the containers in turn, hit the containers being gently shaken or stirred (e.g. by use of an individual magnetic stirring device in each container) to agitate the contents during incubation.
Alternatively, the plurality of containers can be arranged in an array to be presented sequentially to the distance-measuring means which remains generally stationary. This can conveniently be achieved by mounting the containers in a carousel arrangement.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carousel can revolve continuously about-a horizontal axis, and the plurality of containers are arranged around the circumference of the carousel such that rotation of the carousel generates end-over-end mixing of the contents of the containers.
Where an array of containers is monitored, it is highly desirable that each container displays a unique machine-readable identifying reference, such as a bar-code.
The invention thus also provides apparatus for monitoring the growth of micro-organisms in liquid culture, comprising means for holding an array of gas-tight containers each containing a liquid test sample and each incorporating a flexible diaphragm capable of moving in response to pressure changes within the container, distance-measuring means capable of detecting changes in position or conformation of each diaphragm, means for providing relative movement between the containers and the distance-measuring means for repeatedly presenting the containers individually in turn to the distance-measuring means, and means for recording and/or displaying data obtained from the distance-measuring means.
The means for recording and/or displaying data conveniently comprises microprocessor means programmed to store at least the immediately preceding reading for each diaphragm and to record that data and/or signal to an opera
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Anderson Judith Marjorie
Court Nigel Timothy
Evans Neil Laurence
Hayes-Pankhurst Richard Paul
Holbrook Roy
Oxoid Limited
Soderquist Arlen
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