US 11,733,142 B2
Antimicrobic susceptibility testing using digital microscopy
Katherine Sei, El Dorado, CA (US); and David Lewis, Fairfield, CA (US)
Assigned to BECKMAN COULTER, INC., Brea, CA (US)
Appl. No. 16/479,804
Filed by Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 22, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/014660
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 22, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/136864, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 26, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/449,373, filed on Jan. 23, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/574,795, filed on Oct. 20, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0041338 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. G06T 7/62 (2017.01); G01N 15/06 (2006.01); G06T 7/136 (2017.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12Q 1/18 (2006.01); G01N 15/02 (2006.01); G06T 5/00 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01)
CPC G01N 15/06 (2013.01) [C12M 41/14 (2013.01); C12M 41/36 (2013.01); C12Q 1/18 (2013.01); G01N 15/0227 (2013.01); G06T 5/002 (2013.01); G06T 7/0012 (2013.01); G06T 7/136 (2017.01); G06T 7/62 (2017.01); G01N 2015/0693 (2013.01); G06T 2207/10056 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30242 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biological testing system comprising:
(a) an incubator system, wherein the incubator system is configured to incubate a mixture disposed in a test well for an incubation period, wherein the mixture includes a plurality of microbes and an antimicrobial agent;
(b) an optics system comprising
a camera, wherein the camera is configured to capture raw images of the mixture; and
(c) a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
(i) actuate the optics system to capture a raw image of the mixture in the test well;
(ii) manipulate the raw image into a final image;
(iii) count an amount of microbes in the final image;
(iv) count an amount of pixels associated with the microbes in the final image;
(v) determine a first ratio, wherein the first ratio is based at least in part on the relationship between the amount of microbes and the amount of pixels;
(vi) wait for a time period;
(vii) after the time period, repeat (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) to determine a second ratio; and
(viii) determine a minimum inhibitory concentration of the antimicrobial agent with respect to the plurality of microbes based at least in part on the difference between the first ratio and the second ratio.