US 12,411,150 B2
Device of distribution of impregnated supports and associated method
Mario Savarese, Brescia (IT); Salvatore Balzano, Brescia (IT); Laura Navarria, Brescia (IT); Guido Schinetti, Brescia (IT); and Andrea Bonatti, Brescia (IT)
Assigned to Copan Italia S.p.A., Brescia (IT)
Filed by COPAN ITALIA S.p.A., Brescia (IT)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,043.
Application 18/170,043 is a continuation of application No. 17/457,549, filed on Dec. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,614,453.
Claims priority of application No. 102021000024827 (IT), filed on Sep. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194557 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 17/00 (2019.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/18 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/02 (2006.01); G01N 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 35/025 (2013.01) [C12M 99/02 (2013.01); C12Q 1/18 (2013.01); G01N 2035/0444 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Method of distribution of supports impregnated with antibiotics, comprising:
a step of positioning of a plurality of tubular containers, each one containing a plurality of supports impregnated with antibiotics and stacked, in a corresponding plurality of seats of a dispenser mounted upon a supporting frame, the dispenser being provided with an upper surface opposite to the supporting frame and a lower surface opposite with respect to the upper surface and interposed between the supporting frame and the upper surface, the plurality of seats being configured in such a way that respective lower ends of said tubular containers are received in the seats while respective upper ends of the tubular containers, opposite to the lower ends, are positioned at the upper surface of the dispenser;
a first step of extraction of at least a first support from a first container, using an extractor, the step of extraction being performed at an upper end of the first container and comprising a movement of the first support between a first position inside the first container and a second position extracted from the first container, said first position and said second position lying at said upper surface of the dispenser;
a step of collection of the first support from the second position using a collector,
a step of transportation of the first support towards a culture plate by the collector.