3m Innovative Properties Company

Josef A Graessle

Albert Vent

Kevin R Green

Michael Charles Lea

Ulrich Lutterkordt

Stephen B Schenk

A biological growth plate scanner includes a multi-color illumination system that illuminates a biological growth plate with different illumination colors. A monochromatic image capture device captures images of the biological growth plate during illumination of the growth plate with each of the illumination colors. A processor combines the images to form a composite multi-color image, and/or individual components of the composite image, and analyzes the composite image to produce an analytical result such as a colony count or a presence/absence result. The biological growth plate scanner may include both front and back illumination components. The back illumination component may include a diffuser element disposed under the biological growth plate. The diffuser element receives light from one or more laterally disposed illumination sources, and distributes the light to illuminate a back side of the biological growth plate. The illumination sources in the front and back illumination components may take the form of sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be independently controlled by the processor.

Back side plate illumination for biological growth plate scanner

Biological growth plate scanner

The invention is directed to a biological scanner for scanning biological growth plates. The biological growth plate is loaded into the biological scanner via motorized rollers, and an actuator presses the growth plate against a platen once the growth plate is drawn to a scanning position within the scanner. The biological scanner then generates one or more images of the growth plate. Moreover, sensors can be arranged to facilitate sensing and positioning of the growth plate in a plurality of locations for imaging different parts of the plate. Additional embodiments are directed to features such as a hinged door that facilitates access to the scanner, and footings disposed on various sides of the scanner to facilitate flip-over of the scanner for simplified use by right-handed or left-handed users.

Biological growth plate scanner with automated intake

Growing community of inventors

Meerbuscher, Germany

Josef A Graessle