Methods and systems for automated assessment of antibiotic sensitivity
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Publication Number
US-12365932-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
An imaging system and method provides automated microbial growth detection for antibiotic sensitivity testing. A processing system having an image sensor for capturing images of an inoculated culture plate having antibiotic disks disposed on the culture media captures images of the plate at separate times (e.g., first and second images). The system generates pixel characteristic data for pixels of the second image from a comparison of the first image and second image. The pixel characteristic data may be indicative of plate growth. The system may access growth modeling data concerning the antibiotic disk(s) and generate simulated image data with a growth model function. The growth model function uses the growth modeling data. The simulated image data simulates growth on the plate relative to the disk(s). The system compares the simulated image and the pixel characteristic data to identify pixel region(s) of the second image that differ from the simulated image.
Core Innovation
The method compares first and second images of an inoculated culture plate captured at separate times, with the first image serving as background image data. It generates pixel characteristic data indicative of microbial growth over time, accesses growth modeling data, and generates simulated image data based on information associated with the culture plate. Comparing the simulated image data with the pixel characteristic data identifies pixel regions that differ between observed and simulated growth.
The modeling relates microbial growth to combinations of culture media, microorganisms, antibiotics, and antibiotic concentration as a function of time and distance from an antibiotic disk. The patent also describes programming instructions on a computer medium and systems comprising an image sensor, processor, and memory storing culture plate information. Microbial-growth patterns, inhibition zones, and interactions between antibiotic disks support the comparison of observed images with simulated growth.
Claims Coverage
The patent identifies four independent claims: a method, a non-transitory computer medium, and two system configurations for image-based antibiotic susceptibility testing.
Image-based antibiotic susceptibility testing method
Claim 1 covers comparing first and second image data of an inoculated culture plate captured at separate times to generate pixel characteristic data indicative of microbial growth, accessing growth modeling data, generating simulated image data, and identifying pixel regions that differ between the simulated and observed data.
Programming instructions on a computer medium
Claim 22 covers a non-transitory computer medium containing programming instructions that control a processor to store culture plate information, process images captured at separate times, generate pixel characteristic data, access growth modeling data, generate simulated image data, and identify differing pixel regions.
System with an image sensor and computer medium
Claim 23 covers a system comprising an image sensor, a processor, and a computer medium containing programming instructions to compare images captured at separate times, generate pixel characteristic data indicative of microbial growth, use stored culture plate information and growth modeling data to generate simulated image data, and identify differing pixel regions.
System modeling microbial growth in relation to antibiotic disks
Claim 24 covers a system comprising an image sensor, a processor, and a memory storing information associated with the culture plate, where the processor generates pixel characteristic data from images captured at different times, models microbial growth as a function of culture media, microorganism, antibiotic, and antibiotic concentration, and compares simulated image data with pixel characteristic data to identify differing pixel regions.
The four independent claims cover image-based antibiotic susceptibility testing through temporal image comparison, growth modeling, simulated image generation, and identification of regions where observed and simulated data differ, embodied as a method, computer medium, or system.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Antibiotic susceptibility testing of an inoculated culture plate containing culture media and antibiotic disks, including modeling microbial growth and comparing observed image data with simulated growth.
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