JPH09187270A - Analysis of bacteria and device for analyzing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately count the number of bacterial colonies formed in a culture medium layer after culture. SOLUTION: A culture medium containing agar and a specimen are injected into a plate 1, and subsequently hardened to form a specimen culture medium layer 73. The initial state of the specimen culture layer 73 is read with an image scanner 68, and the image data are memorized in a memorizing means. The plate 1 is carried into a culture section, and subsequently subjected to the culture of the specimen. After the culture, the culture state is read with an image scanner 68 and memorized as image data. The image data of the initial state and the image data after the culture are compared with each other to analyze the multiplication state of the bacteria.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing bacteria present in water, sewage, food, etc.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-225753, an agar medium layer is formed by injecting a drug and an agar solution into a petri dish and curing them.
The agar medium layer is inoculated with a test bacterium, the test bacterium is stored in a culture container for a predetermined time and cultured, and then the efficacy of the drug is analyzed by observing the growth state of the test bacterium. Is being done. In addition, an agar medium layer is formed by injecting and curing an agar solution and a bacterial solution into a petri dish, and the agar medium layer is stored in a culture container for a predetermined time and cultured, and then in the agar medium layer. The number of formed bacterial colonies is detected and counted, and the number of viable bacteria contained in a sample composed of the above-mentioned bacterial solution is determined based on the number of colonies.

[0003]

According to the constitution in which the bacteria present in the sample are analyzed on the basis of the number of colonies of the bacteria formed in the agar medium as described above, the above agar is used. If impurities such as food degradation products are mixed when creating the medium layer, it is difficult to distinguish the above-mentioned impurities from the bacterial colonies when counting the number of bacterial colonies, and the impurities are bacteria. There is a problem that it is erroneously detected as a colony of a type and an analysis error is likely to occur.

Further, when bacteria are analyzed by the above-mentioned culture, it is necessary to uniformly set the culture time. Therefore, at the time when a preset time has elapsed from the start of the culture, the culture container is always removed. There is a problem in that it is necessary to take out a petri dish and perform operations such as counting the number of bacterial colonies, and the time management of the operations is complicated.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for analyzing bacteria, which can easily and accurately count the number of colonies of bacteria formed in a medium layer after culturing. It is provided.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
After forming a sample medium layer by injecting and curing a medium solution containing agar in a Petri dish and curing it, the initial state of this sample medium layer is read by an image scanner and the image data is stored in a storage means. In addition, after carrying out the culture by bringing the dish into the culture section, the state after the culture is read by an image scanner to store the image data in the storage means, and the image data in the initial state and the culture from the storage means. It is configured to analyze the breeding state of bacteria by comparing it with the subsequent image data.

According to the above construction, the image data of the initial state of the sample medium layer stored in the storage means and the image data after the culture are read out at any time and compared,
The number of colonies formed by the propagation of bacteria present in the sample medium layer is counted, and based on this, the breeding state of the bacteria and analysis of the bacteria present in the sample are properly performed. Will be seen.

The invention according to claim 2 is the method for analyzing bacteria according to claim 1, wherein a medium solution containing agar is injected into the petri dish and cured to form a basal medium layer. It is configured to form a sample medium layer by injecting a medium solution containing agar and a sample on the basal medium layer and curing the sample.

According to the above construction, the lower surface of the sample medium layer is covered with the basal medium layer, and colonies of bacteria and the like are formed in an appropriate state between the sample medium layer and the basal medium layer. By capturing the image with an image scanner and reading the image data, the breeding state of bacteria and the like can be accurately analyzed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for analyzing bacteria according to the first or second aspect, the initial image and the image after the culture of the sample medium layer are read by an image scanner from the back side of the petri dish. It was done.

According to the above construction, the initial state of the sample medium layer and the state after culturing are accurately photographed by the image scanner and the image data is read, without being affected by water droplets or the like attached to the lid of the petri dish. Therefore, the breeding state of bacteria and the like can be accurately analyzed based on this image data.

[0014] The invention according to claim 4 is the above-mentioned claims 1-3.
In the analysis method of bacteria according to any one of, in addition to counting the number of impurities present in the sample medium layer based on the image data of the initial state stored in the storage means, based on the image data after culture After counting the number of impurities present in the sample medium layer and the number of bacterial colonies, the number of impurities based on the image data after the above culture and the count value of the number of bacterial colonies were used to determine the impurities based on the data of the initial image. By subtracting the count value, the number of bacterial colonies formed in the sample medium layer is calculated.

According to the above construction, when the sample medium layer is formed, the image data after the culture and the image in the initial state read by the image scanner are not affected by the impurities mixed in the sample medium layer. The number of colonies of bacteria formed by culturing the bacteria present in the sample is accurately calculated based on the data, and the breeding state of the bacteria is appropriately analyzed based on this number of colonies. It will be.

In the invention according to claim 5, the sample medium layer formed by injecting a medium solution containing agar together with the sample into the petri dish and curing the image is photographed of the initial state and the state after culturing, and an image thereof is taken. An image scanner for reading data, a storage means for storing the data read by the image scanner, an initial state image data of the sample medium layer read from the storage means, and image data after culturing, the sample medium layer Counting means for counting the number of impurities and the number of bacterial colonies mixed in each, and by subtracting the count value in the initial state from the count value after culturing counted by this count means, in the sample medium layer And a calculating means for calculating the number of formed colonies of bacteria.

According to the above construction, the image data in the initial state of the sample medium layer read by the image scanner and the image data after the culture are stored in the storage means, and the image data read out from the storage means is stored in the image data. Based on this, the number of impurities and the number of bacterial colonies mixed in the sample medium layer are counted by the counting means. Then, the count value after the culture counted by this counting means, that is, from the total number of the number of impurities mixed in the sample medium layer and the number of bacterial colonies formed in the sample medium layer by the culture The count value of the initial state counted by the counting means, that is, by subtracting the number of impurities mixed during the formation of the sample medium layer, the number of colonies of bacteria formed in the sample medium layer is accurately determined. It is calculated, and based on the number of colonies, the breeding state of bacteria is properly analyzed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for analyzing bacteria according to the present invention. This analyzer is provided with a sample injection unit 2 for injecting a sample to be analyzed into the Petri dish 1.
And a medium layer forming part 3 for forming a medium layer in the dish 1.
A petri dish transporting section 4 for transporting the dish 1, a culture section 5 for culturing the sample by holding the dish 1 at a predetermined temperature, a data reading section 6 for reading the image data of the sample, and this data reading The data processing unit 7 processes the data read by the unit 6.

In the sample injection section 2, a sample container 8 consisting of a sample bottle or bag filled with a sample to be analyzed is provided.
Storage section 9, a storage section 11 for a chip 10 used when injecting the sample in the sample container 8 into the dish 1, a chip collection section 12 for collecting the chip 10 removed after use, and the dish 1 A sample injection means 13 for injecting the sample in the sample container 8 is provided therein. The sample injecting means 13 is slidably driven in the vertical direction (Y1 direction) in the figure by a first driving means 14 having a servomotor as a driving source, and is vertically moved by a second driving means 15 and a third driving means. By means 16 the lateral direction (X1
Direction).

The sample injection means 13 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
As shown in FIG.
8, a pipette 19 supported by the support arm 18, and a suction rod 2 provided on the pipette 19.
Push cylinder 21 that pushes down 0 and the above pipette 1
Tip ejector 22 slidably supported on 9
And an eject cylinder 23 for driving the tip ejector 22. And the pipette 1
After the tip 10 is attached to the tip of the suction rod 20, the lower end of the tip 10 is inserted into the sample container 8 with the suction rod 20 being pushed downward by the push cylinder 21. By releasing the pressed state, a predetermined amount of sample is sucked into the chip 10.

After pushing the suction rod 20 downward by the push cylinder 21 to inject the sample in the chip 10 into the Petri dish 1, the sample injecting means 13 is moved to the chip collecting section 12 to eject the sample. By pushing the tip ejector 22 downward by the cylinder 23, the tip 10 attached to the lower end of the pipette 19 is removed, and the tip 10 is discarded in the container provided in the tip collecting section 12. It has become.

In addition, in the medium layer forming section 3, a solution injecting means 24 for injecting a predetermined amount of an agar-containing medium solution into the dish 1 and the dish 1 by rotating the dish 1 are injected. A stirring means 25 for stirring the sample and the culture medium solution is provided.

The solution injecting means 24 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, an Erlenmeyer flask 26 containing a medium solution formed by dissolving agar in an aqueous solution, an air pump 27 that pushes out and discharges the medium solution in the Erlenmeyer flask 26, and a pump that drives the air pump 27. The drive unit 28, the nozzle 29 for injecting the culture medium solution discharged by the air pump 27 into the dish 1, the waste liquid container 30 for storing the culture medium solution dropped from the nozzle 29, and the retracted position shown by the solid line in FIG. Some nozzle 29
, A nozzle driving means 31 composed of a screw feeding mechanism for moving the medium to an installation portion of the petri dish 1 indicated by phantom lines, a water bath 32 having a heater for keeping the culture medium solution in the Erlenmeyer flask 26 at a predetermined temperature, and this water bath. It is constituted by an up-and-down drive means 33 including a jack mechanism that drives up and down 32.

The pump drive section 28 is an air pump 27.
Push plate 35 for pushing the drive rod 34 of
A screw shaft 36 for screw-feeding the pushing plate 35 up and down, and an electric motor 37 for rotationally driving the screw shaft 36.
And a guide bar 38 that supports the pushing plate 35 so as to be able to move up and down. Then, the electric motor 37
When the screw shaft 36 is driven to rotate by the screw shaft 36, the pushing plate 35 is moved up and down along the guide bar 38 to push the driving rod 34, and the Erlenmeyer flask 26
The medium solution in the inside is pushed out by the air pump 27 and injected into the dish 1 from the nozzle 29.

When the pushing plate 35 is driven up and down as described above, the lowered position of the pushing plate 35 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the electric motor 37 is actuated according to the output signal of the sensor. Is stopped, the amount of the medium solution injected is controlled to a constant amount, or the amount of rotation of the electric motor 37 is controlled in accordance with a control signal output from a control means (not shown). The injection amount of the culture medium solution will be controlled to a predetermined amount.

As shown in FIG. 6, the stirring means 25 is attached to the planetary gear 40, which is rotatably supported by a support shaft 40a provided on the rotary plate 39, and the upper surface of the planetary gear 40. A mounting table 41 and a torque motor 42 that rotationally drives the rotary plate 39.
A rodless air cylinder 43 for moving the installation position of the torque motor 42, and the rodless cylinder 4
A support shaft 45 protruding from the slide plate 44 of No. 3 and penetrating the central portion of the torque motor 42;
5 has a sun gear 46 fixed to the upper end thereof, and the planet gear 40 is meshed with the sun gear 46.

Then, as the rotary plate 39 is rotationally driven by the torque motor 42, the planetary gear 40 is rotated along the peripheral surface of the sun gear 46, and the planetary gear 40 is supported by the support shaft 40a as a fulcrum. Rotates, whereby the petri dish 1 placed on the placing table 41 simultaneously performs the revolution movement and the rotation movement. Also,
Stirring means 25 installed on the slide plate 44
Is slidably displaced according to the driving force of the rodless air cylinder 43, so that the petri dish 1 placed on the placing table 41 of the stirring means 25 is transferred from the medium layer forming section 3 to the petri dish transport section 4. It is designed to be transported.

As shown in FIG. 1, the petri dish carrying section 4 includes a petri dish gripping section 47 for gripping the petri dish 1, a servo motor for sliding the petri dish gripping section 47 in the vertical direction (Y2 direction) in the drawing, and the like. Drive means for driving the petri dish gripper 47, second drive means 49 for raising and lowering the petri dish gripper 47, and third drive means for sliding the petri dish gripper 47 in the lateral direction (X2 direction) in the drawing. Fifty
And a petri dish support section 52 having a plurality of petri dish mounting bases, and a petri dish inverting means 53 for inverting the petri dish 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the petri dish gripping portion 47 is a robot hand having a pair of nipping arms 54 for nipping the sides of the petri dish 1 and opening / closing drive means 55 for driving the nipping arms 54 to open and close. According to the driving force of the opening / closing drive means 55, the gripping arm 54 is displaced between a gripping position where the side portion of the petri dish 1 is sandwiched and a release state in which the gripping arm 54 is separated from the petri dish 1 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. By doing so, the petri dish 1 is configured to be detachably held.

The petri dish inverting means 53 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a bottom surface support portion 57 provided with a vacuum pad 56 having a predetermined suction force, an air cylinder 59 for vertically moving a pressure contact plate 58 pressed against the upper surface of the petri dish 1, the bottom surface support portion 57 and Pressure plate 5
A rotation support portion 60 that rotatably supports 8 and a drive motor 61 that rotationally drives the bottom surface support portion 57 and the pressure contact plate 58 are provided. Then, the bottom surface of the petri dish 1 is adsorbed to the vacuum pad 56, and the bottom plate support portion 57 and the press contact plate 58 are held by the drive motor 61 while the press plate 58 is pressed against the top surface of the petri dish 1 to hold the petri dish 1. The petri dish 1 is turned upside down by rotationally driving.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the culture section 5 has a culture case 63 having an opening 62 of a predetermined width formed on its wall surface, and a rotary shaft 64 rotatably supported by the culture case 63. A torque motor 65 that drives the rotary shaft 64 to rotate; a plurality of upper and lower turntables 66 attached to the rotary shaft 64; a slide door 67 that closes the opening 62 of the culture case 63; The door 67 has a drive cylinder and the like (not shown) that slides and displaces the door 67 to open and close the opening 62.

Then, in a state where the slide door 67 is slid and displaced to the open position, the petri dish grasping portion 4 of the transfer means 51 is inserted into the culture case 63 through the opening 62.
The petri dish 1 is placed on the turntable 66 or the petri dish 1 placed on the turntable 66 is taken out by inserting 7 into the turntable 66.
Further, the torque motor 65 rotationally drives the rotary shaft 64 and the turntable 66 to change the mounting position and the take-out position of the petri dish 1.

Further, the data reading section 6 is provided with an image scanner 68 for reading the image data by photographing the initial state and the state after the culture of the sample medium layer formed in the Petri dish 1, and the image scanner 68 is installed. The data read by is output to the data processing unit 7. The image scanner 68 includes an irradiation light source for irradiating a subject with light, has a resolution superior to that of a normal CCD camera, and has a shallow depth of field. That is, when the whole image of the petri dish 1 is captured at one time, the resolution is about 0.5 mm in a normal NTSC CCD camera, whereas in the present invention, the resolution is about 0.085 mm (300 dots / inch). ) The image scanner 68 set below is used.

As shown in FIG. 11, the data processing unit 7 stores the storage means 69 for storing the image data read by the image scanner 68 and the initial state of the sample medium layer output from the storage means 69. From the image data and the image data after culture, counting means 70 for counting the number of impurities and the number of bacterial colonies mixed in the sample medium layer, respectively, and the counted value after culture counted by this counting means 70 A calculation means 71 for calculating the number of colonies of bacteria formed in the sample medium layer by subtracting the count value in the initial state, and a display means 75 for displaying the data calculated by the calculation means 71 are provided. Has been.

The counting means 70 detects E. coli colonies and the like formed in the sample medium layer based on the size and color of the image data read by the image scanner 68, and counts the number thereof. It is configured to detect impurities having a size and color similar to those of E. coli colonies and to count the number.

A method for analyzing bacteria using the above analyzer will be described below. First, the Erlenmeyer flask 26 of the culture medium layer forming unit 3 is filled with agar and an aqueous solution and kept at a predetermined temperature to dissolve the agar to form a culture medium solution, and the empty petri dish 1 is stored in a predetermined storage unit. For example, it includes a setting operation of the empty petri dish 1 which is set on the turntable 66 of the culture section 5, a setting operation of the chip 10 in the accommodation section 11 of the sample injection section 2, and a setting operation of the sample container 8 in the storage section 9. After doing the preparatory work,
At the start of analysis, the dish 1 with the lid removed is set on the mounting table 41 of the stirring means 25 provided in the medium layer forming section 3.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), a predetermined amount of the medium solution is injected into the dish 1 from the nozzle 29 of the solution injecting means 24 provided in the medium layer forming part 3 and the lid is closed. After that, the torque motor 42 of the stirring means 25 is operated, and the petri dish 1 placed on the placing table 41 is revolved while revolving, thereby rotating the petri dish 1 described above.
Spread the medium solution to a uniform thickness throughout. Then
After the petri dish 1 is covered, the petri dish 1 is transferred onto the petri dish support part 52 by the transfer means 51 provided in the petri dish transport part 4 and held for a predetermined time (5 to 10 minutes). As shown in FIG. 12 (b), the basal medium layer 7 is formed on the bottom of the dish 1 by hardening the medium solution.
Form 2

A predetermined number of petri dishes 1 are installed on the petri dish support portion 52 by sequentially performing the work of forming the basal medium layer 72. Then, when it is confirmed that the basal medium layer 72 is formed by hardening the medium solution,
The petri dish 1 is transferred onto the mounting table 41 of the stirring means 25 by the transfer means 51, and as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, after the tip 10 is attached to the pipette 19 of the sample injection means 13, the sample injection means 13 is moved to the storage part of the sample container 8 and a predetermined amount of sample is sucked into the tip 10.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12 (d), the sample injection means 13 is moved to the installation part of the dish 1 to inject the sample in the chip 10 onto the basal medium layer 72 in the dish 1, and After injecting a predetermined amount of the medium solution onto the basal medium layer 72 by the solution injecting means 24, the petri dish 1 is driven by the agitating means 25 to agitate the sample and the medium solution. Then, the petri dish 1 is transferred onto the petri dish support portion 52 and held for a predetermined time (5 to 10 minutes) to cure the medium solution to form a basal medium as shown in FIG. 12 (e). A sample medium layer 73 is formed on the layer 72.

When the injection work of the sample is completed, the tip ejector 22 is operated by the eject cylinder 23 of the injection means 13 to remove the tip 10 from the pipette 19 and discard it in the tip recovery section 12. Then, when it is confirmed that the culture medium solution is cured and the sample culture medium layer 73 is formed, the petri dish 1 is transferred to the mounting table 41 of the stirring means 25 by the transfer means 51, and the inside of the petri dish 1 is transferred. After injecting a predetermined amount of the culture medium solution onto the sample culture medium layer 73 formed in the above by the solution injecting means 24, the petri dish 1 is driven by the agitating means 25 to agitate the culture medium solution. Then, the dish 1
Is transferred onto the petri dish support portion 52, and a predetermined time (5-10
12F, the medium solution is cured to form a coated medium layer 74 on the sample medium layer 73, as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (g), after the petri dish 1 is transferred onto the data reading section 6 by the transfer means 51, the image scanner 68 provided in the data reading section 6 causes the sample medium to be transferred. The initial state of the layer 73 is photographed from the back side of the petri dish 1 and its image data is read, and this image data is output to the storage means 69 provided in the image processing section 7 and stored therein.

After that, the petri dish 1 is transferred to the installation portion of the petri dish reversing means 53, and the petri dish 1 is turned upside down by the petri dish reversing means 53. Then, as shown in FIG. It is carried into the culture case 63 of the culture section 5 by 51, and the turntable 66
The bottom of the dish 1 is placed on top of the dish.

Then, the dish 1 is placed in the culture case 66.
Within a predetermined time (for example, 20 to 40)
After culturing for 1 hour, the petri dish 1 is transferred to the data reading section 6 while the bottom of the petri dish 1 is positioned downward by reversing the petri dish 1 by the front and back reversing means 53. The sample medium layer 73 is photographed by the image scanner 68 to read its image data, and this image data is output to the storage means 69 and stored therein.

Then, the image data stored in the storage means 69 is output to the counting means 70, and based on the image data in the initial state, the counting means 70 detects impurities mixed in the sample medium layer 73. The number is counted. Further, based on the image data after culturing, impurities and colonies of bacteria present in the sample medium layer are detected and the number thereof is counted. Then, in the calculating means 71, the count value of the impurities based on the data of the initial image is calculated from the count values of the number of impurities and the number of colonies of bacteria based on the image data after the culture in accordance with the output signal of the counting means 70. By subtracting, the number of bacterial colonies formed in the sample medium layer is calculated, and this data is output to the display means 75 and displayed as necessary.

As described above, after the sample medium layer 73 is formed by injecting the medium solution containing agar and the sample into the Petri dish 1 and curing the sample solution, the initial state of the sample medium layer 73 is imaged by the image scanner 68. The image data is photographed and read, the image data is stored in the storage unit 69, and the petri dish 1 is carried into the culture unit 5 and cultured, and the state after the culture is image scanner 68.
Since the image data is captured by, and the image data is stored in the storage unit 69,
The breeding state of bacteria can be easily and accurately analyzed based on the image data in the initial state read out from the storage unit 69 at an arbitrary time and the image data after culture.

For example, when analyzing the breeding state of E. coli present in a sample such as food, the sample medium layer 73
13, when it is inevitable that impurities A such as decomposed products of food or air bubbles are mixed in the sample medium layer 73, the image data in the initial state The impurity A is detected by the counting means 70 and the number thereof is measured.

When colonies are formed by the propagation of Escherichia coli in the sample, impurities A and E. coli colonies B are mixed in the sample medium layer 73 as shown in FIG. After counting the number of A and the number of E. coli colonies B based on the image data after the culture, based on the image data in the initial state from the total number of the number of impurities A and the number of E. coli colonies B. By subtracting the counted number of impurities A, it is possible to calculate the number of E. coli colonies B formed by the above E. coli breeding.

Therefore, the counting means 70 does not require the complicated work of selecting and counting the E. coli colony B and the impurity A, and the E. coli colony B is read based on the image data read from the storage means 69.
It is possible to accurately and accurately calculate the number of samples by the calculating means 71, and easily and appropriately analyze whether or not bacteria are present in the sample according to the calculated data. Moreover, even if the installation angle of the dish 1 changes between the time of reading the image data in the initial state and the time of reading the image data after the culture, the count data of the counting means 70 is not affected at all. Accordingly, the number of E. coli colonies B can be easily and accurately counted.

Further, since the image data read by the image scanner 68 can be stored in the storage means 69, the storage data of the storage means 69 is read out at any time to count the number of colonies. And so on. Therefore, the analysis work can be performed at an arbitrary time without limiting the execution time of the work of analyzing the culture state of bacteria as in the past.

In the above embodiment, after the medium solution containing agar is injected into the dish 1 and cured to form the basal medium layer 72, a medium solution containing agar is formed on the basal medium layer 72. Since the sample medium layer 73 is formed by injecting and curing the sample, and the coated medium layer 74 is formed on the sample medium layer 73, the medium layer has a three-layer structure. , The bacteria located at the lower end of the sample medium layer 73,
And the basal medium layer 72 can be propagated in an appropriate state, and colonies of bacteria can be accurately counted.

That is, when the sample medium layer is formed directly on the bottom surface of the dish 1 without providing the basal medium layer, the bacteria located at the lower end of the sample medium layer are In the narrow space between the bottom and the bottom, it is unavoidable that the strain propagates in a distorted shape, and the colonies of the above-mentioned bacteria are apt to be erroneously detected. On the other hand, when the basal medium layer 72 is disposed below the sample medium layer 73 as described above, the presence of the basal medium layer 72 prevents bacteria located at the lower end of the sample medium layer 73 from being in an appropriate state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the above-mentioned colonies and to accurately count the number of bacterial colonies.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image scanner 68 reads the initial image and the image after the culture of the sample medium layer 73 from the back surface side of the dish 1, so that water droplets or the like attached to the lid of the dish 1 may be read. It is possible to accurately photograph the initial state of the sample medium layer 73 and the state after culturing by the image scanner 68 and read the image data appropriately without being affected by. Therefore, in order to eliminate the influence of the water droplets, the petri dish 1
The image data can be read accurately without the need for complicated operations such as removing the lid of the device and reading the image data. In addition, bacteria in the air are mixed in the medium layer due to the removal of the lid. By doing so, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection.

In the above embodiment, the number of impurities existing in the sample culture medium layer 73 is counted based on the image data of the initial state stored in the storage means 69, and the sample is sampled based on the image data after the culture. After counting the number of impurities and colonies of bacteria present in the medium layer 73, the number of impurities and the number of colonies of bacteria based on the image data after the culture is subtracted from the number of impurities based on the data of the initial image. By doing so, an example in which the number of colonies of bacteria formed in the sample medium layer 73 is calculated by the calculating means 71 has been described, but it is displayed according to the image data read from the storage means 69. Means 7
An image of the sample culture medium layer 73 may be displayed on the screen 5, and the breeding state of the bacteria may be analyzed based on the image by a means such as visual inspection by an operator.

[0052]

As described above, in the invention according to claim 1, after the medium solution containing the agar and the sample are poured and cured to form the sample medium layer, the sample medium layer is formed on the sample medium layer. A coated medium layer is formed by injecting and hardening a medium solution containing agar into the medium, and the initial state of the sample medium layer is read by an image scanner to store the image data in a storage means, and the sample medium layer is also stored. After culturing the bacteria in the inside, read the state after culturing with an image scanner and store the image data, and compare the image data in the initial state with the image data after culturing to reproduce the bacteria. Since it is configured to analyze the state, it is possible to read the stored data of the storage means at any time and analyze the image data. Therefore, without requiring complicated time management, the number of colonies and the like formed by the propagation of bacteria present in the sample is accurately counted, and the breeding state of the bacteria based on the counted data. In addition to being able to properly analyze, it is possible to easily and accurately analyze whether or not bacteria are present in the sample.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is to form a basal medium layer by injecting and hardening a medium solution containing agar into a petri dish, and then to the medium solution containing agar on the basal medium layer. And, by forming a sample medium layer by injecting and curing the sample, and configured to cover the lower surface of the sample medium layer by the basal medium layer, bacteria located at the lower end of the sample medium layer, It can be propagated in an appropriate state between the sample medium layer and the basal medium layer. Therefore, without providing the basal medium layer, as in the case where it is configured to directly form a sample medium layer on the bottom of the dish, bacteria located at the lower end of the sample medium layer and the bottom of the dish. Within the narrow gap between
There is an advantage that erroneous detection of colonies due to breeding in a distorted shape can be reliably prevented, and thus the above-mentioned bacteria can be accurately analyzed.

In the invention according to claim 3, since the initial image of the sample medium layer and the image after culturing are photographed by the image scanner from the back side of the petri dish and the image data is read, the lid of the petri dish is read. The initial state of the sample medium layer and the state after culturing can be accurately photographed by an image scanner and the image data can be properly read without being affected by water droplets or the like attached to the body. Therefore, the image data can be accurately read without requiring complicated work such as removing the lid of the petri dish and reading the image data in order to eliminate the influence of the water droplets. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection due to the inclusion of various bacteria in the air in the medium layer.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the number of impurities existing in the sample medium layer is counted based on the image data in the initial state stored in the storage means, and based on the image data after culturing. After counting the number of impurities and colonies of bacteria present in the sample medium layer, the total number of impurities and the number of colonies of bacteria based on the image data after the above culture were used to calculate the impurities based on the data of the initial image. Since the number of bacterial colonies formed in the sample medium layer was calculated by subtracting the numerical value,
The number of colonies of bacteria formed by culturing the bacteria present in the sample without being affected by the impurities mixed in the sample medium layer, and the image after the culture read by an image scanner. Accurately calculated based on the data and the image data of the initial state, it is possible to properly analyze the breeding state of bacteria based on the number of colonies, and according to this breeding state, the bacteria in the sample It is possible to accurately perform an analysis such as whether or not exists.

In the invention according to claim 5, the sample medium layer formed by injecting a medium solution containing agar together with the sample into the petri dish and curing the sample is photographed in the initial state and after the culture. An image scanner for reading image data, a storage means for storing the image data read by the image scanner, the sample medium from the image data of the initial state of the sample medium layer output from the storage means and the image data after culturing In the sample medium layer by counting means for counting the number of impurities mixed in the layer and the number of colonies of bacteria, respectively, and subtracting the count value in the initial state from the count value after culturing counted by this counting means Since a calculating means for calculating the number of bacterial colonies formed in the above is provided, the colony calculated by this calculating means is It is possible to properly analyze the growth state of the bacteria on the basis of the number, there is an advantage that can perform accurate analysis as to whether bacteria in the sample is present.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an apparatus for analyzing bacteria according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a specific configuration of sample injection means.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a specific configuration of sample injection means.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a specific configuration of a solution injection means.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a specific configuration of a solution injection means.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific configuration of stirring means.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a specific configuration of a petri dish holding portion.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a specific configuration of a petri dish inverting means.

FIG. 9 is a front cross-sectional view showing a specific structure of a culture section.

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view showing a specific structure of a culture section.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a data processing unit.

FIG. 12 is a process drawing showing an embodiment of a method for analyzing bacteria according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an initial state of a sample medium layer.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state after culture of the sample medium layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Petri dish 68 Image scanner 69 Storage means 70 Counting means 71 Calculation means 72 Basal medium layer 73 Sample medium layer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Ito 1-23-135 Kusatsushinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City Nishinichi Think Tank Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sample medium layer is formed by injecting and curing a medium solution containing agar in a petri dish and curing the sample, and then the initial state of the sample medium layer is read by an image scanner to obtain image data thereof. While storing in the storage means, after carrying out the culture by bringing the dish into the culture section, the state after the culture is read by an image scanner to store the image data in the storage means,
A method for analyzing bacteria, characterized in that the image data in the initial state and the image data after culturing are read out from the storage means and are compared to analyze the breeding state of the bacteria. 2. A basal medium layer is formed by injecting and hardening a medium solution containing agar into a petri dish, and then a medium solution containing agar and a sample are injected onto this basal medium layer. The method for analyzing bacteria according to claim 1, wherein the sample medium layer is formed by curing. 3. The method for analyzing bacteria according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the initial state of the sample medium layer and the state after culturing are read by an image scanner from the back side of the petri dish. 4. The number of impurities present in the sample medium layer is counted based on the image data in the initial state stored in the storage means, and the impurities present in the sample medium layer based on the image data after culturing. After counting the number of bacteria and the number of colonies of bacteria, by subtracting the count of impurities based on the data of the initial image from the count of the number of impurities and the number of colonies of bacteria based on the image data after the culture, 4. The number of bacterial colonies formed in the sample medium layer is calculated so as to be calculated.
The method for analyzing bacteria according to any one of 1. 5. An image scanner for photographing an initial state and a state after culturing of a sample medium layer formed by injecting and curing a medium solution containing agar together with a sample into a Petri dish and reading image data thereof. A storage means for storing the data read by the image scanner, and an impurity mixed in the sample culture medium layer based on the image data of the initial state of the sample culture medium layer read out from the storage medium and the image data after the culture. Of the bacteria formed in the sample medium layer by subtracting the count value in the initial state from the count value after culturing, which is counted by the counting means and the number of colonies of bacteria, respectively. An apparatus for analyzing bacteria, comprising: a calculating means for calculating the number of colonies.