An integrated instrument for bacteria liquid preparation, coating, patching and measurement for drug sensitivity test

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of clinical examination equipment, in particular to a bacteria liquid configuration, coating, patch and measurement integrated instrument for drug sensitivity test, comprising: a flat plate bearing and positioning module, used for bearing and positioning drug sensitivity culture medium flat plates in the pre-culture treatment stage, and resetting and positioning the same drug sensitivity culture medium flat plates in the post-culture reading stage; a batched pure flat plate supply module, used for loading multiple pure cultured strain flat plates at a time, and sequentially feeding the strain flat plates to be configured with bacteria liquid into a colony recognition working position; an automatic bacteria liquid configuration module, used for recognizing whether the strain flat plate is a bacteria flat plate in the colony recognition working position, and automatically recognizing a single colony or receiving a manually marked selected colony from the strain flat plate, and transferring the single colony to a sterile bacteria liquid suspension tube containing a suspension liquid; the present application is used for improving the automation degree and standardization level of drug sensitivity test.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clinical testing equipment technology, specifically to an integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug sensitivity testing. Background Technology

[0002] Bacterial susceptibility testing is an important component of clinical anti-infective therapy and microbiological laboratory testing. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method (hereinafter referred to as the disk diffusion method) has advantages such as low cost, mature methodology, intuitive results, and wide applicability. It is widely used in tests such as E. coli susceptibility testing, and remains an important method for susceptibility testing, especially in primary healthcare institutions, small laboratories, teaching laboratories, supplementary susceptibility testing, detection of specific antimicrobial drugs, and verification of results from automated instruments. The disk diffusion method typically involves selecting a single colony from a purified culture plate, adding it to a suspension to prepare a standardized bacterial suspension (e.g., a 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard bacterial suspension), evenly spreading the suspension on the surface of the culture plate, placing susceptibility test discs on top, incubating, measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone, and interpreting the results.

[0003] However, in existing disc diffusion methods, single colony selection, bacterial suspension preparation, bacterial suspension coating, placement of antimicrobial susceptibility testing discs, and inhibition zone measurement are largely performed manually. Manual operation presents several problems: In bacterial suspension preparation, manual selection of colonies and preparation of 0.5 McFarland turbidity bacterial suspensions are easily influenced by operator experience and turbidimetric methods, leading to poor consistency in bacterial suspension concentration. In the coating stage, manual coating is easily affected by operational techniques, resulting in uneven bacterial film distribution and impacting the accuracy of antimicrobial susceptibility results. In the disc placement stage, manually placing each antimicrobial susceptibility testing disc is time-consuming, and disc spacing and edge distances may deviate, failing to meet standardized operational requirements. In the measurement stage, manual measurement of inhibition zone diameter is easily influenced by reading habits, boundary judgment, and recording methods, leading to insufficient objectivity in the measurement results. In the existing process, template selection and editing, specimen information binding, and result feedback largely rely on manual recording, which may also present challenges in traceability and the risk of data entry errors.

[0004] Therefore, this invention proposes an integrated instrument for the preparation, coating, patching, and measurement of bacterial solutions for drug sensitivity testing that maintains the basic detection principle of the paper diffusion method and clinical usage habits. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing, thereby improving the automation and standardization of drug susceptibility testing.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: an integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing, comprising:

[0007] The plate support and positioning module is used to support and position the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate during the pre-culture treatment stage, and to reset and position the same antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate during the post-culture reading stage.

[0008] The batch purification plate supply module is used to load multiple purified and cultured bacterial strain plates at one time, and sequentially send the bacterial strain plates to be prepared into the colony recognition workstation.

[0009] The automatic bacterial suspension preparation module is used to identify whether the bacterial plate is a bacterial plate at the colony identification workstation, and to automatically identify a single colony from the bacterial plate or receive a manually labeled colony. The single colony is transferred to a sterile bacterial suspension tube containing the suspension, and a standardized bacterial suspension that meets the requirements of the paper disc diffusion method drug susceptibility test is prepared by colorimetric or absorbance detection.

[0010] The bacterial suspension addition and coating module is used to add standardized bacterial suspension to the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the suction mechanism of the sterile pipette tip, and then coat the standardized bacterial suspension onto the surface of the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the sterile coating sheet.

[0011] The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module includes several drug sensitivity test strip compartments for loading and storing drug sensitivity test strips. Each drug sensitivity test strip compartment is set with the corresponding drug name, strip size and strip balance through a control display unit. The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module automatically selects the drug sensitivity test strips of the corresponding compartment according to the drug sensitivity template, and places the drug sensitivity test strips on the surface of the culture medium coated with bacterial suspension according to the strip type, number and placement position determined by the drug sensitivity template.

[0012] The information interaction and barcode module is used to scan the purified strain plates and obtain specimen information from the laboratory information system, or to receive manually entered barcode information and obtain specimen information accordingly; it is also used to generate and print the corresponding drug susceptibility plate barcode, attach the drug susceptibility plate barcode to the identifiable edge area of ​​the drug susceptibility culture medium plate, identify the drug susceptibility plate barcode during the post-incubation reading stage, and transmit the measurement results back to the laboratory information system;

[0013] The editable drug sensitivity template module is used for manually selecting or instrument-suggested drug sensitivity templates, and for adding, editing, copying, saving or calling drug sensitivity templates;

[0014] The image acquisition module is used to acquire images of the culture medium plates after they have been cultured in an external incubator.

[0015] The inhibition zone measurement and analysis module is used to identify the location of the antimicrobial susceptibility test strips and the boundary of the inhibition zone based on the image of the culture medium plate, and to calculate the diameter of the inhibition zone of the corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility test strip.

[0016] The control module is used to control the operation of each module and associate the specimen information, bacterial culture preparation records, drug sensitivity templates, pre-culture patch coordinates and post-culture image measurement coordinates.

[0017] Furthermore, the plate-bearing positioning module includes a culture dish tray, a clamping positioning component, and a central calibration structure; the central calibration structure is used to align the center of the culture medium plate with the coating coordinates, patch coordinates, and image measurement coordinates, and is also used for repeated positioning after the culture medium plate is retrieved from the external incubator.

[0018] Furthermore, the batch purification plate supply module includes a purification plate buffer position, a current colony recognition working position, and a plate transfer mechanism. The purification plate buffer position is used to place the purified cultured strain plates, and the plate transfer mechanism is used to move the strain plates to be configured from the purification plate buffer position to the current colony recognition working position, and after the bacterial solution is configured, move the strain plates out of the current colony recognition working position.

[0019] The batch flat plate supply module is one or more of the following: drawer-type flat plate rack, stack-type flat plate rack, turntable flat plate rack, conveyor belt type flat plate rack, or robotic arm transfer type flat plate rack.

[0020] Furthermore, the automatic bacterial solution preparation module includes a bacterial plate recognition unit, a colony selection unit, a bacterial picking robotic arm, a disposable bacterial picking needle or picking loop, a suspension tube mixing mechanism, and an absorbance detection unit;

[0021] The bacterial plate identification unit is used to determine whether there are bacterial colonies on the plate on the plate carrier positioning module;

[0022] The colony selection unit is used to automatically select a single colony that meets preset conditions from the strain plate image or to receive colonies manually marked by the operator on the display interface;

[0023] The absorbance detection unit includes a colorimetric light source, a detection optical path, and a photodetector. The absorbance detection unit is used to detect the absorbance, transmittance, or turbidity of the bacterial suspension in the sterile bacterial suspension tube.

[0024] The control module is configured to control the picking robotic arm to increase the number of colonies or control the sampling mechanism to add suspension based on the absorbance detection results, so as to obtain a standardized bacterial suspension.

[0025] Furthermore, the bacterial solution addition and coating module includes a sample addition volume adjustment unit, a sample suction robotic arm, a sample suction gun, an automatic tip replacement mechanism, a coating robotic arm, and a sterile coating sheet picking and placing mechanism;

[0026] The sample volume adjustment unit is used to adjust the sample volume of the standardized bacterial suspension according to user settings, drug sensitivity template, culture medium plate specifications, or experimental items.

[0027] The automatic pipette tip changing mechanism is used to assemble sterile pipette tips from the sterile pipette tip box and, after sample addition, unload the used sterile pipette tips into the waste consumables recycling box.

[0028] The sterile coating sheet picking and placing mechanism is used to remove sterile coating sheets from the sterile coating sheet box, and the coating robotic arm drives the sterile coating sheet to contact the culture medium surface and complete the coating.

[0029] The coating robotic arm rotates the sterile coating plate relative to the culture medium plate, or the plate-bearing positioning module rotates the culture medium plate relative to the sterile coating plate, so that the bacterial suspension added to the surface of the culture medium is coated onto the culture medium plate.

[0030] Furthermore, the drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module includes a paper tube adapter, several paper compartments, a paper picking mechanism, and an adjustable placement robotic arm;

[0031] The paper tube adapter is configured to be compatible with the drug sensitivity paper tubes provided by the drug sensitivity paper tube manufacturer. Each drug sensitivity paper tube compartment has a compartment number.

[0032] The control module is configured to establish a correspondence between the warehouse number and the drug name, paper manufacturer, paper batch number, expiration date, and paper quantity or remaining quantity;

[0033] The tablet-retrieving mechanism uses negative pressure suction, mechanical clamping, tablet pushing, or turntable distribution to retrieve the drug sensitivity test strips;

[0034] The adjustable patching robotic arm includes a position calibration unit and a patching force adjustment unit. The position calibration unit is used to adjust the patching coordinates of the drug sensitivity paper according to the drug sensitivity template, and the patching force adjustment unit is used to adjust the contact pressure between the drug sensitivity paper and the culture medium surface.

[0035] The application force adjustment unit includes at least one of a pressure sensor, an elastic buffer, a limiting structure, a force-controlled motor, or a height compensation mechanism.

[0036] Furthermore, the information interaction and barcode module includes a communication interface, a barcode printing mechanism, a cap opening and positioning mechanism, an automatic labeling mechanism, and a barcode recognition mechanism;

[0037] The communication interface is used for data exchange with the laboratory information system;

[0038] The barcode printing mechanism is used to print flatbed barcodes based on specimen information;

[0039] The lid opening and positioning mechanism is used to open or retain the petri dish lid before labeling and to expose the vertical edge of the outer periphery of the culture medium agar;

[0040] An automatic labeling mechanism is used to attach a plate barcode to the identifiable area of ​​the vertical edge of the agar on the outer periphery of a culture medium plate; the automatic labeling mechanism includes a label peeling position, a label suction head or clamping head, a labeling robotic arm, and a pressure limiting structure; the labeling robotic arm is used to press the plate barcode to the vertical edge of the agar when the culture dish is open; the pressure limiting structure is used to limit the labeling depth and pressure;

[0041] Barcode recognition devices are used to identify plate barcodes during the post-cultivation reading stage.

[0042] Furthermore, the editable drug sensitivity template module includes a drug sensitivity template library, a template editing interface, and a manual confirmation interface;

[0043] The antimicrobial susceptibility template library includes at least one of the following: antimicrobial susceptibility templates for Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus.

[0044] The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to receive the coarse bacterial classification results input by the operator based on colony morphology, culture medium performance, Gram staining results, oxidase test results, or clinical experience before the bacterial identification results are available. It can also call the corresponding drug susceptibility template based on the coarse bacterial classification results, or the instrument can suggest drug susceptibility templates based on colony images, specimen types, historical settings, or user rules and then confirm them manually.

[0045] The drug sensitivity template includes at least one parameter from the following: type of antimicrobial drug discs, number of discs, disc placement coordinates, spacing between adjacent discs, distance between discs and the edge of the petri dish, disc arrangement, and drug sensitivity result feedback project.

[0046] The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to allow operators to create personalized drug susceptibility templates for different strain categories, different specimen types, different testing purposes, or different departmental needs, and to edit the type, quantity, placement position, and placement order of drug susceptibility strips.

[0047] Furthermore, the drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module also includes a refrigerated test strip compartment, which is used to preserve the drug sensitivity test strips that have been loaded into the machine at low temperatures. The refrigerated test strip compartment includes a temperature control unit and a temperature monitoring unit. The temperature control unit is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerated test strip compartment within a preset range.

[0048] The control module is configured to record the machine time, cumulative machine time, opening time, expiration date or refrigeration temperature of each drug sensitivity paper tube, and issue a prompt when the drug sensitivity paper tube has been used for more than a preset number of days;

[0049] The drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module also includes an empty tube identification mechanism and an empty tube ejection mechanism. The empty tube identification mechanism is used to identify whether the paper in the drug sensitivity paper tube is used up or below the preset reserve. The empty tube ejection mechanism is used to eject the empty drug sensitivity paper tube from the storage position.

[0050] Furthermore, the control module is configured to save the antimicrobial susceptibility test strip placement template, antimicrobial susceptibility test strip name, template version, specimen information and bacterial culture preparation record before culture, and to register the plate image according to the antimicrobial susceptibility test plate barcode, the edge of the petri dish, the position of the test strip or the positioning mark of the petri dish during the reading stage after culture;

[0051] In fully automatic mode, the instrument completes the following tasks: bacterial plate identification, single colony selection, bacterial picking, mixing, absorbance detection, bacterial suspension calibration, sample addition, coating, patching, and post-incubation reading.

[0052] In manual intervention mode, the instrument allows the operator to confirm, modify, or re-execute the results of bacterial plate identification, colony selection, drug sensitivity template, sample volume, patch position, patching force, or absorbance detection.

[0053] The above approach has the following beneficial effects:

[0054] 1. This solution automates and standardizes the bacterial susceptibility testing process, improving detection efficiency and result accuracy. By integrating modules for plate placement, batch plate feeding, automated bacterial suspension preparation, coating, patch application, and image measurement, the instrument reduces uneven bacterial film formation, discrepancies in plate placement, and subjective reading errors caused by variations in manual operation. The central calibration structure ensures the repositioning of the same plate before and after incubation, and combined with absorbance detection control, guarantees standardized bacterial suspension concentration. This integrated design not only shortens the time from sample to report but also ensures the objectivity and repeatability of inhibition zone measurements through machine vision and automatic registration technology, further reducing laboratory labor costs and minimizing the risk of human contamination, thus meeting the clinical demand for rapid and accurate susceptibility testing.

[0055] 2. This solution establishes a workflow data control system from specimen information acquisition to drug susceptibility result feedback through information interaction, a barcode module, and an editable drug susceptibility template module. Specimen information is acquired from the laboratory information system via a communication interface; automatic barcode generation, affixing, and recognition enable full-process traceability of the tablet. With multiple built-in drug susceptibility templates and the ability to automatically match templates based on colony morphology, Gram staining results, or clinical experience after inputting preliminary strain identification results, or intelligently recommending templates for manual confirmation before identification results are available, this flexibility allows the instrument to handle complex and ever-changing clinical scenarios. Through interaction with the laboratory information system, the instrument can acquire specimen information and transmit results, realizing a data chain from sample reception to result output, improving the level of laboratory information management and the smoothness of workflow.

[0056] 3. This solution utilizes a compact, integrated desktop design to enable batch loading and retrieval of sterile plates and drug sensitivity test strips. It features automatic replacement of sterile pipette tips, disposable picking needles, and a sterile swab placement and retrieval mechanism, automating consumable assembly, use, and disposal, reducing cross-contamination. The refrigerated strip compartment in the drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module provides short-term low-temperature preservation and balance monitoring for loaded strips, prompting replacement upon expiration to prevent result deviations due to reagent failure. Empty strips are automatically retrieved via an empty tube identification and ejection mechanism, automating consumable management and avoiding manual counting errors. While each module is logically partitioned, they share a central platen workstation and a common mechanical platform. The compact overall size reduces equipment purchase and maintenance costs, expanding the applicability of automated drug sensitivity testing in primary healthcare institutions, small laboratories, and supplementary drug sensitivity testing scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0057] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of each module in the integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 2 This is a structural block diagram of the batch pure plate feeding module and the automatic bacterial solution preparation module of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of the bacterial solution addition and coating module and the drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the antibacterial zone measurement and analysis module of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the drug sensitivity paper disc compartment of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the process for the integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0064] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0065] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0066] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:

[0067] Example 1:

[0068] As attached Figures 1-5 As shown: An integrated instrument for bacterial suspension preparation, coating, patching, and measurement in antimicrobial susceptibility testing includes a plate support and positioning module, a batch purification plate supply module, an automatic bacterial suspension preparation module, a bacterial suspension sample addition and coating module, an antimicrobial susceptibility test strip storage and placement module, an information interaction and barcode module, an editable antimicrobial susceptibility template module, an image acquisition module, an inhibition zone measurement and analysis module, and a control module. In this embodiment, the instrument is integrated into a closed or semi-closed operating chamber. The specific functions of each module are as follows:

[0069] The plate support and positioning module is used to support and position the drug sensitivity culture medium plate during the pre-culture treatment stage, and to reset and position the same drug sensitivity culture medium plate during the post-culture reading stage. In this embodiment, the plate support and positioning module includes a culture dish tray, a clamping and positioning component, and a central calibration structure. The central calibration structure is used to make the center of the culture medium plate correspond to the coating coordinates, patch coordinates, and image measurement coordinates. The central calibration structure is also used to repeat the positioning after the culture medium plate is retrieved from the external incubator.

[0070] Combination Figure 2As shown, the batch purification plate supply module is used to load multiple purified and cultured bacterial strain plates at once, and sequentially send the bacterial strain plates to be prepared into the colony recognition workstation. Specifically, the batch purification plate supply module includes a purification plate buffer position, a current colony recognition workstation, and a plate transfer mechanism. The purification plate buffer position is used to hold 10-30 purified and cultured bacterial strain plates. The plate transfer mechanism is used to move the bacterial strain plates to be prepared from the purification plate buffer position to the current colony recognition workstation, and remove the bacterial strain plate from the current colony recognition workstation after the bacterial solution is prepared.

[0071] The batch pure plate supply module can be one or more of the following: drawer-type plate rack, stackable plate rack, rotary plate rack, conveyor belt plate rack, or robotic arm transfer plate rack. In this embodiment, the control module is configured to record the loading position, barcode information, colony identification status, bacterial solution preparation status, and transfer status of each strain plate, and to schedule multiple strain plates for bacterial solution preparation in sequence or according to priority.

[0072] This embodiment also includes a sterile consumable loading module, which is used to load at least one of the following: pre-sterilized packaged bacterial suspension tubes, sterile pipette tips, bacterial picking consumables, and sterile coating sheets. The sterile consumable loading module includes a tube rack for placing bacterial suspension tubes pre-filled with suspension and sterilized, the bacterial suspension tubes being used to receive single colonies transferred by the automatic bacterial suspension preparation module and form a standardized bacterial suspension. The sterile pipette tips are configured to be automatically assembled and unloaded by the pipette. The sterile coating sheets are configured to be automatically picked up and placed by a coating robotic arm and used for bacterial suspension coating on the surface of the culture medium.

[0073] The automatic bacterial suspension preparation module is used to identify whether the bacterial plate is a bacterial plate at the colony identification workstation, and automatically identify individual colonies from the bacterial plate or receive manually labeled colonies. The individual colonies are transferred to a sterile bacterial suspension tube containing the suspension, and a standardized bacterial suspension that meets the requirements of the paper disc diffusion method for drug susceptibility testing is prepared by colorimetric or absorbance detection. In this embodiment, the standardized bacterial suspension can be Escherichia coli suspension, Klebsiella pneumoniae suspension, Staphylococcus aureus suspension, or other bacterial suspensions suitable for the paper disc diffusion method for drug susceptibility testing.

[0074] Specifically, the automatic bacterial solution preparation module includes a bacterial plate identification unit, a colony selection unit, a bacterial picking robotic arm, a disposable bacterial picking needle or loop, a suspension tube mixing mechanism, and an absorbance detection unit; in this embodiment, the disposable bacterial picking needle or loop is configured to be automatically picked up and placed by the bacterial picking robotic arm.

[0075] The bacterial plate identification unit is used to determine whether there are bacterial colonies on the plate on the plate bearing positioning module.

[0076] The colony selection unit is used to automatically select individual colonies that meet preset conditions from the strain plate image or to receive colonies manually marked by the operator on the display interface.

[0077] The absorbance detection unit includes a colorimetric light source, a detection optical path, and a photodetector. The absorbance detection unit is used to detect the absorbance, transmittance, or turbidity of the bacterial suspension in the sterile bacterial suspension tube.

[0078] The control module is configured to control the picking robotic arm to increase the number of colonies or control the sampling mechanism to add suspension based on the absorbance detection results, so as to obtain a standardized bacterial suspension with a McFarland turbidity of 0.5.

[0079] The bacterial suspension addition and coating module is used to add standardized bacterial suspension to the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the aspiration mechanism of the sterile pipette tip, and then coat the standardized bacterial suspension onto the surface of the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the sterile coating plate. Specifically, the bacterial suspension addition and coating module includes a sample addition volume adjustment unit, a sampling robotic arm, a pipette, an automatic pipette tip replacement mechanism, a coating robotic arm, and a sterile coating plate picking and placing mechanism.

[0080] The sample volume adjustment unit is used to adjust the sample volume of the standardized bacterial suspension according to user settings, drug sensitivity template, culture medium plate specifications or experimental items; in this embodiment, the sample volume is adjustable in the range of 10-200μL.

[0081] The automatic pipette tip changing mechanism is used to assemble sterile pipette tips from the sterile pipette tip box and, after sample addition, unload the used sterile pipette tips into the waste consumables recycling box.

[0082] The sterile coating sheet handling mechanism is used to remove sterile coating sheets from the sterile coating sheet box. The coating robotic arm drives the sterile coating sheet to contact the culture medium surface and complete the coating.

[0083] The coating robotic arm rotates the sterile coating plate relative to the culture medium plate, or the plate-bearing positioning module rotates the culture medium plate relative to the sterile coating plate, so that the bacterial suspension added to the surface of the culture medium is coated onto the culture medium plate.

[0084] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module includes at least 50 drug sensitivity test strip slots. These slots are used to load and store drug sensitivity test strips. Each slot is configured with the corresponding drug name, strip size, and remaining strip quantity via a control display unit. The module automatically selects the appropriate strip from the corresponding slot based on the drug sensitivity template and places the strip on the surface of the culture medium coated with bacterial suspension, according to the strip type, quantity, and placement position determined by the template. Specifically, the module includes a strip adapter, several strip slots, a strip retrieval mechanism, and an adjustable placement robotic arm. In this embodiment, the control display unit is a fixed touchscreen, a detachable tablet computer (such as an iPad), an external host computer, or a combination thereof. The detachable tablet computer can be mounted on a tablet holder or communication base on the instrument casing and is used for drug sensitivity template editing, slot drug setting, manual colony marking, laboratory information system (LIS) viewing, and result confirmation.

[0085] In this embodiment, at least 50 drug sensitivity test strip compartments are arranged in a disc, rotary, ring array, matrix, drawer, or multi-layer configuration, and have replenishment and retrieval positions. The replenishment position is used to place new drug sensitivity test strips, and the retrieval position is used for the retrieval mechanism or patching robot arm to pick up the drug sensitivity test strips. The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module is also configured to automatically match the corresponding compartment and retrieve the corresponding number of drug sensitivity test strips from the corresponding drug sensitivity test strip tube based on the drug name and the number of strips in the selected drug sensitivity template.

[0086] The paper tube adapter is configured to fit the susceptibility paper tubes provided by the susceptibility paper tube manufacturer, and uses the OXOID susceptibility paper tube specifications as the standard adapter specifications; each susceptibility paper tube compartment has a compartment number; in this embodiment, the paper tube adapter includes at least one of the following: a replaceable adapter, an adjustable clamping component, a positioning step, an elastic limiting component, a paper tube identification position, or a paper tube remaining quantity detection position, to fit susceptibility paper tubes with different outer diameters, heights, or sheet output structures.

[0087] The control module is configured to establish a correspondence between the warehouse number and the drug name, paper manufacturer, paper batch number, expiration date, and paper quantity or remaining quantity.

[0088] The slide-taking mechanism uses negative pressure suction, mechanical clamping, slide pushing, or turntable distribution to remove drug sensitivity test strips; in this embodiment, the control module is configured to generate a drug sensitivity test strip placement template according to a preset drug sensitivity combination, and control the distance between adjacent drug sensitivity test strips and the distance between the drug sensitivity test strips and the edge of the culture dish.

[0089] The adjustable patching robotic arm includes a position calibration unit and a patching force adjustment unit. The position calibration unit is used to adjust the patching coordinates of the drug sensitivity paper according to the drug sensitivity template, and the patching force adjustment unit is used to adjust the contact pressure between the drug sensitivity paper and the culture medium surface. The patching force adjustment unit includes at least one of a pressure sensor, an elastic buffer, a limiting structure, a force-controlled motor, or a height compensation mechanism.

[0090] The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module also includes a refrigerated test strip compartment, which is used to preserve the drug sensitivity test strips that have been loaded into the machine at low temperatures. The refrigerated test strip compartment includes a temperature control unit and a temperature monitoring unit. The temperature control unit is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerated test strip compartment within a preset range (such as around 4°C or within the range of 2°C to 8°C).

[0091] The control module is configured to record the machine time, cumulative machine time, opening time, expiration date or refrigeration temperature of each drug sensitivity paper tube, and issue a prompt when the drug sensitivity paper tube is used for more than a preset number of days; in this embodiment, the preset number of days is 15 days or can be set by the user according to the requirements of the drug sensitivity paper manufacturer.

[0092] The drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module also includes an empty tube identification mechanism and an empty tube ejection mechanism. The empty tube identification mechanism is used to identify whether the paper in the drug sensitivity paper tube is used up or below the preset reserve. The empty tube ejection mechanism is used to eject the empty drug sensitivity paper tube from the compartment and drop it into the empty tube recycling box through the guide slide or drop tube opening.

[0093] After replacing or replenishing the drug sensitivity paper discs, the control module is configured to receive the user's settings for the drug name and disc information for the corresponding compartment, or to read the disc barcode, QR code, RFID tag, or preset code to identify the corresponding drug name and disc information.

[0094] The information interaction and barcode module is used to scan the purified bacterial strain plates and obtain specimen information from the LIS, or to receive manually entered barcode information and obtain specimen information accordingly. The information interaction and barcode module is also used to generate and print the corresponding drug susceptibility plate barcode, affix the drug susceptibility plate barcode to the identifiable edge area of ​​the drug susceptibility culture medium plate, identify the drug susceptibility plate barcode during the post-incubation reading stage, and transmit the measurement results back to the laboratory information system. Specifically, the information interaction and barcode module includes a communication interface, a barcode printing mechanism, a cap opening and positioning mechanism, an automatic labeling mechanism, and a barcode recognition mechanism.

[0095] The communication interface is used for data exchange with the laboratory information system.

[0096] Barcode printing equipment is used to print flat barcodes based on specimen information.

[0097] The lid opening and positioning mechanism is used to open or retain the petri dish lid before labeling and to expose the vertical edge of the outer periphery of the culture medium agar.

[0098] The automatic labeling mechanism is used to attach the plate barcode to the identifiable area of ​​the vertical edge of the agar on the culture medium plate. In this embodiment, the plate barcode attachment position is not located in the horizontal drug sensitivity paper placement area, and does not obstruct the drug sensitivity paper, the inhibition zone measurement area, or the edge positioning area of ​​the culture dish. The automatic labeling mechanism includes a label peeling position, a label suction head or clamping head, a labeling robotic arm, and a pressure limiting structure. The labeling robotic arm is used to press the plate barcode to the vertical edge of the agar when the culture dish is open. The pressure limiting structure is used to limit the labeling depth and pressure to avoid damaging the surface of the culture medium.

[0099] Barcode recognition devices are used to identify plate barcodes during the post-cultivation reading stage.

[0100] The editable drug sensitivity template module is used for manually selecting or instrument-suggested drug sensitivity templates, and for adding, editing, copying, saving, or recalling drug sensitivity templates. Specifically, the editable drug sensitivity template module includes a drug sensitivity template library, a template editing interface, and a manual confirmation interface. The editable drug sensitivity template module includes a combined drug sensitivity test template, which is used to set the relative position, center distance, arrangement direction, or combination relationship between two or more drug sensitivity test strips for personalized combined drug sensitivity test strip placement.

[0101] The antimicrobial susceptibility template library includes at least one of the following: Enterobacteriaceae antimicrobial susceptibility templates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa antimicrobial susceptibility templates, Staphylococcus antimicrobial susceptibility templates, Enterococcus antimicrobial susceptibility templates, and Streptococcus antimicrobial susceptibility templates.

[0102] The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to receive the coarse bacterial classification results input by the operator based on colony morphology, culture medium performance, Gram staining results, oxidase test results, or clinical experience before the bacterial identification results are available. It can then call up the corresponding drug susceptibility template based on the coarse bacterial classification results, or the instrument can suggest drug susceptibility templates based on colony images, specimen types, historical settings, or user rules, which will then be manually confirmed.

[0103] The drug sensitivity template includes at least one parameter from the following: type of antimicrobial drug discs, number of discs, disc placement coordinates, spacing between adjacent discs, distance between discs and the edge of the petri dish, disc arrangement, and drug sensitivity result feedback project.

[0104] The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to allow operators to create personalized drug susceptibility templates for different strain categories, different specimen types, different testing purposes, or different departmental needs, and to edit the type, quantity, placement position, and placement order of drug susceptibility strips.

[0105] The image acquisition module is used to acquire images of the culture medium plates after they have been cultured in an external incubator. In this embodiment, the image acquisition module includes a camera and an illumination source, which is a ring light source, a backlight source, an oblique light source, or a combination thereof.

[0106] Combination Figure 4 As shown, the inhibition zone measurement and analysis module is used to identify the location of the drug sensitivity test strip and the boundary of the inhibition zone based on the culture medium plate image, and to calculate the diameter of the inhibition zone of the corresponding drug sensitivity test strip. The inhibition zone measurement and analysis module is configured to identify the edge of the petri dish, the culture medium area, the center of the drug sensitivity test strip, the drug sensitivity test strip identifier and the boundary of the inhibition zone, and to calculate the diameter of the inhibition zone based on the image calibration ratio.

[0107] The control module is used to control the operation of each module and associate the specimen information, bacterial culture preparation records, drug sensitivity templates, pre-culture patch coordinates and post-culture image measurement coordinates.

[0108] The control module is also configured to save the antimicrobial susceptibility test strip placement template, antimicrobial susceptibility test strip name, template version, specimen information and bacterial culture preparation record before culture, and to register the plate image according to the antimicrobial susceptibility test plate barcode, the edge of the petri dish, the position of the test strip or the positioning mark of the petri dish during the reading stage after culture.

[0109] In fully automatic mode, the instrument completes the following tasks: identification of bacterial plates, selection of single colonies, picking of bacteria, mixing, absorbance detection, bacterial culture calibration, sample addition, coating, patching, and reading after incubation.

[0110] In manual intervention mode, the instrument allows the operator to confirm, modify, or re-execute the results of bacterial plate identification, colony selection, drug sensitivity template, sample volume, patch position, patch force, absorbance detection results, or results feedback.

[0111] Example 2:

[0112] As attached Figure 6 As shown, the difference from Example 2 is that this example also includes a method for performing bacterial disk diffusion drug susceptibility testing using an instrument, comprising the following steps:

[0113] S1. Information Acquisition and Pre-Experiment Preparation

[0114] The purified bacterial culture plates are placed in the purification plate buffer slot of the batch purification plate supply module. When the bacterial plate has a barcode, the barcode recognition mechanism of the information interaction and barcode module scans the plate, and the communication interface obtains the corresponding specimen information from the LIS. When the bacterial plate does not have a barcode, the operator enters or binds barcode information through the control display unit, and the instrument obtains the specimen information from the laboratory information system accordingly.

[0115] Before bacterial identification results are available, the operator inputs the preliminary bacterial strain classification results based on colony morphology, culture medium performance, Gram staining results, oxidase test results, or clinical experience. The operator then selects the corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility template from the template library using the editable template module. These templates include those for Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, or Streptococcus. Alternatively, the instrument may recommend templates based on colony images and specimen type, which are then manually confirmed. If necessary, the operator can add or edit personalized templates, specifying the type and quantity of slides, placement coordinates, spacing, edge distance, arrangement, and result feedback items. For combined antimicrobial susceptibility testing, the operator can set the relative positions, center-to-center distances, and combination relationships between slides.

[0116] Subsequently, the information interaction and barcode module generates a corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AS / RS) barcode based on the specimen information, and prints the AS / RS barcode using a barcode printing mechanism. The capping and positioning mechanism opens the petri dish lid, and the automatic labeling mechanism presses the barcode onto the identifiable area of ​​the vertical edge of the agar. A pressure-limiting structure restricts the depth and pressure to prevent damage to the culture medium. The barcode position avoids the paper placement area, the inhibition zone measurement area, and the edge positioning area. After labeling, the capping and positioning mechanism assists in closing the petri dish lid.

[0117] Place the sterile bacterial suspension tubes on the tube rack of the sterile consumables loading module, insert the sterile pipette tips into the sterile pipette tip box, and insert the sterile smears into the sterile smear box; place the drug sensitivity culture plates on the culture dish tray of the plate carrying and positioning module, and use the center calibration structure to align the center of the culture plate with the coordinates of the smearing, patching, and measurement; place the strain plates containing purified cultured strains in the purification plate buffer slot of the batch purification plate supply module.

[0118] S2, Standardized bacterial suspension automatic preparation

[0119] The control module initiates bacterial culture configuration, and the plate transfer mechanism moves the bacterial culture plates to be configured from the purification plate buffer to the current colony identification workstation.

[0120] The bacterial plate identification unit acquires bacterial plate images through the plate image acquisition module to determine whether colonies are present on the plate. If the plate is bacterial, the colony selection unit automatically selects individual colonies based on colony size, shape, color, edge clarity, and distance from neighboring bacteria; or the operator can manually select target colonies by marking them on the display interface in manual intervention mode.

[0121] After colony selection, the robotic arm uses a disposable picking needle to transfer the selected colonies to a sterile bacterial suspension tube containing the suspension solution, which is automatically discarded after use. The suspension tube mixing mechanism agitates or rotates the sterile bacterial suspension tube to ensure uniform dispersion of the colonies. The absorbance detection unit uses a colorimetric light source and photodetector to detect the absorbance, transmittance, or turbidity of the bacterial suspension, and determines whether the suspension meets the 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard based on the test results. If the 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard is not met, the control module controls the robotic arm to add more colonies or controls the sampling mechanism to add more suspension solution, remixing and testing until the standard is met. After configuration, the plate transfer mechanism moves the bacterial plate out of the current colony identification working position and moves the next bacterial plate from the purification plate buffer to the current colony identification working position to begin the bacterial suspension configuration for the next strain.

[0122] S3. Bacterial suspension addition and coating

[0123] The automatic tip changing mechanism retrieves a new tip from the sterile tip box and assembles it into the pipette. The sample volume adjustment unit determines the sample volume (adjustable from 10-200 μL) based on user settings, antimicrobial susceptibility testing templates, culture medium plate specifications, or experimental requirements. The robotic arm drives the pipette to aspirate the standardized bacterial suspension and add it to the center of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing medium plate. After sample addition, the tip is automatically removed into the waste consumables collection box.

[0124] The sterile swab handling mechanism retrieves sterile swabs from the sterile swab cassette and assembles them into the coating robotic arm. The robotic arm brings the sterile swab into contact with the culture medium surface. The robotic arm rotates relative to the culture medium plate, or the culture medium plate rotates relative to the sterile swab, ensuring the bacterial suspension is evenly coated across the entire surface of the culture medium plate. After coating is complete, the robotic arm lifts, and the sterile swab is automatically unloaded into the waste consumables collection box.

[0125] S4, Automatic placement of drug sensitivity test strips

[0126] The control module matches the corresponding susceptibility testing disc slots from the susceptibility testing disc storage and placement module based on the type, quantity, and placement order of the antimicrobial drug discs in the susceptibility testing template. Each susceptibility testing disc slot has a unique number, and the control module establishes a correspondence between the slot number and the drug name, disc manufacturer, disc batch number, expiration date, and disc quantity or remaining quantity. The susceptibility testing discs are installed in the slots via disc slot adapters, which are OXOID standard adapters compatible with discs from mainstream manufacturers.

[0127] Before the paper discs are removed, the temperature in the refrigerated paper disc compartment is controlled within the range of 2-8℃ (preferably 4℃) for short-term preservation of the susceptibility testing paper discs. The control module records the testing time, cumulative duration, opening time, expiration date, and refrigeration temperature. When the susceptibility testing paper discs have been used for more than a preset number of days (preferably 15 days, or as set by the user according to the requirements of the susceptibility testing paper manufacturer), a prompt for replacement is issued through the control display unit.

[0128] The control module sequentially selects the corresponding drug sensitivity test strips based on the drug sensitivity template: the strip picking mechanism moves to the target compartment to pick up the strips (using negative pressure suction, mechanical clamping, pushing, or rotary distribution methods, etc.). If the empty tube identification mechanism identifies that the test strips are used up or the remaining amount is insufficient, the empty tube ejection mechanism ejects the empty tube and it falls into the empty tube recycling box, while prompting for replenishment. After replacing or replenishing the drug sensitivity test strip tubes, the operator sets the drug name and test strip information for the corresponding compartment, or the instrument reads the barcode, QR code, RFID tag, or preset code on the test strip tube to automatically identify the corresponding drug name and test strip information.

[0129] The slide-picking mechanism transfers the retrieved drug sensitivity test strips to the adjustable patch-applying robotic arm. The position calibration unit, based on the strip placement coordinates in the drug sensitivity template, moves the adjustable patch-applying robotic arm to the preset placement position according to the template coordinates. The placement pressure adjustment unit adjusts the contact pressure using a pressure sensor, elastic buffer, force-controlled motor, or height compensation mechanism to ensure stable contact between the drug sensitivity test strips and the culture medium surface. This slide-picking and patch-applying process is repeated until all drug sensitivity test strips are placed according to the template's settings for strip type, quantity, placement coordinates, spacing between adjacent strips, distance from the edge of the culture dish, and arrangement. After placement, the control module saves the pre-cultivation drug sensitivity test strip placement template, template name, template version, specimen information, and bacterial culture preparation record.

[0130] S5, External Culture

[0131] The operator removes the antimicrobial susceptibility testing medium plate with the antimicrobial susceptibility strips affixed to it from the instrument, covers the plate, and places it in a standard laboratory incubator at 35℃±2℃ for 16 to 24 hours (the specific incubation time and temperature are determined based on the bacterial strain and antimicrobial susceptibility testing specifications). During the incubation period, the instrument remains in standby mode or is used for pre-treatment of the next batch of samples.

[0132] S6. Post-incubation readings and inhibition zone measurement

[0133] After the culture is completed, the drug sensitivity culture medium plate is placed back into the plate bearing positioning module, and the central calibration structure is reset and positioned so that the measurement coordinates correspond to the patch coordinates, thereby ensuring that the measurement coordinates after culture correspond to the patch coordinates before culture.

[0134] The barcode recognition mechanism identifies the barcode on the antimicrobial susceptibility testing plate, confirming the specimen information and antimicrobial susceptibility items to ensure correct association between the measured object and the pre-culture data. The image acquisition module initiates image acquisition: the camera captures high-resolution images of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing plate under illumination conditions of a ring light source, backlight, and / or oblique light source. The acquired images are then transmitted to the inhibition zone measurement and analysis module.

[0135] The inhibition zone measurement and analysis module performs image registration based on the barcode of the drug sensitivity plate, the edge of the petri dish, the position of the paper disc, or the positioning mark of the petri dish, and associates it with the template and specimen information placed before incubation. It identifies the edge of the petri dish, the center of the paper disc, and the boundary of the inhibition zone, and calculates the diameter of the inhibition zone of each paper disc based on the image calibration ratio (based on the conversion relationship between pixels and millimeters determined by the petri dish diameter, calibration ruler, or positioning mark).

[0136] If the automatically identified inhibition zone boundary is clear and the measurement result is reasonable, the inhibition zone measurement and analysis module automatically saves the measurement result. If the inhibition zone boundary is unclear or interfered with, the operator can adjust the inhibition zone boundary, paper center, or measurement line through the display interface in manual intervention mode. The system saves the automatic measurement value, manual correction value, and verification record. For inhibition zone diameter measurement values ​​that exceed the expected range or differ significantly from historical results, the operator can mark them in manual intervention mode and decide whether to remeasure or re-execute the corresponding steps.

[0137] After measurement, the communication interface transmits the inhibition zone diameter of each drug susceptibility test strip, or the drug susceptibility result (sensitive, intermediate, resistant) obtained based on the inhibition zone diameter, back to the LIS and associates it with the original information of the specimen. The control module associates and archives the post-culture image measurement coordinates with the pre-culture patch coordinates, achieving full-process data traceability.

[0138] The method described in this embodiment is applicable to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and other bacteria suitable for disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The standardized bacterial suspension is not limited to the 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard and can be adjusted to other standardized turbidities that meet the requirements of disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing, depending on the specific antimicrobial susceptibility testing specifications.

[0139] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing, characterized in that, include: The plate support and positioning module is used to support and position the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate during the pre-culture treatment stage, and to reset and position the same antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate during the post-culture reading stage. The batch purification plate supply module is used to load multiple purified and cultured bacterial strain plates at one time, and sequentially send the bacterial strain plates to be prepared into the colony recognition workstation. The automatic bacterial suspension preparation module is used to identify whether the bacterial plate is a bacterial plate at the colony identification workstation, and to automatically identify a single colony from the bacterial plate or receive a manually labeled colony. The single colony is transferred to a sterile bacterial suspension tube containing the suspension, and a standardized bacterial suspension that meets the requirements of the paper disc diffusion method drug susceptibility test is prepared by colorimetric or absorbance detection. The bacterial suspension addition and coating module is used to add standardized bacterial suspension to the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the suction mechanism of the sterile pipette tip, and then coat the standardized bacterial suspension onto the surface of the antimicrobial susceptibility culture medium plate through the sterile coating sheet. The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module includes several drug sensitivity test strip compartments for loading and storing drug sensitivity test strips. Each drug sensitivity test strip compartment is set with the corresponding drug name, strip size and strip balance through a control display unit. The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module automatically selects the drug sensitivity test strips of the corresponding compartment according to the drug sensitivity template, and places the drug sensitivity test strips on the surface of the culture medium coated with bacterial suspension according to the strip type, number and placement position determined by the drug sensitivity template. The information interaction and barcode module is used to scan the purified strain plates and obtain specimen information from the laboratory information system, or to receive manually entered barcode information and obtain specimen information accordingly; it is also used to generate and print the corresponding drug susceptibility plate barcode, attach the drug susceptibility plate barcode to the identifiable edge area of ​​the drug susceptibility culture medium plate, identify the drug susceptibility plate barcode during the post-incubation reading stage, and transmit the measurement results back to the laboratory information system; The editable drug sensitivity template module is used for manually selecting or instrument-suggested drug sensitivity templates, and for adding, editing, copying, saving or calling drug sensitivity templates; The image acquisition module is used to acquire images of the culture medium plates after they have been cultured in an external incubator. The inhibition zone measurement and analysis module is used to identify the location of the antimicrobial susceptibility test strips and the boundary of the inhibition zone based on the culture medium plate image, and to calculate the diameter of the inhibition zone of the corresponding antimicrobial susceptibility test strip. The control module is used to control the operation of each module and associate the specimen information, bacterial culture preparation records, drug sensitivity templates, pre-culture patch coordinates and post-culture image measurement coordinates.

2. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plate support positioning module includes a culture dish tray, a clamping positioning component, and a center calibration structure. The center calibration structure is used to align the center of the culture medium plate with the coating coordinates, patch coordinates, and image measurement coordinates. The center calibration structure is also used for repeated positioning after the culture medium plate is retrieved from the external incubator.

3. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The batch purification plate supply module includes a purification plate buffer position, a current colony recognition working position, and a plate transfer mechanism. The purification plate buffer position is used to place the purified and cultured strain plates. The plate transfer mechanism is used to move the strain plates to be configured from the purification plate buffer position to the current colony recognition working position, and after the bacterial solution is configured, the strain plates are moved out of the current colony recognition working position. The batch flat plate supply module is one or more of the following: drawer-type flat plate rack, stack-type flat plate rack, turntable flat plate rack, conveyor belt type flat plate rack, or robotic arm transfer type flat plate rack.

4. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 3, characterized in that, The automated bacterial culture preparation module includes a bacterial plate recognition unit, a colony selection unit, a bacterial picking robotic arm, a disposable bacterial picking needle or loop, a suspension tube mixing mechanism, and an absorbance detection unit. The bacterial plate identification unit is used to determine whether there are bacterial colonies on the plate on the plate carrier positioning module; The colony selection unit is used to automatically select a single colony that meets preset conditions from the strain plate image or to receive colonies manually marked by the operator on the display interface; The absorbance detection unit includes a colorimetric light source, a detection optical path, and a photodetector. The absorbance detection unit is used to detect the absorbance, transmittance, or turbidity of the bacterial suspension in the sterile bacterial suspension tube. The control module is configured to control the picking robotic arm to increase the number of colonies or control the sampling mechanism to add suspension based on the absorbance detection results, so as to obtain a standardized bacterial suspension.

5. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bacterial suspension addition and coating module includes a sample addition volume adjustment unit, a sample suction robotic arm, a sample suction gun, an automatic tip replacement mechanism, a coating robotic arm, and a sterile coating sheet picking and placing mechanism. The sample volume adjustment unit is used to adjust the sample volume of the standardized bacterial suspension according to user settings, drug sensitivity template, culture medium plate specifications, or experimental items. The automatic pipette tip changing mechanism is used to assemble sterile pipette tips from the sterile pipette tip box and, after sample addition, unload the used sterile pipette tips into the waste consumables recycling box. The sterile coating sheet picking and placing mechanism is used to remove sterile coating sheets from the sterile coating sheet box, and the coating robotic arm drives the sterile coating sheet to contact the culture medium surface and complete the coating. The coating robotic arm rotates the sterile coating plate relative to the culture medium plate, or the plate-bearing positioning module rotates the culture medium plate relative to the sterile coating plate, so that the bacterial suspension added to the surface of the culture medium is coated onto the culture medium plate.

6. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module includes a paper tube adapter, several paper compartments, a paper picking mechanism, and an adjustable placement robot arm; The paper tube adapter is configured to be compatible with the drug sensitivity paper tubes provided by the drug sensitivity paper tube manufacturer. Each drug sensitivity paper tube compartment has a compartment number. The control module is configured to establish a correspondence between the warehouse number and the drug name, paper manufacturer, paper batch number, expiration date, and paper quantity or remaining quantity; The tablet-retrieving mechanism uses negative pressure suction, mechanical clamping, tablet pushing, or turntable distribution to retrieve the drug sensitivity test strips; The adjustable patching robotic arm includes a position calibration unit and a patching force adjustment unit. The position calibration unit is used to adjust the patching coordinates of the drug sensitivity paper according to the drug sensitivity template, and the patching force adjustment unit is used to adjust the contact pressure between the drug sensitivity paper and the culture medium surface. The application force adjustment unit includes at least one of a pressure sensor, an elastic buffer, a limiting structure, a force-controlled motor, or a height compensation mechanism.

7. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 6, characterized in that, The information interaction and barcode module includes a communication interface, a barcode printing mechanism, a cap opening and positioning mechanism, an automatic labeling mechanism, and a barcode recognition mechanism; The communication interface is used for data exchange with the laboratory information system; The barcode printing mechanism is used to print flatbed barcodes based on specimen information; The lid opening and positioning mechanism is used to open or retain the petri dish lid before labeling and to expose the vertical edge of the outer periphery of the culture medium agar; An automatic labeling mechanism is used to attach a plate barcode to the identifiable area of ​​the vertical edge of the agar on the outer periphery of a culture medium plate; the automatic labeling mechanism includes a label peeling position, a label suction head or clamping head, a labeling robotic arm, and a pressure limiting structure; the labeling robotic arm is used to press the plate barcode to the vertical edge of the agar when the culture dish is open; the pressure limiting structure is used to limit the labeling depth and pressure; Barcode recognition devices are used to identify plate barcodes during the post-cultivation reading stage.

8. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 7, characterized in that, The editable drug sensitivity template module includes a drug sensitivity template library, a template editing interface, and a manual confirmation interface; The antimicrobial susceptibility template library includes at least one of the following: antimicrobial susceptibility templates for Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus. The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to receive the coarse bacterial classification results input by the operator based on colony morphology, culture medium performance, Gram staining results, oxidase test results, or clinical experience before the bacterial identification results are available. It can also call the corresponding drug susceptibility template based on the coarse bacterial classification results, or the instrument can suggest drug susceptibility templates based on colony images, specimen types, historical settings, or user rules and then confirm them manually. The drug sensitivity template includes at least one parameter from the following: type of antimicrobial drug discs, number of discs, disc placement coordinates, spacing between adjacent discs, distance between discs and the edge of the petri dish, disc arrangement, and drug sensitivity result feedback project. The editable drug susceptibility template module is configured to allow operators to create personalized drug susceptibility templates for different strain categories, different specimen types, different testing purposes, or different departmental needs, and to edit the type, quantity, placement position, and placement order of drug susceptibility strips.

9. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 8, characterized in that, The drug sensitivity test strip storage and placement module also includes a refrigerated test strip compartment, which is used to preserve the drug sensitivity test strips that have been loaded into the machine at low temperatures. The refrigerated test strip compartment includes a temperature control unit and a temperature monitoring unit. The temperature control unit is configured to control the temperature of the refrigerated test strip compartment within a preset range. The control module is configured to record the machine time, cumulative machine time, opening time, expiration date or refrigeration temperature of each drug sensitivity paper tube, and issue a prompt when the drug sensitivity paper tube has been used for more than a preset number of days; The drug sensitivity paper storage and placement module also includes an empty tube identification mechanism and an empty tube ejection mechanism. The empty tube identification mechanism is used to identify whether the paper in the drug sensitivity paper tube is used up or below the preset reserve. The empty tube ejection mechanism is used to eject the empty drug sensitivity paper tube from the storage position.

10. The integrated instrument for preparing, coating, patching, and measuring bacterial solutions for drug susceptibility testing according to claim 9, characterized in that, The control module is configured to save the antimicrobial susceptibility test strip placement template, antimicrobial susceptibility test strip name, template version, specimen information and bacterial culture preparation record before culture, and to register the plate image according to the antimicrobial susceptibility test plate barcode, the edge of the petri dish, the position of the test strip or the positioning mark of the petri dish during the reading stage after culture; In fully automatic mode, the instrument completes the following tasks: bacterial plate identification, single colony selection, bacterial picking, mixing, absorbance detection, bacterial suspension calibration, sample addition, coating, patching, and post-incubation reading. In manual intervention mode, the instrument allows the operator to confirm, modify, or re-execute the results of bacterial plate identification, colony selection, drug sensitivity template, sample volume, patch position, patching force, or absorbance detection.

Images