Automated Antibiotic Sensitivity Detection via Axis-Aligned Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for detecting antibiotic sensitivity in microorganisms, such as the Kirby-Bauer method and antibiotic gradient tests, are difficult to automate due to requirements for manual inoculation techniques, large sample volumes, and challenges in accurately reading zones of inhibition, leading to delayed antibiotic treatment decisions and potential resistance issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the deposition of a sample along an axis on an agar culture medium, with a chemical agent defining a potential zone of inhibition, allowing for automated sample deposition and rapid determination of zone presence or absence, using a robotic arm and image processing for precise analysis, reducing sample volume and incubation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional manual inoculation methods (Kirby-Bauer) are used, then reliability of sensitivity testing is maintained, but automation is difficult and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of inoculation and readingVSAvoidincubation time and reading time

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The agar surface is divided into multiple discrete deposition zones arranged along an axis, with each zone receiving a controlled volume of sample. This segmentation enables automated robotic deposition while maintaining adequate microbial distribution for sensitivity testing, resolving the contradiction between automation and testing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical inoculation methods are replaced with an automated robotic system that deposits liquid sample onto the agar surface. The robotic system uses precision positioning and controlled dispensing to achieve uniform distribution without manual intervention, enabling full automation of the inoculation process while reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If flooding method is used for inoculation, then complete coverage is achieved, but sample volume requirement increases biological risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage uniformityVSAvoidsample volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of flooding the entire agar surface with large volumes of sample, the method segments the inoculation into multiple discrete deposition zones arranged along an axis. Each zone receives a small, controlled volume of sample, achieving complete and uniform coverage of the relevant testing area while minimizing total sample volume requirement and associated biological risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The method applies sample deposition with locally optimized characteristics - each deposition zone receives precisely the right amount of sample for reliable testing. This local quality control ensures adequate coverage and uniformity in each zone while minimizing overall sample consumption and biological hazard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If antibiotic gradient strips are used, then MIC determination is enabled, but reading accuracy is difficult to automate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMIC determination accuracyVSAvoidreading automation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The method utilizes optical detection of microbial growth patterns around deposition zones after incubation. By capturing images and analyzing the presence or absence of growth zones, the system automatically determines sensitivity results and MIC values. The clear visual contrast between inhibited and non-inhibited areas enables accurate automated reading, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and automation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If large sample volumes are used, then adequate biomass for testing is ensured, but handling risk and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiomass adequacyVSAvoidbiological risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The method segments the sample distribution into multiple discrete zones along an axis, with each zone receiving a small, precisely controlled volume. This segmentation ensures adequate total biomass is deposited across the testing area for reliable sensitivity assessment, while minimizing the volume of concentrated pathogen material that handlers are exposed to, thus reducing biological risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Manual handling of large sample volumes is replaced with automated robotic deposition of smaller volumes. The robotic system precisely controls sample dispensing, ensuring adequate biomass distribution while eliminating the need for operators to manually handle and distribute larger volumes of potentially hazardous biological material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10870876B2Method for detecting a presence or absence of at least one first zone of inhibition

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 BIOMERIEUX SA

AI summary

A method for detecting a presence or an absence of at least one zone of inhibition, the method including a step consisting in depositing a volume of the sample in liquid form along a deposition zone extending along an axis at the surface of the agar culture medium and a step consisting in depositing a determined amount of a chemical agent at the surface of the agar culture medium, the deposit defining a potential zone of inhibition, the axis of the zone of deposition of the sample intersecting the potential zone of inhibition.