Dilution Profile Worklists for Traceable Colony Enumeration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual methods for tracking and monitoring colony enumeration in microorganism detection are cumbersome, prone to errors, and lack efficient record-keeping, leading to inefficiencies and breakdowns in traceability.

Innovation Solution

A computing apparatus with a user interface allows users to build, schedule, and maintain worklists for microorganic detection systems, utilizing dilution profiles to automate data entry and scheduling, and leveraging culture device identification for seamless tracking and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual methods (paper lists, printed spreadsheets, bulletin boards, emails) are used to track and monitor colony enumeration, then flexibility and accessibility are maintained, but efficiency is reduced and errors are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveManual accessibilityVSAvoidLab efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods (paper lists, spreadsheets, bulletin boards) with an automated electronic system that uses computing apparatus to receive, process, and manage worklist data. The system automatically populates worklist fields from dilution profiles and culture device identifiers, eliminating manual data entry and tracking while maintaining accessibility through electronic interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual data entry and tracking methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but accuracy and traceability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSystem simplicityVSAvoidTraceability accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation where the computing apparatus automatically populates worklist fields by matching culture device identifiers with dilution profiles. The system self-manages data entry, scheduling, and record-keeping without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving traceability accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated worklist population from dilution profiles is implemented, then productivity and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveWorkflow efficiencyVSAvoidSystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining dilution profiles that contain all necessary worklist field data (plate types, dilution factors, product specifications) before the actual colony enumeration process. When a culture device is scanned, the system automatically matches the device identifier with the pre-stored dilution profile and populates the worklist fields accordingly, eliminating manual data entry and improving workflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If multiple worklist fields are manually populated for each culture device, then data completeness is ensured, but time consumption and error probability increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveData completenessVSAvoidTime for data entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual data entry mechanics with automated electronic population of worklist fields. The computing apparatus receives the culture device identifier, retrieves corresponding data from pre-stored dilution profiles, and automatically fills all relevant worklist fields (plate type, dilution factor, product specification, etc.), ensuring data completeness while eliminating time-consuming manual entry and reducing error probability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4128019B1Microorganic detection system with worklists
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 NEOGEN FOOD SAFETY US HOLDCO CORP
  • EP4128019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4128019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4128019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method including receiving, from a user interface on a display device of a computing apparatus, a dilution profile that includes a plurality of profile fields relating to a series of test instances for a plurality of culture devices. The method includes storing the dilution profile in a memory of a computing apparatus. The method includes receiving a request to form a worklist for reading the culture device. The worklist comprises a plurality of worklist fields that correspond to at least some of the plurality of profile fields in the dilution profile. The method includes determining that the dilution profile applies to the worklist and populating, responsive to the determination that the dilution profile applies and by the computing apparatus, at least some of the plurality of worklist fields with the plurality of profile fields in the dilution profile from the memory.