Smartphone-Based Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Reader
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods require high clinical microbiology expertise and are costly, making them inaccessible in many regions, especially for detecting drug resistance in bacterial pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae, which contributes to the global spread of multi-drug resistant organisms.
Innovation Solution
A modular reader device paired with a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, that uses opto-mechanical attachments and image processing software to automatically determine drug-specific minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and interpretive criteria, enabling rapid and cost-effective antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the broth microdilution method is used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, then accurate MIC determination is achieved, but high clinical microbiology expertise and costly equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical plate reading systems with a portable electronic device equipped with a camera and light source. The system captures images of the microtiter plate wells and uses image processing algorithms to automatically determine turbidity and calculate MIC values, eliminating the need for expensive automated plate readers while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the visual inspection process by capturing images of the microtiter plate with a camera. The image processing software analyzes these digital copies to determine bacterial growth and MIC values, replacing the need for direct visual examination by trained experts while preserving the essential measurement function
2Measurement precision
If manual examination of microtiter plates is performed by trained experts, then accurate turbidity reading is achieved, but time-consuming and labor-intensive processes result
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically capturing images of the microtiter plate and processing them through algorithms that determine turbidity and MIC values without requiring manual intervention. The portable electronic device and software work together to autonomously complete the entire reading process, eliminating the need for trained experts to visually examine each plate while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual visual inspection process with an automated image capture and processing system. The camera captures the plate state, and software algorithms automatically analyze the images to determine turbidity and MIC values, significantly increasing throughput while eliminating the time-consuming manual examination step
3Ease of operation
If conventional plate readers with mirrors are used to view well bottoms, then turbidity detection is enabled, but high cost and lack of portability prevent widespread use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex optical system of conventional plate readers (including mirrors and specialized viewing mechanisms) with a simple camera-based imaging system. The camera captures images of the well bottoms directly, and software algorithms process these images to determine turbidity, maintaining measurement capability while dramatically reducing cost and improving portability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the universal camera functionality already present in portable electronic devices for its intended purpose of capturing plate images. By leveraging the existing camera capability rather than requiring specialized imaging hardware, the system achieves both portability and measurement precision, making the technology accessible in resource-limited settings
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high accuracy in MIC determination and drug susceptibility interpretation, exceeding FDA-defined criteria, with results available within minutes, and can be used by non-experts, potentially reducing the spread of resistant bacteria.
Implementation Method 1
The wells in the optically transparent plate are illuminated using an array of illumination sources contained in the opto-mechanical reader device. One or more images of the wells are acquired with the camera of the mobile phone, wherein the one or more images represent light transmittance through the wells.
Implementation Method 2
One or more images of the wells are acquired with the camera of the mobile phone, wherein the one or more images represent light transmittance through the wells.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on a sample uses a reader device that mounts on a mobile phone having a camera. A microtiter plate containing wells preloaded with the bacteria-containing sample, growth medium, and drugs of differing concentrations is loaded into the reader device. The wells are illuminated using an array of illumination sources contained in the reader device. Images of the wells are acquired with the camera of the mobile phone. In one embodiment, the images are transmitted to a separate computing device for processing to classify each well as turbid or not turbid and generating MIC values and a susceptibility characterization for each drug in the panel based on the turbidity classification of the array of wells. The MIC values and the susceptibility characterizations for each drug are transmitted or returned to the mobile phone for display thereon.