Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a kit and an apparatus for pretreatment of bacterial test. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method, a kit, and an apparatus for continuously performing separation of blood cells and bacteria from a sample containing impurities such as blood cells, destruction of blood cells, and collection of bacteria.

Abstract: An observation device captures images at focal positions inside a sample container with an optical system that includes an objective lens; an objective lens actuator; an irradiation unit; a reflection light intensity detector; a focus controller that positions the focal point of the objective lens on a reflection surface imparting a peak in the reflected light intensity; and a counting unit. The focus control unit drives the objective lens actuator and positions the focal point on a reflection surface when a peak is detected in the reflected light intensity; and the counting unit counts the reflection surface when the focus control unit has positioned the focal point on the reflection surface. The computation unit determines whether or not the focal point is positioned at the focal position, and causes the optical system to capture images if the focal point is positioned at the focal position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for estimating a bacterial concentration from a sample in which bacteria and impurities are mixed, and adjusting the bacterial concentration in the sample to a desired value. An automatic analyzer according to the present invention introduces a substance that destroys impurities into a sample in which bacteria and the impurities are mixed, separates the destroyed impurities and the bacteria, and then takes out the bacteria by a filter, and estimates the concentration of bacteria in the sample according to correspondence data between the amount of impurities remaining on the filter and the concentration of bacteria in the sample.

Abstract: A culturing device includes a microplate including a plurality of vessels, each of the vessels having a bottom surface having light transmittance and an opening at an upper portion, a lid having light transmittance, and an intermediate plate having light transmittance sandwiched between the lid and the microplate. The intermediate plate has a plurality of convex portions on a surface thereof facing the microplate and provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the convex portions that are disposed so that when the intermediate plate and the microplate are overlapped, each of the plurality of convex portions is inserted into each of the plurality of vessels and each of the plurality of through holes coincides with the opening of each of the plurality of vessels. The lid comes into contact with the intermediate plate so as to close the plurality of through holes provided in the intermediate plate.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to embody an inspection device wherein dew condensation in a sample container, in particular, in the lid thereof can be prevented or quickly removed without giving heat shock to a sample in the sample container. For this purpose, provided is an inspection device comprising an isothermal part 110 which comprises a rack 111 and maintains a sample container 150 storing a sample in a temperature-controlled environment, said sample container 150 comprising a plate and a lid, a detection part 120 which comprises an optical device for observing and inspecting the sample stored in the sample container, and a transportation part 130 which transports the sample container from the isothermal part to the detection part and vice versa, wherein at least one of the isothermal part, detection part and transportation part is provided with a member by which the lid of the sample container is held in a state lifted from the plate.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for preventing erroneous recognition of a fine particle region from a captured image of fine particles. A fine particle testing apparatus of the present disclosure includes: an imaging part capturing a first fine particle image of a well that holds a liquid containing fine particles; an image processor executing a process of generating a second fine particle image by extracting a contour of the first fine particle image, a process of performing a logical operation between the first fine particle image and the second fine particle image, a process of calculating a feature amount of the fine particles based on a result of the logical operation, and a process of determining growth of the fine particles in the well based on the calculated feature amount; and an output part outputting a result of the determination.

Abstract: An observation device captures images at focal positions inside a sample container with an optical system that includes an objective lens; an objective lens actuator; an irradiation unit; a reflection light intensity detector; a focus controller that positions the focal point of the objective lens on a reflection surface imparting a peak in the reflected light intensity; and a counting unit. The focus control unit drives the objective lens actuator and positions the focal point on a reflection surface when a peak is detected in the reflected light intensity; and the counting unit counts the reflection surface when the focus control unit has positioned the focal point on the reflection surface. The computation unit determines whether or not the focal point is positioned at the focal position, and causes the optical system to capture images if the focal point is positioned at the focal position.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to embody an inspection device wherein dew condensation in a sample container, in particular, in the lid thereof can be prevented or quickly removed without giving heat shock to a sample in the sample container. For this purpose, provided is an inspection device comprising an isothermal part 110 which comprises a rack 111 and maintains a sample container 150 storing a sample in a temperature-controlled environment, said sample container 150 comprising a plate and a lid, a detection part 120 which comprises an optical device for observing and inspecting the sample stored in the sample container, and a transportation part 130 which transports the sample container from the isothermal part to the detection part and vice versa, wherein at least one of the isothermal part, detection part and transportation part is provided with a member by which the lid of the sample container is held in a state lifted from the plate.

Abstract: A culturing device includes a microplate including a plurality of vessels, each of the vessels having a bottom surface having light transmittance and an opening at an upper portion, a lid having light transmittance, and an intermediate plate having light transmittance sandwiched between the lid and the microplate. The intermediate plate has a plurality of convex portions on a surface thereof facing the microplate and provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the convex portions that are disposed so that when the intermediate plate and the microplate are overlapped, each of the plurality of convex portions is inserted into each of the plurality of vessels and each of the plurality of through holes coincides with the opening of each of the plurality of vessels. The lid comes into contact with the intermediate plate so as to close the plurality of through holes provided in the intermediate plate.

Abstract: In the past, genetic testing systems for exclusive use were needed due to the difference in type or property of specimens. Therefore, a genetic testing system includes: an extraction unit; an assay preparation unit; a reading unit; a first conveying mechanism for conveying a sample among the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; multiple sample loading units which are provided corresponding to at least two units of the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; and multiple second conveying mechanisms which are provided corresponding to the multiple sample loading units and convey test samples to the inside of the system from the sample loading units.

Abstract: In the past, genetic testing systems for exclusive use were needed due to the difference in type or property of specimens. Therefore, a genetic testing system includes: an extraction unit; an assay preparation unit; a reading unit; a first conveying mechanism for conveying a sample among the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; multiple sample loading units which are provided corresponding to at least two units of the extraction unit, the assay preparation unit, and the reading unit; and multiple second conveying mechanisms which are provided corresponding to the multiple sample loading units and convey test samples to the inside of the system from the sample loading units.

Abstract: When multiple kinds of bacterial colonies are present in a petri dish and, for example, a drug tolerance is to be measured, harvesting of mixed colonies of different types of bacteria makes it impossible to accurately determine the drug tolerance. Also, it is required to improve the throughput of a device for harvesting a bacterial colony. From images illuminated from multiple directions, isolating bacterial colonies are automatically extracted. Next, the image feature amounts are calculated from the multiple images that are illuminated from multiple directions and colonies are grouped depending on the feature amounts. Then, bacterial colonies to be harvested are determined based on the results of the grouping.

Abstract: After culturing blood, a culture liquid determined as positive is transplanted into a plate medium and a bacterial cell suspension that is directly usable for identifying and testing antibiotics-sensitivity is prepared without forming colonies. Provided are a device for automatically analyzing microorganisms and a method therefor whereby blood culture and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be continuously operated. A device for automatically analyzing microorganisms which is configured so that a blood culture test and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be automatically and continuously conducted, wherein means for pretreating a cultured blood sample comprises a mechanism for removing culture liquid components in the course of the blood culture and a mechanism for controlling the microbial concentration (bacterial cell count) to a constant level after the blood culture.

Abstract: When multiple kinds of bacterial colonies are present in a petri dish and, for example, a drug tolerance is to be measured, harvesting of mixed colonies of different types of bacteria makes it impossible to accurately determine the drug tolerance. Also, it is required to improve the throughput of a device for harvesting a bacterial colony. From images illuminated from multiple directions, isolating bacterial colonies are automatically extracted. Next, the image feature amounts are calculated from the multiple images that are illuminated from multiple directions and colonies are grouped depending on the feature amounts. Then, bacterial colonies to be harvested are determined based on the results of the grouping.

Abstract: After culturing blood, a culture liquid determined as positive is transplanted into a plate medium and a bacterial cell suspension that is directly usable for identifying and testing antibiotics-sensitivity is prepared without forming colonies. Provided are a device for automatically analyzing microorganisms and a method therefor whereby blood culture and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be continuously operated. A device for automatically analyzing microorganisms which is configured so that a blood culture test and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be automatically and continuously conducted, wherein means for pretreating a cultured blood sample comprises a mechanism for removing culture liquid components in the course of the blood culture and a mechanism for controlling the microbial concentration (bacterial cell count) to a constant level after the blood culture.

Abstract: A body fluid sample and a reagent are reacted in a reaction container, and after measuring the reaction solution the reaction solution is discharged from the reaction container. The vacant reaction container is washed by charging a detergent solution containing plural kinds of surface active agents through a nozzle of a washing mechanism. The detergent solution is a mixed solution containing polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycol ether, N-acyl amino acid salt and polyacrylic salt. By the washing method in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to eliminate bad effects due to incomplete washing of reaction containers in an apparatus for automatically successively analyzing biological samples.

Abstract: A shutter control device for a camera includes a control arrangement for controlling the opening and closing of the shutter as a function of an exposure value and a diaphragm value. The control arrangement stores values corresponding to a predetermined diaphragm setting, and employs the parameters of the predetermined setting and the exposure value and diaphragm value in order to determine the opening time of the shutter. In another arrangement, the control arrangement determines the effective exposure time as a function of the brightness of the object, distance to the object and a diaphragm, and employs this effective exposure time and a stored correction factor to determine the actual exposure time.