An automatic processing device of culture plates (2) for microbiological samples, wherein the processing device (1) includes a support frame (3); a slide (4) provided with a seating (5) configured for removably housing a culture plate (2) and movably mounted on the support frame (3) so as to be selectively displaceable between a first loading position, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and a first unloading; a camera (6) of a linear type, provided with an optic (7) of a telecentric type and a trilinear sensor, and arranged according to a vertical axis (8) such as to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linear images of corresponding linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate (2), during the displacing of the slide (4); a first lighting device (11) orientated such as to illuminate the linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate (2); an advancing device (14) of the slide (4) configured such as to enable obtaining a constant and substantially vibration-free advancing speed of the slide (4) in the image-acquiring zone; and an electronic control device (9) of a functioning of the camera (6), of the lighting device and of the advancing device (14).

A method and apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and identifying microorganisms in said selected colony using MALDI. The method comprises the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of said selected colony of microorganisms; depositing at least some of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms on a target plate; and transferring said target plate with said sample in an apparatus for performing MALDI for identification of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms. A sample of a colony of microorganisms is automatically deposited on a depositing spot such that the sample covers at most approximately half of said one of the depositing spots of the target plate. A suspension of a sample of microorganisms is automatically prepared by automatically picking the sample with a picking tool and submerging the picking tool with said sample in a suspension, after which the picking tool is vibrated in vertical sense only to release the sample from the picking tool.

One aspect of the invention provides a network platform that includes a fluidic network comprising one or more pumps, and one or more valves, and a plurality of fluidic modules interconnected by the fluidic network of the one or more pumps and the one or more valves to allow controlled transfer of suspended cells, other substances, and fluids from one fluidic module to another, or self-circulation.

A cover having a central axis and a circumference. The cover overlies an interior space defined by a container. The cover includes a base. The base has a center point that is intersected by the central axis of the cover. The base has an outer portion that extends radially inwardly from the circumference toward the central axis. The outer portion defines a bottom surface of the cover. The base has an inner portion positioned radially inwardly of the outer portion. The inner portion of the base has an apex that is upwardly spaced from the outer portion along the central axis. The inner portion of the base directs condensate radially outwardly from the apex toward the outer portion of the base. Optionally, the cover has a peripheral wall that extends from the outer portion of the base.

One aspect of the invention provides a sample chamber for use in the dynamic imaging of cells. In one embodiment, the chamber includes a holding mechanism for positioning the cells against a viewing window in the chamber. A housing is positioned against the viewing window to define the closed chamber. The housing may include access ports allowing for the perfusion of fluid through the chamber, the control of the internal temperature of the chamber and the micromanipulation and electrical stimulation of the cells.

The invention generally provides devices and methods for sampling, detecting and/or characterizing particles, for example, via collection, growth and analysis of viable biological particles such as microorganisms. Devices and methods of the invention include particle samplers and impactors for collecting and/or analyzing biological particles in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of particles, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products, such as sterile medicinal products. Devices and methods of the invention incorporate an integrated sampler and impact surface, such as the receiving surface of a growth media, in a manner to minimize, or entirely eliminate, risks associated with user handling, such as the occurrence of false positive determinations due to contamination of the impact surface during particle sampling, growth or analysis processes.

A culture equipment in which culture equipment can be easily produced with high handleability, and the number of the microorganisms in the analyte can be easily counted. The culture equipment of microorganisms has (a) an upper member, (b) a lower member having a recess, and (c) a medium ingredient, and (c) the medium ingredient contains (c1) at least one selected from polyacrylic acid and/or a salt thereof and a derivative thereof, and (c2) a nutritional ingredient. Then, (a) the upper member preferably has a projection having a shape that can be mutually fitted to the recess of (b) the lower member through (c) the medium ingredient.

A system and method are provided for applying mechanical strain to a specimen of tissues and/or cells, for measuring the deformation of the specimen caused by the mechanical strain and for recording the deformation history for the specimen. The system comprises a specimen holder configured to hold a specimen and a strain-inducing apparatus coupled to the specimen holder and configured to apply a straining displacement of a preselected magnitude in at least a first preselected direction to the specimen to strain the specimen in a preselected manner. A measurement tool of the system measures the deformation of the specimen caused by the mechanical strain and a recording tool of the system records the deformation history for the specimen in memory.

An automatic processing device of culture plates including a support frame; a slide for removably housing a culture plate and movably mounted on the support frame selectively displaceable between a first loading position, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and a first unloading position; a camera of a linear type, provided with a telecentric optic and a trilinear sensor, and arranged to acquire a multiplicity of linear images of corresponding linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate, during the displacing of the slide; a first lighting device orientated such as to illuminate the linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate; an advancing device of the slide configured such as to enable obtaining a constant and substantially vibration-free advancing speed of the slide in the image-acquiring zone; and an electronic control device of a functioning of the camera, of the lighting device and of the advancing device.

A locating method and system of determining a microorganism concentration of a fluid in a Petri dish is disclosed. The Petri dish includes a culture medium on which a seeding device is rotatable relative to the Petri dish. The seeding device distributes the fluid and includes at least one point of contact with the culture medium. The point of contact is associated with a contact zone.