Technique to count objects in a scanned image

Claim 3

A microbial colony counting apparatus comprising a) a linear array of light sensitive detectors intersecting a substantially planar substrate culture device containing microbial colonies growing in a solid media, wherein the detectors intersect the planar substrate in a substantially straight line and measure pixel values in the linear array, wherein pixels values on a white side of predetermined threshold are recorded as a value of 0 and pixel values on a black side of the threshold are recorded as a value of 1, b) processing means to record and manipulate the pixel values measured by the detectors, c) indexing means for incrementally changing the position of the planar substrate relative to the detectors to provide more than one indexed position of the planar substrate wherein the change of position is substantially perpendicular to the, substantially straight line intersection of the linear array with the planar substrate, d) colony counting means for determining the number of colonies growing in the solid media on the planar substrate wherein three pixel values recorded from a first indexed position of the planar substrate are compared to two pixel values from an adjacent, second indexed position, wherein the pixels from the second indexed position consist of P1, a present pixel on the second linear array and P2, a previous, adjacent pixel on the second linear array, and the pixels from the first indexed position consist of P4, a pixel from the same position as P1 in the first indexed position, P3, an adjacent pixel recorded before P4, and P5, an adjacent pixel recorded after P4, wherein an object start is recorded when the pixel value for P1 is 1 and the pixel values for P2, P3, P4, P5 are 0; or wherein an object merge is recorded when i) the pixel values for P1, P3, P5 are 1 and the pixel values for P2 and are 0; or ii) the pixel values for P1, P2 and P5 are 1 and the pixel values for P3 and P4 are 0; or iii) the pixel values for P1, P2, P3, and P5 are 1 and the pixel value for P4 is 0; wherein the number of colonies growing in the solid media is a total of recorded object starts minus recorded object merges.

Claim 4

A microbial colony counting apparatus comprising a) a linear array of light sensitive detectors intersecting a substantially planar substrate culture device containing microbial colonies growing in a solid media, wherein the detectors intersect the planar substrate in a substantially straight line and measure pixel values in the linear array, wherein pixels values on a white side of predetermined threshold are recorded as a value of 0 and pixel values on a black side of the threshold are recorded as a value of 1, b) processing means to record and manipulate the pixel values measured by the detectors, c) indexing means for incrementally changing the position of the planar substrate relative to the detectors to provide more than one indexed position of the planar substrate wherein the change of position is substantially perpendicular to the, substantially straight line intersection of the linear array with the planar substrate, d) colony counting means for determining the number of colonies growing in the solid media on the planar substrate wherein three pixel values recorded from a first indexed position of the planar substrate are compared to two pixel values from an adjacent, second indexed position, wherein the pixels from the second indexed position consist of P1, a present pixel on the second linear array and P2, a previous, adjacent pixel on the second linear array, and the pixels from the first indexed position consist of P4, a pixel from the same position as P1 in the first indexed position, P3, an adjacent pixel recorded before P4, and P5, an adjacent pixel recorded after P4, wherein an object start is recorded when the pixel value for P1 is 1 and the pixel values for P2, P3, P4, P5 are 0; or wherein an object merge is recorded when i) the pixel values for P1, P3, P5 are 1 and the pixel values for P2 and are 0; or ii) the pixel values for P1, P2 and P5 are 1 and the pixel values for P3 and P4 are 0; or iii) the pixel values for P1, P2, P3, and P5 are 1 and the pixel value for P4 is 0; wherein the number of colonies growing in the solid media is a total of recorded object starts minus recorded object merges.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the linear array of light sensitive detectors comprise a CCD sensor array.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a light source positioned to produce light striking an upper surface of the substantially planar substrate and which is capable of providing light having a substantially uniform intensity across the substantially straight line intersection at the linear array with the planar substrate.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light source is a linear LED array.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising focusing means for focusing light reflected from an upper surface of the substantially planar substrate to the detectors.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the focusing means comprise a linear array of lenses.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the linear array of lenses comprise a linear array of SELFOC lenses.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indexing means comprise an incremental stepper motor operatively connected to at least one roller for changing the position of the planar substrate.