Device and method for automatic processing of culture plates for microbiological samples

An automatic processing device of culture plates for microbiological samples, wherein the processing device comprises:

• a support frame;
• at least a carrier provided with at least a seating configured for removably housing at least a culture plate for microbiological samples, said at least a carrier being movably mounted on the support frame and configured to be selectively displaceable between a first loading position of the culture plate, at least an image-acquiring zone, and a first unloading position of the culture plate;
• a camera provided with a telecentric optic and configured to acquire, at an image acquiring position of said image-acquiring zone, at least an image of a surface of the culture plate housed on the carrier, the automatic processing device being configured to obtain at least an overall image of the culture plate;
• at least a movable support of the carrier configured to provide an advancing movement of the carrier in the image-acquiring zone;
• and
• an electronic controller, programmed to control at least the functioning of the camera and of the movable support, to acquire said at least an overall image of the surface of the culture plate;
• the electronic controller being configured for obtaining a first overall initial image of the culture plate obtained at said image-acquiring zone in a first step before a period of incubation of a biological sample arranged on the culture plate and a successive first overall image obtained at said image-acquiring zone in a second step following a period of incubation of the biological sample on the culture plate for a first time period in an incubator.