High sensitivity flat panel microbiology detection and enumeration system

A method for detecting and enumerating cells in a cell culture using a flat panel imaging system, the method comprising:

• providing a cell medium having a plurality of cells thereon;
• placing the cell medium on a flat panel detector of a flat panel imaging system, the flat panel detector comprising an array of photodiodes and transistors that collect light generated from or transmitted through the cell medium;
• collecting light emitted by cells on the cell medium responsive to an excitation of the cells achieved via one of a chemiluminescence imaging technique and a fluorescence imaging technique, the light emitted by the cells being collected by the array of photodiodes of the flat panel detector and converted to electric charges to generate a first set of light data;
• processing the first set of light data to generate a first digital image of the cells;
• collecting light transmitted through the cells on the cell medium responsive to illumination of the cells by a light source integrated into the flat panel imaging system, the light transmitted through the cells being collected by the array of photodiodes of the flat panel detector and converted to electric charges to generate a second set of light data;
• and
• processing the second set of light data to generate a second digital image of the cells.

A flat panel imaging system for detecting and enumerating cells microbial cells provided on a cell medium, the flat panel imaging system comprising:

• a housing including a base portion and a lid that collectively form a closed environment to exclude external sources of light from entering the housing;
• a flat panel detector encased in the base portion, the flat panel detector comprising an array of pixels each including a photodiode and transistor that convert photons received thereby to electrical signals that are representative of the photons impacting individual the respective pixel;
• a fluorescent light source configured to illuminate the cells on the cell medium so as to excite at least a portion of the cells and cause those cells to generate photons that are captured by the array of pixels;
• a white light source configured to illuminate the cells on the cell medium, with photons transmitted through the cells being captured by the array of pixels;
• and
• an image reconstructor configured to process the electrical signals that are representative of the photons received by the array of pixels so as to provide for generation of a digital image of the cells on the cell medium, wherein the image reconstructor is configured to:
• generate a first image of the microbial cells that captures cells that are excited responsive to illumination with the fluorescent light, the first image tagging locations at which photons generated by cells excited responsive to illumination with the fluorescent light as containing a marked cell;
• and
• generate a second image of the microbial cells that captures cells through which photons are transmitted when illuminated by the white light source, the second image providing a total cell count of the microbial cells on the cell medium.