WO2015162364A1

WO2015162364A1 - Method, system and computer program product for displaying an image of an object

Info

Publication number: WO2015162364A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/051064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Decaux; Régis DE SAINT JEAN; Pierre Imbaud
Original assignee: bioMérieux
Priority date: 2014-04-25
Filing date: 2015-04-20
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Also published as: FR3020485A1

Abstract

Method of displaying an image of a Petri dish (205) on a display screen (304) of a user interface (302), said user interface (302) comprising a means of activation (306), said method comprising the following steps: acquisition of at least two images of the Petri dish (205), each image of the Petri dish (205) being associated with a different position of the Petri dish (205), each position being localised in an acquisition reference frame with respect to a first (206) and a second (208) axis of rotation of said Petri dish (205) and for one and the same determined angle of inclination of said Petri dish (205) with first co-ordinates; placement in memory of each image acquired of the Petri dish (205) and of the values of the corresponding first co-ordinates so as to compile a list of the first co-ordinates of the images acquired; issuing of a request to display an image of the Petri dish (205) by means of the actuation of the activation means (306) in a restitution reference frame; restitution of at least one image of the Petri dish (205), said at least one image of the Petri dish (205) being associated with first co-ordinates of the list of the first co-ordinates on the display screen (304).

Description

METHOD, SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DISPLAYING AN IMAGE OF AN OBJECT

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of biological analysis and, more specifically, to a method, a system, and a computer program product for displaying an image of an object such as a Petri dish and enabling, from several images of the Petri dish, identification and enumeration of colonies of microorganisms grown within the petri dish.

State of the art

In the prior art, it is known to automatically identify and enumerate colonies of microorganisms using image acquisition systems to acquire digital images of a Petri dish containing micro colonies. -organisms.

The image acquisition systems generally comprise an image acquisition means such as a digital camera, light sources emitting light rays of different wavelengths and, optionally, a rotation device associated with the petri dish.

An exemplary image acquisition system is described in patent application EP2161341. The image acquisition system comprises a rotation device so that the petri dish is rotated, according to several angles of rotation about an axis of rotation located in the center of the surface of said petri dish. The images thus obtained from the petri dish thus correspond to images of the same petri dish observed at different angles of rotation of the petri dish relative to the central axis of the digital camera and to the central axes of the light sources. . Then the images thus acquired can be processed together by means of an image processing system in order to automatically identify and count the colonies of microorganisms present within the petri dish. There are also other image acquisition systems comprising one or more colored backgrounds, for example a black background or a white background. Thus, when acquiring images of an observed biological sample, the specific data present on the images acquired are specific to each color background.

However, the image acquisition systems known in the prior art do not allow to obtain a faithful representation of a Petri dish as observed by a user during a conventional manipulation. Indeed, said conventional manipulation consists of observing the Petri dish by imposing a pivoting at an angle of inclination of the Petri dish with respect to the horizontal plane of the petri dish and a specific angular orientation of the plane of the petri dish. compared to the plane of a light source. Such a classical manipulation makes it possible to obtain three-dimensional characteristics relating to the state of the surface, to the texture, to the geometry and to the elevation of the colonies observed. State-of-the-art image acquisition systems only allow two-dimensional images of the Petri dish to be observed. Therefore, the three-dimensional characteristics necessary for the user to characterize colonies of microorganisms are not visible to the user. The conditions of observation of the petri dish imposed by the images acquired by means of image acquisition systems known in the prior art are therefore not optimal.

In addition, the images obtained for each different position of the petri dish, by means of the prior art acquisition systems, must be combined and analyzed by means of a computer program in order to obtain, from the set of images, relevant information concerning the colonies of microorganisms observed. Thus, the direct observation of a image by a user, without computer analysis of images, does not allow to characterize colonies of microorganisms.

The image acquisition systems according to the prior art are generally bulky and therefore can not easily be integrated into a global automated analysis system comprising, for example, a petri dish supply system, an incubator and a petri dish conveying system. Some image acquisition systems may be relatively compact without allowing the Petri dishes to pivot. Therefore, the conditions of observation of Petri dishes are extremely limited.

Finally, when a first user observes the petri dish by manipulating said petri dish, a second user located at a distance from the Petri dish observation site does not have the possibility of reproducing the manipulation. from the petri dish. The second user must be content to observe the images of the manipulation, without any possible interaction with these images.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome at least partially the problems mentioned above.

Summary of the invention

Thus, a first object of the invention is to provide a method of displaying an image of an object on a display screen of a user interface, said user interface comprising an activation means, said process comprising the following steps: acquiring at least two images of the object, each image of the object being associated with a different position of the object, each position being located in an acquisition reference frame by first coordinates;

- Storing each acquired image of the object and the values of the first corresponding coordinates to form a list of the first coordinates of the acquired images; issuing a request to display an image of the object by means of actuation of the activation means in a restitution frame;

restitution of at least one image of the object, said at least one image of the object being associated with first coordinates of the list of first coordinates on the display screen. Preferably, the restitution step comprises the following steps: detecting the position of the activation means in the restitution frame to locate the activation means by second coordinates;

- Comparing the second coordinates with the first coordinates to find the first coordinates corresponding to the second coordinates in the list of first coordinates;

according to the result of the comparison, display on the display screen of the image of the object for which the second coordinates correspond to the first coordinates.

Preferably, the step of acquiring an image of the object comprising a step of illuminating the object and a step of moving the object from a rest position to a first position. Preferably, the transmission of a display request comprises the actuation of an external activation means such as a pointing device or the actuation of an internal activation means such as a sensor of tilt.

Preferably, the method comprises a step of transmitting the second coordinates to a data processing module.

A second object of the invention is to provide a system for displaying an image of an object comprising:

an image acquisition system comprising a motion device, an illumination means and an image capture device;

an image rendering system comprising a user interface having a display screen and an activating means for activating the display of the object image on the display screen; said image acquisition system for obtaining an image of the object in a position corresponding to first coordinates and said image rendering system for obtaining the display of the image of the object in said position when said activation means is in a second position such that the second coordinates correspond to the first coordinates.

Preferably, the display system comprises a microprocessor for detecting the position of the activating means.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an analysis system comprising at least one incubator and an image display system of an object as described above according to the present invention.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a computer program product comprising software instructions for the implementation of implementing a method as described above according to the present invention when said program is executed by a data processor.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention, its functionality, its applications as well as its advantages will be better understood on reading the present description, with reference to the figures, in which: FIG. 1 schematically shows a biological analysis system comprising a image acquisition system of an object and a system for rendering images of the object, according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 schematically shows the details of a motion device of the image acquisition system according to FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 schematically shows a front view of the motion device of the image acquisition system according to FIG. 2, in the presence of an image capture device and illumination means, according to FIG. an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 schematically shows the orthonormal coordinate system used as a reference mark for defining the inclination of the object as a function of the horizontal axes (OX1), (OX2) and the vertical axis (OY), according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 schematically shows the angle of inclination α between the object and the axis (OX1), according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows, schematically, the angle of inclination α between the object and the axis (0x2), according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 schematically shows 16 different positions that the object can occupy as a function of its inclination with respect to the axes (OX1) and (OX2), according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 schematically shows an automated image acquisition system comprising additional devices and the movement device according to FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 9 shows the different steps of the image acquisition method, according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 shows the 16 acquired images of a Petri dish, according to the 16 positions of FIG. 6, according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 shows the different steps of the image restoration method, according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 12 shows the image of a petri dish displayed on a display screen of a personal computer, according to an embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show the image of a Petri dish displayed on a display screen of a portable tactile electronic device, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention The purpose of the following detailed description is to explain the invention in a sufficiently clear and complete manner, in particular by means of examples, but should in no way be regarded as limiting the scope of the protection to the modes of particular embodiments and the examples presented below.

The present invention relates to the analysis of a sample. According to the present invention, the sample may be of various origins, for example of food, environmental, veterinary, clinical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic origin.

In general, the term "sample" refers to a part or quantity, more specifically a small part or a small quantity, taken from one or more entities for analysis. This sample may possibly have undergone prior treatment, involving for example mixing, dilution or grinding steps, in particular if the starting entity is in the solid state.

The sample taken is, in general, capable of - or suspected of - containing at least one target external microorganism such as a bacterium, a yeast, a fungus.

According to the present invention, the analysis is carried out using an object such as a Petri dish comprising a bottom and a lid. The bottom comprises a culture medium such as an agar culture medium. The purpose of the analysis is to characterize the colonies of microorganisms present in the fluid on the agar culture medium, after incubation of the petri dish.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a biological analysis system 100 comprising an image acquisition system 200 and an image restoration system 300. The image acquisition system 200 comprises a motion device 202 shown in detail in FIG. 2. The movement device 202 comprises an internal support 204 of center O, intended to receive an object 205 to be analyzed such as a box of Petri. Thus, any change in position of the inner support 204 also applies to the object 205. Preferably, the inner support 204 has a circular shape adapted to receive a petri dish. The internal support 204 is held by a first axis of rotation 206, such as a rod and a second axis of rotation 208, such as a rod. The first axis of rotation 206 and the second axis of rotation 208 are perpendicularly disposed relative to one another. The point of intersection of the first axis of rotation 206 and the second axis of rotation 208 corresponds to the center O of the internal support 204. The internal support 204 is also indicated by a vertical axis (OY), not shown in FIG. perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the inner support 204 and passing through the center O. Thus, the first and second axes of rotation 206, 208 define an orthonormal coordinate system (O, X1, X2, Y) or acquisition reference shown in FIG. 4 The horizontal axis (OX1) represents the first axis of rotation 206 as shown in FIG. 4. The horizontal axis (OX2) represents the second axis of rotation 208 as shown in FIG. first axis of rotation 206 allows an inclination of the internal support 204, according to a tilt angle a of determined value, with respect to the horizontal plane of the internal support 204, along the axis (OX1), as shown in FIG. second axis of rotation 208 allows an inclination of u internal support 204, according to the same angle of inclination a determined value, relative to the horizontal plane of the inner support 204, along the axis (OX2), as shown in Figure 6. The determined value of the angle d inclination a varies according to the environment in which the motion device 202 is used. Thus, the determined value of the inclination angle α can be between 0 ° and 90 ° when the movement device 202 is used within a global automated analysis system described below and comprising suitable means. such as a clamp capable of holding the object 205 and tilting said object 205. Preferably, the determined value of the angle of inclination a is between 5 ° and 15 °. Alternatively, the determined value of the angle of inclination α is between 0 ° and 30 ° when the motion device 202 is used autonomously. Preferably, the determined value of the angle is between 5 ° and 15 °.

The movement device 202 also comprises an external support 210 surrounding the internal support 204 and intended to maintain the first and second axes of rotation 206, 208. The external support 210 and the internal support 204 are separated by a void zone 207, of shape circular. The shape of the empty zone 207 may vary in order to be adapted to the shape of the object 205.

A first coupling device 212 associated with the first axis of rotation 206 is located outside the external support 210. A first motorized device 214 such as a servomotor is connected to the first coupling device 212 to control the rotation of the first axis. of rotation 206.

A second coupling device 216 associated with the second axis of rotation 208 is located outside the external support 210. A second motorized device 218 such as a servomotor is connected to the second coupling device 216 to control the rotation of the second axis. rotation 208.

Stabilization supports 217, 219 make it possible to keep the ends of the pins 206, 208 in contact with the external support 210. A first electronic control device (not shown) is connected to the first and second motorized devices 214, 218. The first device electronic control system makes it possible to control the activation of the first and second motorized devices 214, 218 to allow the inclination of the internal support 204 only and thus the inclination of the object 205 integrally with the internal support 204.

As described below, a computer acquisition program makes it possible to activate either the first motorized device 214 alone, or the second motorized device 218 alone, or the first and second motorized devices 214, 218 simultaneously in order to obtain different inclined positions of the inner support 204 over the entire circumference of said inner support 204. Thus, the inner support 204 can undergo inclinations of different directions for a tilt angle a of the same value. The number of inclinations is an acquisition parameter P which corresponds to the number of images to be acquired during the image acquisition process. In general, the acquisition parameter P can be a multiple of 4 in order to obtain 4 images, 8 images or 16 images for example. The acquisition parameter P can be defined before the triggering of the image acquisition method or, manually, by the user during the process of acquiring images.

FIG. 7 shows a representation of the 16 different positions occupied by the internal support 204 in the frame (O, X1, X2) when the number of images to be acquired is equal to 16 in a view from above of the movement device 202. L The axis (OX1) represents the first axis of rotation 206 and the axis (OX2) represents the second axis of rotation 208. When only the first motorized device 214 is activated, the internal support 204 can tilt relative to the first axis rotation 206 to occupy a first extreme position A and a second extreme position B.

When only the second motorized device 218 is activated, the internal support 204 can tilt relative to the second axis of rotation 208 to occupy a third extreme position C and a fourth extreme position D. When the first and second motorized devices 214, 218 are activated simultaneously, the inner support 204 can tilt relative to the first and second axes of rotation 206, 208 to occupy intermediate positions between the extreme positions A, B, C , D. The number of these positions corresponds to the number N of images determined during the setting up of the image acquisition system 200.

As shown in FIG. 7, the internal support 204 can occupy the following positions:

- extreme positions A, B, C, D,

intermediate positions E, F, G located between the extreme positions A and C,

intermediate positions H, I, J located between the extreme positions C and B,

intermediate positions K, L, M located between the extreme positions B and D,

intermediate positions N, O, P located between the extreme positions D and A. All these positions can be referenced with the coordinates below according to the projections of each position on the axes (OX1) and (OX2):

Extreme positions:

A (0, X2max); B (0, X2min); C (X1 max, 0); D (X1 min, 0).

Intermediate positions:

E (X1 E, X2E); F (X1 F, X2F); G (X1G, X2G);

H (X 1 H, X 2 H); I (X1 I, X2I); J (X1J, X2J);

K (X1 K, X2K); L (X1 L, X2L); M (X 1 M, X 2 M);

N (X 1 N, X 2 N); O (X10, X20); P (X1 P, X2P).

FIG. 7 shows examples of projections of the positions A, B, C, D, E, F and G making it possible to obtain the corresponding coordinates mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 1, the image acquisition system 200 also comprises an illumination means 220 such as a light source, capable of emitting light rays in one or more wavelengths. The illumination means 220 may be fixedly positioned or rotatable about its central axis. The illumination means 220 may comprise at least one light source producing a white light such as a white light emitting diode. Alternatively, the illumination means 220 comprises a plurality of light sources emitting different wavelengths. The illumination means 220 may be specifically located above or below the motion device 202 and at a given inclination angle to the motion device 202. A second electronic control device (not shown) ) controls the operation and parameterization of the illumination means 220.

According to Figure 1, the image acquisition system 200 also includes an image capture device 230 such as a digital camera. The image capture device 230 may be specifically located above the motion device 202 and at a given angle of inclination with respect to the motion device 202. The image capture device 230 may be positioned fixedly or rotatably about its central axis. The image capture device 230 may be programmed to capture an N number of images.

A third electronic control device (not shown) makes it possible to control the operation and the parameterization of the image capture device 230. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the motion device 202 according to FIG. 2 and along the second axis of FIG. rotation 208. According to Figure 3, two illumination means 220 and an image capture device 230, including a lens 231, are disposed above the object 205 to be observed. Each means 220 is oriented in a manner determined with respect to the image capture device 230 and the internal support 204. The objective 231 of the image capture device 230 is disposed above the center O (not shown) of the image capture device 230. internal support 204.

According to a preferred embodiment, the internal support 204 only undergoes inclination at a determined angle of inclination and associated with different angular orientations relative to the illumination means 220 for said same angle of inclination. The image capture device 230 and the illumination means 220 occupy a fixed position. According to the preferred embodiment, the bulk of the assembly formed by the image capture device 230, the illumination means 220 and the motion device 202 therefore corresponds to a minimum volume. The preferred embodiment therefore represents an easy and inexpensive solution to implement, while improving the quality of observation of an object 205 by a user.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner support 204 may tilt and rotate, the image capture device 230 and the illumination means 220 being in a fixed position.

According to an alternative embodiment, the internal support 204 may be tilted, the image capture device 230 being in a rotatably movable position and the illuminating means 220 being in a fixed position.

According to an alternative embodiment, the inner support 204 can be tilted and rotated, the image capture device 230 being rotatable and the illuminating means 220 in a fixed position.

According to alternative embodiments, the inner support 204 can maintain a stationary position, the illumination means 220 and / or the image capture device 230 being in a fixed position or rotatable. So, these Embodiments may require, for example, a plurality of illumination means 220 as well as a plurality of image capturing devices 230.

The image acquisition system 200 can operate autonomously to acquire images of the object 205 at different inclination positions of the object 205 and store these images within a database of an electronic device (not shown) for subsequent provision for a user. In the embodiment where the image acquisition system 200 operates autonomously, the supply of the object 205 to be analyzed may be manual or automated.

When the supply of the object 205 is manual, the user must place the object 205 on the internal support 204.

When the supply is automated, additional devices, shown in Figure 8, may be provided. Thus, a first additional device 250 can store a plurality of objects 205 before the image acquisition system 200. A second additional device 251 can convey an object 205 thus stored to the image acquisition system 200 and more specifically to the internal support 204. A third additional device 252 allows the object 205 to be received after the image acquisition system 200.

Alternatively, the image acquisition system 200 can operate within a global automated analysis system (not shown) integrating an incubator, an illumination means and an image capture device such as the global automated analysis system described in the patent application published under the number EP2520923 and for providing images of biological samples. The overall automated analysis system includes a petri dish supply system, an incubator and a Petri dish conveying system. Thus, in this embodiment, the supply of the object 205 is automated and the additional devices 250, 251, 252 described above are integrated into the overall automated analysis system. Therefore, only the motion device 202 of the image acquisition system 200 is needed within the overall automated analysis system to allow acquisition of images of the object 205.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image acquisition system 200 also comprises a global electronic control device 240, such as a personal computer, for controlling the operation of the first electronic control device concerning the activation of the first and second electronic control devices. second motorized devices 214, 218 and also the operation of the second electronic control device concerning the illumination means 220 and the third electronic control device concerning the image capture device 230. The overall electronic control device 240 comprises a microphone processor 242 and an acquisition computer program 244 for acquiring the images by means of the image acquisition system 200. Thus, the microprocessor 242 can receive image acquisition start instructions and trigger the acquisition of images. execution of the acquisition computer program 242. The electronic control device globa l 240 also includes a memory component 246 which may be removable to store, within a database 248, image data acquired during the image acquisition process. The database 248 may comprise a list of one or more objects 205 for which images have been acquired and a list of acquired images for said objects 205. Each image is referenced by the coordinates of the corresponding position of the object 205 .

FIG. 9 shows the steps of a method of acquiring 16 images of a Petri dish with an inclination of the internal support 204 at an angle of inclination α with respect to the plane (OX1 X2) and with a supply of object 205 made manually. The 16 corresponding positions of the Petri dish are shown in Figure 7 Thus, in a step 270, the object 205 is disposed on the internal support 204 by the user. In a step 272, an image acquisition request is transmitted to the microprocessor 242 in order to execute the acquisition computer program 244. In a step 274, the number of images to be acquired is checked in order to set in consequently, the acquisition parameter P, and therefore the number of inclinations of the internal support 204 to be made. If the number of images to be acquired is not indicated, the user must inform it by means of the electronic device of global control 240. Thus, the user can set by default the value of the number of images to be acquired as being 16. When the user wants to increase the fluidity during the display, that is to say during the restitution of the images, the default value can be replaced by a specific value greater than the default value.

In a step 276, the global electronic control device 240 sets the operating parameters of the first, second and third control devices so that the acquisition device 202, the illumination means 220 and the image capture device 230 are correctly arranged in relation to each other. The operating parameters include, in particular, the angle of inclination of the internal support 204, the type of illumination desired with respect to the light sources in the presence. In the preferred embodiment, the image capture device 230 and the illumination means 220 are in a fixed position determined by the user. For all the embodiments, the global electronic control device 240 makes it possible to obtain a cutting in equal angular sectors of the circumference of the petri dish. The number of angular sectors corresponds to the value of the number of images indicated in step 274.

The global electronic control device 240 also determines the operating parameters of the first, second and third control devices so that the number of positions, i.e. the number of inclinations, of the internal support 204, corresponds to the number of positions imposed by the value of the acquisition parameter P. In a step 278, the internal support 204 is displaced for example from a rest position to a first position, with respect to the 16 required positions according to the default value of the number of images to be acquired, for example the position A, according to a first inclination.

In a step 280, the image capture device 230 acquires the first image of the object 205 in the position A and stores the first image in the database 248. The first image is referenced by the coordinates of the position A (0, X2max).

In a step 282, the value of the number N of acquired images is compared with the value of the acquisition parameter P. In the situation where the value of the number N of acquired images is less than the value of the acquisition parameter P , the value of the number N of images acquired is incremented by a step equal to 1 and the image acquisition method continues. In the present embodiment, the comparison indicates in step 282:

1 (value of the number N of acquired images) <16 (value of the acquisition parameter P).

The acquisition method is continued by repeating the steps 278, 280 and 282 for each new position of the internal support 204, until the value of the number N of acquired images is equal to the value of the acquisition parameter P When the value of the number N of images acquired is no longer less than the value of the acquisition parameter P, that is to say when the number N of acquired images is reached then N = P in the step 282. Thus, in a next step 284, the object 205 can be removed from the internal support 204 by the user. The acquisition method can thus be repeated as many times as necessary depending on the number of objects 205 to be analyzed. In the situation where the image acquisition system is included in an automated global analysis system, steps prior to step 270 can be added, in particular concerning the placing of the objects 205 in the additional device upstream of the device. movement device 202, and the detection of the end of the placement of the objects 205, an automatic triggering of the image acquisition process and a conveying of each object 205 to the movement device 202. Steps subsequent to Step 284 may also be added for conveying the objects 205 from the motion device 202 to the additional device 252.

Figure 10 shows an example of 16 images acquired when the object 205 is a petri dish. Each image corresponds to a different position of the petri dish with different positions of light reflections within the petri dish. Thus, the user can optimally analyze the contents of the Petri dish.

At the end of the image acquisition process, the database 248 comprises a list of data relating to each image acquired, that is to say to each position of the object 205. The data correspond to the coordinates of the object 205 in each of its positions, according to the axes of rotation (OX1) and (OX2) and relative to the vertical axis (OY).

As shown in FIG. 1, the biological analysis system 100 also comprises an image restoration system 300.

As shown in Fig. 1, the image rendering system 300 includes a user interface 302 such as a personal computer or a touch sensitive electronic device such as a touch pad. The user interface 302 comprises in particular a display screen 304 for displaying the images acquired by means of the image acquisition system 200. The user interface 302 also comprises a microprocessor (not shown) and a memory component (not shown). The user interface 302 also includes an activation means 306 for enabling the display of images on the display screen 304. In the situation where the user interface 302 is a personal computer, the means of activation 306 is an external activation means such as a pointing device. The external activation means comprises for example a computer mouse. Thus, a change of position of the external activation means corresponds to a change of position of the pointing device on the display screen 304. In the situation where the user interface 302 is a touch-sensitive electronic electronic device, the means 306 is an internal activation means, integrated with the portable tactile electronic device, such as a tilt sensor. The internal activation means comprises for example a gyroscope and / or an accelerometer. Thus, a change of position of the internal activation means corresponds to a change of position of the portable tactile electronic device. The user thus proceeds to a change of position of the activation means in a restitution frame (not shown).

The image rendering system 300 also comprises a rendering computer module 308 capable of interacting with the user interface 302. The rendering computer module 308 comprises a microprocessor 310, a rendering computer program 312 and a module Thus, the microprocessor 310 can detect the position of the activation means 306, receive instructions for launching the display of acquired images, and initiate the execution of the rendering computer program 312. rendering computer 308 also includes a memory component 316. The memory component 316 includes a database 318 for storing the image data to be displayed on the display screen 304 and a database 320 for storing the data relating to the coordinates of the detected positions of the object 205. The rendering computer module 308 can be integrated within the int user-interface 302. As shown in FIG. 11, the process of restoring acquired images comprises several steps. In a step 400, the user selects, for example, from the object list, the object 205 for which he wishes to display, by means of the image restitution system 300, the images acquired by means of the system of image acquisition 200. The step 400 is performed using the data stored in the database 318 of the memory component 316 of the image rendering system 300. When the memory component 316 is removable, the data used may be the images stored in the database 248 of the memory component 246 of the image acquisition system 200.

In a step 402, the list of data relating to the different images acquired for the selected object 205 is loaded, that is to say stored in the memory component 316. In a step 404, from the data list the first acquired image of the selected object 205 is displayed by default on the display screen 304. The first acquired image is referenced by the first data of the data list, that is to say the coordinates of the corresponding position of the object 205. In a step 406, the user moves the activation means 306, either by moving the pointing device on the display screen, or by changing the angle of inclination of the portable electronic device with respect to a reference horizontal plane associated with an initial rest position of the portable electronic device. In a step 408, the microprocessor 310 detects the position of the activation means 306, that is to say the coordinates of the position of the activation means 306.

The microprocessor 310 transmits the coordinates of the position to the memory component 316 in the database 320 in a step 410. The data processing module 314 then compares, in a step 412, the coordinates of the detected position. with the list of corresponding data in the database 246 including coordinates of the acquired images for the same selected object 205. When the data processing module 314 finds coordinates of an acquired image that correspond to the coordinates of the detected position of the activation means 306, then the data processing module 314 transmits the data of the acquired image thus found to display on the display screen 304 in a step 414.

When the user interface 302 is a personal computer, the display of acquired images of the selected object 205 can also be performed automatically. Thus, when the user interface 302 is a personal computer, the display parameters include a timer T to automatically display all the acquired images present in the data list for the selected object 205. The number of images displayed can thus vary according to the fluidity of display desired by the user. The acquisition time of the images decreases as the number of images to be displayed increases. For example, the timer T may be between 40 milliseconds (ms) and 1 second (s). Thus, the user can correspondingly view 25 frames per second up to 1 frame per second. Each time an acquired image is displayed, a display indicator i is incremented in order to compare the display indicator i with the number N of acquired images to be displayed for a selected object 205. Thus, as long as the display indicator i remains lower than the value of the number N of images to be displayed, the display of acquired images continues. An N number of images equal to 16 makes it possible to obtain a smooth visual rendering during the display. The comparison of the coordinates associated with a detected position of the activation means with the coordinates associated with the different positions of the selected object includes taking into account an error margin. Thus, the display of an acquired image is possible even when the coordinates of the detected position of the activation means 306 do not correspond exactly to the coordinates of the position of the object 205 when the image is acquired. object 205. This margin of error can be set within the image acquisition system 200 to define the different positions of each object 205. Thus, each value of a coordinate may be within a value range previously determined by the user.

Fig. 12 illustrates the display of an acquired image of a petri dish on a display screen when the user interface 302 is a personal computer. On the right of Figure 12, three Petri dishes are presented as thumbnails. Each thumbnail represents a petri dish that the user can select. Thus, the user can choose the petri dish he wants to observe by selecting one of the corresponding thumbnails. The petri dish shown in the center of Figure 12 corresponds to the first thumbnail located in the upper right corner of Figure 12. Thus, the image displayed in Figure 12 corresponds to a first position of the petri dish. The user can then use the external activation means (not shown) to move said external activation means on the acquired image to a specific area of the display screen for subsequent display. an image acquired from the petri dish according to the direction associated with the selected specific area.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the display of a petri dish in the situation where the user interface 302 is a touch-sensitive electronic electronic device. Figure 13 shows the display of a Petri dish in which colonies of microorganisms are visible. As shown in FIG. 14, thanks to the tactile properties of the display screen, the user can obtain an enlargement of a particular zone by making a movement of the fingers on the display screen, said movement being known in the prior art in the field of touch-sensitive portable electronic devices.

Fig. 15 shows the image of a petri dish on the display screen of the portable touch electronic device. On the lower part of the Petri dish image, three thumbnails are displayed. Each vignette corresponds to a different petri dish to observe. The user can select one of the corresponding thumbnails to observe the petri dish. Thus, it appears that the present invention makes it possible to provide three-dimensional information equivalent to the information that a user, such as a biologist, observes directly when handling an object to be observed, such as a petri dish.

The present invention thus makes it possible for each user, whether he is remote from the place of realization of the manipulation or that he carries out the manipulation directly, to have the same information concerning the same object to be analyzed. In addition, the present invention makes it possible to obtain information on a colony of microorganisms without first requiring the computer combination of several images. Unlike automatic analysis methods according to the state of the art, the present invention makes it possible to obtain additional information concerning the state of the surface, the texture, the geometry, the relief and the elevation of the surface. a colony of microorganisms observed. In addition, the present invention allows a reconstruction of the observation of the object in a three-dimensional animation of the various acquired images and retaining the conventional visual reference frame of the user.

Moreover, the images thus acquired can be stored and visualized later during a stage of verification or control of petri dishes or during the presence of colonies of microorganisms difficult to identify during a first observation of a petri dish. Finally, images can also be acquired, viewed and controlled in real time. The present invention allows a remote user, accustomed to this type of analysis, to find the sensations of a manual observation without requiring effective manual manipulation of the object observed by the remote user. Finally, the present invention allows an improvement in the detection of colonies of microorganisms located on the edge of a Petri dish. The present invention also makes it easier to observe the images concerning in particular the identification of pathogens in dense polymicrobial samples or the locating of microorganisms on the edges of a petri dish.

Claims

1. Method for displaying an image of a Petri dish (205) on a display screen (304) of a user interface (302), said user interface (302) comprising means of activation (306), said method comprising the following steps:

- acquisition of at least two images of the Petri dish (205), each image of the Petri dish (205) being associated with a different position of the Petri dish (205), each position being identified in a reference frame acquisition relative to a first (206) and a second (208) axis of rotation of said Petri dish (205) and for the same determined angle of inclination of said Petri dish (205) with first coordinates;

storing each acquired image of the Petri dish (205) and the values of the corresponding first coordinates to constitute a list of the first coordinates of the acquired images;

- issuing a request to display an image of the Petri dish (205) by means of actuation of the activation means (306) in a restitution repository;

restitution of at least one image of the Petri dish (205), said at least one image of the Petri dish (205) being associated with first coordinates from the list of first coordinates on the display screen (304 ).

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the restitution step comprises the following steps:

- detection of the position of the activation means (306) in the restitution reference frame to locate the activation means (306) by second coordinates; - comparison of the second coordinates with the first coordinates in order to find the first coordinates corresponding to the second coordinates in the list of first coordinates;

- depending on the result of the comparison, display on the display screen (304) the image of the Petri dish (205) for which the second coordinates correspond to the first coordinates.

Method according to claim 1 or 2, the step of acquiring an image of the object (205) comprising a step of illuminating the Petri dish (205) and a step of moving the Petri dish ( 205) from a rest position to a first position.

Display method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the transmission of a display request comprises the actuation of an external activation means such as a pointing device.

Display method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the transmission of a display request comprises the actuation of an internal activation means such as an inclination sensor.

Display method according to one of claims 2 to 5 comprising a step of transmitting the second coordinates to a data processing module (314).

System for displaying an image of a Petri dish (205), said display system comprising:

- an image acquisition system (200) comprising a movement device (202), an illumination means (220) and an image capture device (230);

- an image restitution system (300) comprising a user interface (302) comprising a display screen (304) and a means activation (306) to activate the display of the image of the Petri dish (205) on the display screen (304);

said image acquisition system (200) making it possible to obtain an image of the Petri dish (205) in a position corresponding to first coordinates in an acquisition reference frame with respect to a first (206) and a second (208) axis of rotation of said Petri dish (205) and for the same determined angle of inclination of said Petri dish (205) and said image reproduction system (300) making it possible to obtain the display of the image of the Petri dish (205) in said position when said activation means (306) is in a second position such that the second coordinates correspond to the first coordinates.

8. Display system according to claim 7, comprising a microprocessor (310) for detecting the position of the activation means (306).

9. Analysis system comprising at least one incubator and a system for displaying an image of a Petri dish (205) according to claim 7 or 8.

10. Computer program product comprising software instructions for implementing a method according to one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is executed by a data processor.