Apparatus for the analysis of microorganisms growth and procedure for the quantification of microorganisms concentration
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the analysis of microorganisms growth in cells having a culture medium and at least two metal electrodes measuring the impedance between them at two frequencies, and measuring the turbidity of the medium, wherein the process comprises:
- Means to produce sine currents to be applied to the culture cells;
Means to obtain interface resistance (Ri) and interface reactance (Xi), medium resistance (Rm), and absorbance or transmittance growth curves as a function of time based on the analog processing and the periodical digitalization of the voltage between the electrodes and the light detectors, as well as the respective serial resistance which can be stored and/or printed;
Means to reduce the non-microbial shifts produced by the measuring circuits at the interface reactance curves;
Means to maintain the culture cells at a constant temperature comprised within a range going from 10 to 75°
C. at two different temperatures;
Means to produce signals that are proportional to the optical variations;
Means to obtain different wavelengths;
Means to perform measurements in cells provided with three or four electrodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a procedure to detect and quantify the microorganisms concentration in anaerobe ecosystems, for instance, sulfate-reducing bacteria in oil producing systems or industrial or urban waste-waters production systems, as well as in aerobe microbial ecosystems, for instance in the industrial, clinical fields, etc. The apparatus analyzes the growth of microorganisms in cells provided with a culture medium by conducting automatic, continuous, and simultaneous measurements of the impedance components between at least two electrodes immersed in the culture medium and the turbidity measurements of the inoculated medium. The use of two incubators makes it possible to conduct simultaneous analysis at two different temperatures. The determination of the growth Threshold Detection Time (TDT) makes it possible to quantify the microorganisms concentration in an unknown sample.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for the analysis of microorganisms growth in cells having a culture medium and at least two metal electrodes measuring the impedance between them at two frequencies, and measuring the turbidity of the medium, wherein the process comprises:
-
Means to produce sine currents to be applied to the culture cells;
Means to obtain interface resistance (Ri) and interface reactance (Xi), medium resistance (Rm), and absorbance or transmittance growth curves as a function of time based on the analog processing and the periodical digitalization of the voltage between the electrodes and the light detectors, as well as the respective serial resistance which can be stored and/or printed;
Means to reduce the non-microbial shifts produced by the measuring circuits at the interface reactance curves;
Means to maintain the culture cells at a constant temperature comprised within a range going from 10 to 75°
C. at two different temperatures;
Means to produce signals that are proportional to the optical variations;
Means to obtain different wavelengths;
Means to perform measurements in cells provided with three or four electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification