MICROORGANISM NUMBER-MEASURING APPARATUS

• US 20120244606A1
• Filed: 11/25/2010
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeshita, Toshiaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0656 using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number

Abstract

A microorganism number-measuring apparatus includes a container holder holding container that accommodates a liquid into which microorganisms are released, power supply unit applying a microorganism-collecting voltage and a microorganism number-measuring voltage to measurement electrode that is dipped in container held by the container holder, and reuse prevention unit that makes measurement electrode burn out after a measurement operation thereof. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent improper reuse of the measurement electrode.

Claims

1. A microorganism number-measuring apparatus comprising:

a container holder holding a container accommodating a liquid into which microorganisms are released;

a power supply unit applying a microorganism-collecting voltage and a microorganism number-measuring voltage to a measurement electrode dipped in the container held by the container holder; and

a reuse prevention unit making the measurement electrode burn out after a measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

2. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reuse prevention unit includes a disconnection unit switching connection of a direct-current power supply unit to the measurement electrode.

3. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a disconnection detection unit detecting a burnout of the measurement electrode before the measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

4. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the disconnection detection unit switches connection of an alternating-current power supply unit to the measurement electrode.

5. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reuse prevention unit applies a burnout alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the burnout alternating-current voltage having a frequency lower than those of the microorganism-collecting voltage and the microorganism number-measuring voltage.

6. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reuse prevention unit applies the burnout alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the burnout alternating-current voltage having a frequency lower than a commercial frequency.

7. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a disconnection detection unit detecting a burnout of the measurement electrode before the measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

8. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the disconnection detection unit detects the burnout of the measurement electrode by means of applying an alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the alternating-current voltage having a frequency higher than that of the burnout alternating-current voltage.

9. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the disconnection detection unit detects the burnout of the measurement electrode by means of applying the microorganism number-measuring voltage to the measurement electrode.

10. A microorganism number-measuring apparatus comprising:

a container accommodating a liquid into which microorganisms are released;

a container holder holding the container;

a measurement electrode dipped in the container held by the container holder;

a power supply unit applying a microorganism-collecting voltage and a microorganism number-measuring voltage to the measurement electrode; and

a reuse prevention unit making the measurement electrode burn out after a measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

11. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reuse prevention unit includes a disconnection unit switching connection of a direct-current power supply unit to the measurement electrode.

12. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

a disconnection detection unit detecting a burnout of the measurement electrode before the measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

13. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the disconnection detection unit switches connection of an alternating-current power supply unit to the measurement electrode.

14. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reuse prevention unit applies a burnout alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the burnout alternating-current voltage having a frequency lower than those of the microorganism-collecting voltage and the microorganism number-measuring voltage.

15. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reuse prevention unit applies the burnout alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the burnout alternating-current voltage having a frequency lower than a commercial frequency.

16. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a disconnection detection unit detecting a burnout of the measurement electrode before the measurement operation of the measurement electrode.

17. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the disconnection detection unit detects the burnout of the measurement electrode by means of applying an alternating-current voltage to the measurement electrode, the alternating-current voltage having a frequency higher than that of the burnout alternating-current voltage.

18. The microorganism number-measuring apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the disconnection detection unit detects the burnout of the measurement electrode by means of applying the microorganism number-measuring voltage to the measurement electrode.