Automated bioluminescence microbial monitor

• US 5,141,869 A
• Filed: 06/27/1990
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Steele, John W., Sribnik, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REARDON, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US07/544,764
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 435/291, 435/8, 422/44, 422/58, 422/294
• US Class Current: 435/288.7
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/66 involving luciferase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2304/60 Chemiluminescent detection using ATP-luciferin-luciferase system

Abstract

The combination of a culturing process, bioluminescence mediated by luciferin/luciferase, and a light measuring device allows microbial monitoring in liquids with microbial concentrations as low as 1 CFU/100 ml. All characteristics of this monitor are zero gravity compatible which makes it particularly suitable for applications such as monitoring microbial counts in water in a zero gravity, closed environment.

Claims

1. A microbial monitor, which comprises:

a. a bladder for enriching microbial concentration in a liquid sample constructed so as to expand to a volume commensurate with a volume of said liquid sample and a volume of growth buffer introduced to said bladder, wherein said construction enables zero gravity compatibility;

b. a means in flow communication with said bladder for introducing the liquid sample to said bladder;

c. a second means in flow communication with said bladder for introducing the growth buffer to said bladder;

d. a bacteria filter located within said blader for concentrating the amount of microbes in the liquid sample, wherein said concentrated microbes grow in said growth buffer to become enriched in concentration;

e. a luciferin/luciferase assembly in flow communication with said bladder for containing luciferin/luciferase and for receiving bacteria release agent and a sample of said enriched microbial concentration from said bladder;

f. a bacteria release agent reservoir in flow communication with said luciferin/luciferase assembly, for supplying the bacteria release agent to said luciferin/luciferase assembly;

g. a means for mixing the luciferin/luciferase with the bacteria release agent and the enriched microbial concentration thereby causing the emission of light; and

h. a means for measuring said emitted light, wherein said means for measuring said emitted light is connected to said luciferin/luciferase assembly.

2. A microbial monitor as in claim 1 wherein said liquid sample is selected from the group consisting of water, milk, soft drinks, and urine.

3. A microbial monitor as in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring light emitted is selected from the group consisting of a luminometer and a photometer.

4. A microbial monitor as in claim 1 further comprising a means for heating the liquid sample and the growth buffer in said bladder.

5. A microbial monitor as in claim 4 wherein said means for heating is selected from the group consisting of a furnace and an oven.

6. A microbial monitor as in claim 1, further comprising a water supply flow communication with said luciferin/luciferase assembly for supplying water to said luciferin/luciferase assembly, wherein the water is mixed with the luciferin/luciferase, the bacteria release agent, and the enriched microbial concentration.