Apparatus and method for detection of microorganisms
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An instrument for monitoring microbial growth in a specimen, comprising:
- a sealable, sterilizable container having an internal chamber in which the specimen is cultured in a sterile culture medium, the container having at least one transparent section;
a sterilizable indicator means located in the container in the region of the transparent section, said indicator means exhibiting a change in its measurable properties detectable through said transparent section upon exposure to metabolites of microbial growth, whereby changes in the indicator means can be monitored from the exterior of the container through said transparent section, thereby monitoring microbial growth without entering the container after sealing;
an emitter means for emitting an emitter signal that interacts with at least one measurable property of said indicator means, whereby an indicator signal is produced, positioned relative to said indicator means so that said emitter signal strikes said indicator means through the transparent section;
a detector means positioned relative to said indicator means for receiving the indicator signal from said indicator means through the transparent section and for producing a detector signal corresponding thereto;
processing means for receiving said detector signal and for processing said detector signal to evaluate changes in or the magnitude of the measurable property of said indicator means and thereby monitor microbial growth in said sealable container after said container has been sealed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for monitoring the color change of an indicator element sealed within a sterile vessel and exhibiting a color change in response to a change in the pH of CO2 level within the sterile vessel as a result of microbacterial growth within a specimen contained in the sterile vessel. The present invention includes means for continuously monitoring the absolute value of the pH and or CO2 level within the vessel and or monitoring the rate of change of the absolute value of the pH level.
146 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An instrument for monitoring microbial growth in a specimen, comprising:
-
a sealable, sterilizable container having an internal chamber in which the specimen is cultured in a sterile culture medium, the container having at least one transparent section; a sterilizable indicator means located in the container in the region of the transparent section, said indicator means exhibiting a change in its measurable properties detectable through said transparent section upon exposure to metabolites of microbial growth, whereby changes in the indicator means can be monitored from the exterior of the container through said transparent section, thereby monitoring microbial growth without entering the container after sealing; an emitter means for emitting an emitter signal that interacts with at least one measurable property of said indicator means, whereby an indicator signal is produced, positioned relative to said indicator means so that said emitter signal strikes said indicator means through the transparent section; a detector means positioned relative to said indicator means for receiving the indicator signal from said indicator means through the transparent section and for producing a detector signal corresponding thereto; processing means for receiving said detector signal and for processing said detector signal to evaluate changes in or the magnitude of the measurable property of said indicator means and thereby monitor microbial growth in said sealable container after said container has been sealed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
19. A method for detecting microbial growth in a specimen, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a sterilizable container, the container having at least one transparent section in a wall thereof and an indicator means that changes when exposed to metabolites of microbial growth disposed in the container in the region of the transparent section; providing an emitter means for emitting an emitter signal that interacts with at least one measurable property of said indicator means, whereby an indicator signal is produced, and positioned relative to said indicator means so that said emitter signal strikes said indicator means through the transparent section; providing a detector means positioned relative to said indicator means for receiving the indicator signal from said indicator means and for producing a detector signal corresponding thereto; providing a processing means for receiving said detector signal and for processing said detector signal to evaluate the change in or the magnitude of the measurable properties of said indicator means; introducing the specimen under sterile conditions into the container; incubating the specimen in the container; and detecting a change in or magnitude of the detector signal, thereby detecting microbial growth in the sealable bottle after the container has been sealed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification