Evaluation of biofilms and the effects of biocides thereon
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid container or conduit, comprising:
- a wall portion that supports sessile particles derived from the fluid;
means for forming images of the sessile particles and particles suspended in the fluid adjacent the wall portion;
means for producing data corresponding with the images of the sessile particles and suspended particles;
means for processing data corresponding to the images of the sessile particles and the suspended particles, and for removing data corresponding to the suspended particles, and for producing an output data segment corresponding substantially exclusively to the sessile particles present in the images; and
means for processing the output data segment and deriving an output signal representative of the accumulation of sessile particles on the wall portion, wherein the means for processing the output data segment comprises image analysis means for quantifying data segments corresponding to sessile particles on the wall portion.
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Abstract
Biofilm formation is monitored by real-time continuous measurement. Images are formed of sessile cells on a surface and planktonic cells adjacent the surface. The attachment of cells to the surface is measured and quantitated, and sessile and planktonic cells are distinguished using image processing techniques. Single cells as well as colonies are monitored on or adjacent a variety of substrates. Flowing streams may be monitored. The effects of biocides on biofilms commonly isolated from recyclable water systems are measured.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid container or conduit, comprising:
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a wall portion that supports sessile particles derived from the fluid;
means for forming images of the sessile particles and particles suspended in the fluid adjacent the wall portion;
means for producing data corresponding with the images of the sessile particles and suspended particles;
means for processing data corresponding to the images of the sessile particles and the suspended particles, and for removing data corresponding to the suspended particles, and for producing an output data segment corresponding substantially exclusively to the sessile particles present in the images; and
means for processing the output data segment and deriving an output signal representative of the accumulation of sessile particles on the wall portion, wherein the means for processing the output data segment comprises image analysis means for quantifying data segments corresponding to sessile particles on the wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for monitoring microbial matter within a fluid container, comprising:
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a wall portion that supports sessile organisms derived from organisms present in the fluid;
means for forming images of sessile organisms adhered to the wall portion and planktonic organisms in the fluid adjacent the wall portion;
means for digitizing and processing data corresponding to the images of sessile and planktonic organisms and for producing output data segments corresponding to the sessile organisms present in the images; and
means for processing the output data segments and deriving an output signal corresponding substantially exclusively to the accumulation of sessile organisms on the wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring particulate matter, comprising:
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supporting sessile particles derived from a fluid;
forming images of the sessile particles and of particles suspended in the fluid; and
processing data corresponding to the images of sessile particles and suspended particles to produce an output data segment corresponding substantially exclusively to the sessile particles present in the images and to derive an output signal corresponding to the accumulation of sessile particles. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of monitoring microbial matter within a fluid container, comprising:
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supporting sessile organisms, derived from organisms present in the fluid, on a surface of the container;
forming images of the sessile organisms adhered to the surface and of planktonic organisms in the fluid adjacent the surface; and
processing data corresponding to the images to produce an output data segment corresponding substantially exclusively to the sessile organisms present in the images and to derive an output signal corresponding to the accumulation of sessile organisms on the surface of the container. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid container or conduit, comprising:
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a wall portion that supports sessile particles derived from the fluid; and
an optical and image processing system connected to;
form images of the sessile particles and of particles suspended in the fluid adjacent the wall portion, digitize and process data representative of the images of sessile particles and suspended particles, and filter the data to remove data corresponding to images of suspended particles, and to produce output data segments representative only of the sessile particles present in the images, and process the output data segments and derive an output signal representative of the accumulation of sessile particles on the wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for monitoring microbial matter within a fluid container, comprising:
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a wall portion that supports sessile organisms derived from organisms present in the fluid;
a microscope which forms images of sessile organisms adhered to the wall portion and planktonic organisms in the fluid adjacent the wall portion;
a camera coupled to the microscope which forms video signals representative of the images;
a first processor coupled to the camera which processes data representative of the images of sessile organisms and planktonic organisms and produces an output data segment representative of the sessile organisms present in the images; and
a second processor coupled to the first processor which processes the output data segment and derives an output signal representative of the accumulation only of sessile organisms on the wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification