Method and apparatus for the detection of volatile products in a sample
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detection of at least one volatile product in a sample which comprises:
- (a) a circuit comprising (i) one or more gas-detecting transducer means mounted in a confined space for containing the sample which detects the volatile product produced from the sample to produce a first analog signal, (ii) a temperature-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space for containing the sample which detects temperature in the confined space to produce a second analog signal, and (iii) a humidity-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space containing the sample which detects humidity in the confined space to produce a third analog signal;
(b) an analog to digital conversion means in the circuit for converting the first, second, and third analog signals to digital signals; and
(c) an acquisition means in the circuit which stores the digital signals resulting from the analog signals in memory as detectable signals and retrieves the detectable signals to provide the detection of the volatile product, the temperature, and the humidity wherein the volatile product in the confined space is detected over time to produce a distinctive signature as a graph of the volatile product in the confined space and wherein the temperature and the humidity in the confined space are detected over time to produce a graph of the temperature and humidity in the confined space.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detection of a small amount of volatile products from a sample using a transducer which changes voltage as a function of contact of the volatile product with the transducer. The apparatus and method are used to detect spoilage of a biological material, such as a food. The apparatus is also used to detect microorganisms and in particular pathogenic microorganisms.
44 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detection of at least one volatile product in a sample which comprises:
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(a) a circuit comprising (i) one or more gas-detecting transducer means mounted in a confined space for containing the sample which detects the volatile product produced from the sample to produce a first analog signal, (ii) a temperature-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space for containing the sample which detects temperature in the confined space to produce a second analog signal, and (iii) a humidity-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space containing the sample which detects humidity in the confined space to produce a third analog signal;
(b) an analog to digital conversion means in the circuit for converting the first, second, and third analog signals to digital signals; and
(c) an acquisition means in the circuit which stores the digital signals resulting from the analog signals in memory as detectable signals and retrieves the detectable signals to provide the detection of the volatile product, the temperature, and the humidity wherein the volatile product in the confined space is detected over time to produce a distinctive signature as a graph of the volatile product in the confined space and wherein the temperature and the humidity in the confined space are detected over time to produce a graph of the temperature and humidity in the confined space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting a volatile product in a sample which comprises:
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(a) providing an apparatus adjacent the sample which comprises;
a circuit comprising (i) one or more gas-detecting transducer means mounted in a confined space for containing the sample which detects the volatile product produced from the sample to produce a first analog signal, (ii) a temperature-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space for containing the sample which detects temperature in the confined space to produce a second analog signal, and (iii) a humidity-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space containing the sample which detects humidity in the confined space to produce a third analog signal;
an analog to digital conversion means in the circuit for converting the first, second, and third analog signals to digital signals; and
an acquisition means in the circuit which stores the digital signals resulting from the analog signals in a memory as detectable signals and retrieves the detectable signals to provide detection of the volatile product, the temperature, and the humidity; and
(b) detecting the volatile product produced from the sample in the confined space with the gas-detecting transducer means in the circuit, the temperature in the confined space with the temperature-detecting transducer, and the humidity in the confined space with the humidity-detecting transducer wherein the volatile product in the confined space is detected over time to produce a distinctive signature as a graph of the volatile product in the confined space and wherein the temperature and the humidity in the confined space are detected over time to produce a graph of the temperature and humidity in the confined space. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for detection of a volatile by-product produced by a microorganism on a food material which comprises:
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(a) a circuit comprising (i) one or more gas-detecting transducer means mounted in a confined space containing a sample of the food material which detects the by-product produced by the microorganism on the sample to produce a first analog signal, (ii) a temperature-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space for containing the sample which detects temperature in the confined space to produce a second analog signal, and (iii) a humidity-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space containing the sample which detects humidity in the confined space to produce a third analog signal;
(b) an analog to digital converter means in the circuit for converting the first, second, and third analog signals to digital signals; and
(c) an acquisition means in the circuit which stores from the digital signals resulting from the analog signals in a memory as detectable signals and retrieves the detectable signals to produce the detection of the volatile by-product, the temperature, and humidity wherein the volatile by-product is detected over time to produce a distinctive signature as a graph of the volatile by-product in the confined space and wherein the temperature and the humidity in the confined space are detected over time to produce a graph of the temperature and humidity in the confined space. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for detecting a volatile by-product produced by a microorganism on a biological material which comprises:
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(a) providing an apparatus for the detection of the volatile by-product produced by the microorganism on the biological material which comprises;
a circuit comprising (i) one or more gas-detecting transducer means mounted on a container for containing a sample of biological material which detects the volatile by-product produced by the microorganism on the biological material to produce an analog signal, (ii) a temperature-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space for containing the biological material which detects temperature in the confined space to produce a second analog signal, and (iii) a humidity-detecting transducer means mounted in the confined space containing the biological material which detects humidity in the confined space to produce a third analog signal;
an analog to digital converter means in the circuit for converting the first, second, and third analog signals to digital signals; and
an acquisition means in the circuit which stores the digital signals resulting from the analog signals in memory as detectable signals and retrieves the detectable signals to produce detection of the volatile by-product; and
(b) detecting the volatile by-product of the microorganism with the gas-detecting transducer means in the circuit, the temperature with the temperature-detecting transducer in the circuit, and the humidity with the humidity-detecting transducer in the circuit wherein the volatile by-product in the container is detected over time to produce a distinctive signature as a graph of the volatile by-product in the container and wherein the temperature and the humidity in the confined space are detected over time to produce a graph of the temperature and humidity in the confined space. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification