Patent US1585293A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0264221A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0264221A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and device for detection of microorganisms
Assignee: BioControl Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A device adapted for containing a volume of growth medium and employed for detection of gas produced by a microorganism or microorganisms putatively contained within a test sample and added to the growth medium, comprising a primary chamber, a dome defined by the top surface of the primary chamber and communicating therewith, the dome establishing a fluid level and adapted for collection of gas produced by a microorganism within the growth medium, and a fill section adjacent to and communicating with one end of the primary chamber, the fill section spaced apart from the dome and extending above the fluid level, and further defining an opening for the addition of a test sample is disclosed. The device may be sealed by means of a removable closure. An apparatus consisting of an array of substantially identical devices is also disclosed. In addition, methods of using the device and apparatus for detecting and estimating numbers of microorganisms, and for analyzing samples putatively containing a microorganism, are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Desrosier
- 👤 Robert N. Ward, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:38
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/08; C12M23/34; C12M23/36; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/34; C12M41/36; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/02; C12Q1/04; C12Q1/10; C12Q1/34; C12Q2304/00; C12Q2304/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A device adapted for containing a volume of growth medium, said device employed for detection of gas produced by a microorganism putatively contained within a test sample added to the growth medium, comprising: a primary chamber having a top surface; a dome defined by said top surface of said primary chamber and communicating therewith, said dome establishes a fluid level and is adapted for collection of said gas produced by said microorganism within said growth medium; and a fill section adjacent to and communicating with one end of said primary chamber, said fill section spaced apart from said dome and extending above said fluid level, and further defining an opening for the addition of said test sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A device adapted for containing a volume of growth medium, said device employed for detection of gas produced by a microorganism putatively contained within a test sample added to the growth medium, comprising: a primary chamber having a top surface; a dome defined by said top surface of said primary chamber and communicating therewith, said dome establishes a fluid level and is adapted for collection of said gas produced by said microorganism within said growth medium; and a fill section adjacent to and communicating with one end of said primary chamber, said fill section spaced apart from said dome and extending above said fluid level, and further defining an opening for the addition of said test sample.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus consisting of an array of adjacent, substantially identical devices, each device adapted for containing a volume of growth medium and employed for detection of gas produced by a microorganism putatively contained within a test sample added to the growth medium of each device, each device comprising: a primary chamber having a top surface; a dome defined by said top surface of said primary chamber and communicating therewith, said dome establishes a fluid level and is adapted for collection of said gas produced by said microorganism within said growth medium; a fill section adjacent to and communicating with one end of said primary chamber, said fill section spaced apart from said dome and extending above said fluid level, and further defining an opening for the addition of said test sample; and a means for selectively closing said opening defined by said fill section.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus consisting of an array of adjacent, substantially identical devices, each device adapted for containing a volume of growth medium and employed for detection of gas produced by a microorganism putatively contained within a test sample added to the growth medium of each device, each device comprising: a primary chamber having a top surface; a dome defined by said top surface of said primary chamber and communicating therewith, said dome establishes a fluid level and is adapted for collection of said gas produced by said microorganism within said growth medium; a fill section adjacent to and communicating with one end of said primary chamber, said fill section spaced apart from said dome and extending above said fluid level, and further defining an opening for the addition of said test sample; and a means for selectively closing said opening defined by said fill section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising a means for selectively venting the device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2 wherein said top surface is slanted toward said dome to facilitate the collection of gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base and/or top of said device or said apparatus are constructed from transparent materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said transparent material is plastic or glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting the presence of a microorganism within a sample or within a plurality of samples, each putatively containing a microorganism, utilizing the device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2, comprising the steps of: adding growth medium to said device or said apparatus; adding said sample to said device or said plurality of samples to said apparatus containing said growth medium, thereby forming a mixture or mixtures; incubating said mixture or mixtures; and detecting the presence of said microorganism by determining the presence or absence of gas within said device or said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method for estimating the number of microorganisms within a sample utilizing the apparatus of claim 2, comprising the steps of: adding growth medium to at least two devices of said apparatus; adding serial dilutions of a sample containing at least one microorganism to said devices containing said growth medium, thereby forming mixtures; incubating said mixtures; detecting the presence of said microorganisms by determining the presence or absence within each device; and estimating the number of said microorganisms within said sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A method of analyzing a sample or a plurality of samples putatively containing a microorganism utilizing the device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2, comprising the steps of: adding growth medium containing a fluorogenic or chromogenic substrate to said device or said apparatus; adding said sample or said plurality of samples to said growth medium, thereby forming a mixture or mixtures; incubating said mixture or said mixtures; detecting the presence of said microorganism by determining the presence or absence of gas within said device or said apparatus; and determining the presence of said microorganism by detecting the presence or absence of fluorescent or colored products within said growth medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method of analyzing microorganisms within a sample utilizing the apparatus of claim 2, comprising the steps of: adding growth medium containing a fluorogenic or chromogenic substrate to at least two devices of said apparatus; adding serial dilutions of a sample containing at least one microorganism to said devices containing said growth medium, thereby forming mixtures; incubating said mixtures; detecting the presence of said microorganisms by determining the presence or absence of gas within each device; determining the presence of said microorganisms by detecting the presence or absence of fluorescent or colored products within said growth medium; and estimating the number of microorganisms within said sample.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10, additionally comprising, after the step of adding said sample or said plurality of samples or said serial dilutions, the steps of tilting said device or said apparatus such that the dome is filled with said mixture or said mixtures, and returning said device or said apparatus to an untilted position.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
36 words
The method of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein said sample, said samples or said serial dilutions putatively containing a microorganism are a water sample, a food sample, a dairy sample or a biological fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein said fluorogenic substrate is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein diacetate, 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-L-arabinopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl casein, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-fucopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-L- fucopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-L-fucopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-D-galactopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-D-glucopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glycopyranoside, 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide, 4-methylumbelliferyl nonanoate, 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, bis (4-methylumbelliferyl)phosphate, 4-methylumbelliferyl pyrophosphate diester, and 4-methylumbelligeryl-β-D-xylopyranoside.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein said chromogenic substrate is selected from the group consisting of o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, o-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-α- D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, o-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-α-D-xylopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside, and phenolphthalein-β-D-glucuronide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein said fluorescent product is detected by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for estimating the number of microorganisms according to claim 8 or of analyzing microorganisms within a sample according to claim 10 wherein the step of estimating the number of microorganisms within said sample is calculated by the MPN method.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 or the apparatus of claim 2 wherein the primary chamber is made from a barrier plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device or the apparatus of claim 17 wherein the barrier plastic is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile polymer, polyacrylonitrile, and polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device or the apparatus of claim 5 wherein the top of said device or said apparatus is constructed from transparent materials and the base of said device or said apparatus is constructed from nontransparent materials.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
26 words
The method of claims 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the growth medium contains a wetting agent in a concentration that is not bacteriostatic or bactericidal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the wetting agent is a nonionic or anionic surfactant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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