US3627424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bacteria counter
Assignee: SLM Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-30
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1988-10-30
Abstract
Abstract An automated device for detecting measuring and counting growing microcolonies of bacteria by their light-scattering property. The growing bacteria are contained in glass capillary tubes filled with nutrient agar and are counted by passing the capillary tubes through a narrow beam of light. The tubes are mounted in a holder which is, in turn, detachably secured on a carriage. The carriage is translated in a direction lengthwise of the tubes and then sequentially moved transversely in a step equal to the distance between adjacent tubes. Transverse stepping takes place at the end of the longitudinal travel of each tube. A fixed light source and associated stationary optical means projects a narrow light beam which intersects the tubes as they translate. The presence of growing bacterial microcolonies causes light scattering which is detected in the form of pulses of light by a photomultiplier tube located opposite the path of translation of the tubes relative to the light source. The corresponding signal pulses produced by the photomultiplier tube are counted by an electronic counting circuit which provides a fast count of the particles scanned.
Inventors
- 👤 Horton E Dorman
- 👤 Charles Soodak
- 👤 Herbert M Cullis
- 👤 C David Miller
- 👤 Rodolfo Ramiro Rodriguez
- 👤 Eric W Youngquist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M11/00; C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/36; H; H03; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined longitudinal carriage member position is defined by a location of said carriage member wherein the path of said scanning beam intersects an end portion of said one receptacle whereby upon transverse movement of said carriage member said next adjacent receptacle starting at its corresponding end portion is scanned to its other end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 2, wherein means are provided to again move the carriage member transversely through an additional distance substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent receptacles responsive to the reverse movement of the carriage member to a location wherein the scanning beam intersects an opposite end portion of said next adjacent receptacle, and means to then again move the carriage member in the first-named longitudinal direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 3 comprising means to deactivate the carriage-moving means responsive to the completion of the longitudinal scanning movement of the last of the receptacles through the scanning beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light-sensitive means includes an electronic device generating an electrical signal responsive to light received thereby, and means counting the electrical signals generated by the light scattered from the respective particles during said scanning action.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said counting means includes means to tally said count for said scanning action in digital form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 6, wherein said counting means further includes means to print out said count and means to reset said counting means to zero, and means to simultaneously energize said printout means and said reset means responsive to said predetermined longitudinal positioning of the carriage member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said carriage member is provided with means defining a seat, said receptacle-defining means comprising a holder removably mounted on said seat, said sample receptacles comprising individual transparent tubes, said holder having positioning means engaged with the tubes to lock them in spaced parallel fixed longitudinal positions on said holder, and interengaging positioning means on said holder and said seat constraining said holder to occupy a fixed position on said carriage member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support includes transversely extending guide means, and means on the carriage member engaged with said transversely extending guide means and constraining the carriage member to move therealong.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 9 comprising means providing a sliding and pivotal connection of said carriage member with said transversely extending guide means, said pivotal connection being on an axis parallel to said receptacles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to move said carriage member transversely through a distance substantially equal to the spacing between adjacent receptacles comprises crank means on said support rotating on an axis parallel to said receptacles, and interlocking means on said crank means and said cArriage member for stepping said carriage member through said distance between adjacent receptacles responsive to each revolution of said crank means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 11 wherein said interlocking means comprises a transverse arm, means slidably and pivotally connecting said arm to said support, means drivingly and pivotally connecting said arm to said crank means whereby said arm is translated and oscillated responsive to rotation of said crank means, a lateral projection on said carriage member, and means on said arm drivingly engageable with said projection during a portion of the translation and oscillation of said arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 12, wherein said arm is provided at its top edge with a series of drive notches in which said projection is sequentially receivable responsive to successive revolutions of said crank means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 13, wherein said support has a transverse wall element underlying said projection, the top edge of said wall element being formed with a series of serrations spaced apart substantially the same distance as said receptacles, said projection being receivable successively between adjacent serrations to provide registry of a receptacle with the scanning beam when said receptacle is stepped into scanning position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 11, wherein said crank means is provided with a driving shaft and an indexing electric motor drivingly connected to said driving shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 15, wherein said indexing motor has an energizing circuit including switch means closing responsive to said predetermined longitudinal positioning of said carriage member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
The particle counting apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means to move said support on said fixed guide means comprises a reversible electric motor drivingly coupled to said support, said motor having respective forward and reverse windings, circuit means energizing one of said windings during the scanning movement in one direction of said support, circuit means deenergizing said one of the windings during the operation of said indexing motor, circuit means terminating operation of said indexing motor after the carriage member has been stepped, and circuit means energizing the other winding upon termination of the operation of said indexing motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A holder for use with a scanning and particle counting apparatus including a carriage member movable in a plurality of directions, said holder comprising a substantially planar body, a multiplicity of elongated transparent sample tubes disposed substantially adjacent one another in side-by-side parallel relation on said body, means on said body surface opposed from said sample tubes adapted for removable mounting cooperation with said carriage member whereby said body is predeterminately positioned thereon so that said tubes are individually and sequentially scanned during carriage movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The holder of claim 18 wherein said sample tubes are removably received by said holder, and means on said holder cooperating with said sample tubes to constrain movement of the same in directions both along and normal to their axes when received on said holder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The holder of claim 19 wherein said holder body provides a central opening bounded on opposite sides by a pair of arms, said cooperating means including a multiplicity of equidistantly spaced grooves formed in said pair of arms, one groove in each arm providing support for opposite ends of said sample tubes on an upper surface of said holder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The holder of claim 20 wherein said cooperating means additionally comprises a resilient clamp element, said clamp element being substantially C-shaped and pivotally mounted at its bight portion to a rear arm of said holder, the sides of said clamp element positioned to overlie said grooves, and a pair of lugs supported by a front arm of said holder for releasably receiving said cLamp element sidearms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |