US3929582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for culturing microorganisms
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-13
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-02-13
Abstract
Abstract Microorganisms are cultured aerobically in a fermentor from which a gas is discharged above the level of the culture medium, automatically analyzed for at least one gaseous component whose concentration is affected by the metabolism of the microorganisms, and replenished for the consumed gaseous component to maintain a desired concentration, whereupon the replenished gas is dispersed in the culture medium. The amount of recirculated gas is only a very small fraction of the amount of sterile air conventionally required for aerobic cultures. Gaseous products of metabolism of the microorganisms may be absorbed from the circulating gas before it is returned to the fermentor. Two cultures of which one produces the carbon source for the other may be coupled in a single circulating gas stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Maximilian Kellner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:20
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/34; C12M29/00; C12M29/24; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/20; C12N1/26; C12N1/28; C12N1/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
7 words
THE DISPERSED GAS INCLUDING A GASEOUS COMPONENT,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
7 words
THE DISPERSED GAS INCLUDING A GASEOUS COMPONENT,
Claim 3
Independent Claim
42 words
A METHOD OF CULTURING A MICROORGANISM IN A CLOSED STYSTEM WHICH COMPRISES: A. DISPERSING A FEED GAS IN A LIQUID NUTRIENT MEDIUM INOCULATED WITH THE MICROORGANISM TO BE CULTURED AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE GAS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM SAID MEDIUM,
Claim 4
Independent Claim
42 words
A METHOD OF CULTURING A MICROORGANISM IN A CLOSED STYSTEM WHICH COMPRISES: A. DISPERSING A FEED GAS IN A LIQUID NUTRIENT MEDIUM INOCULATED WITH THE MICROORGANISM TO BE CULTURED AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE GAS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM SAID MEDIUM,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
a portion of said component being consumed by said microorganism during the culturing thereof, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
a portion of said component being consumed by said microorganism during the culturing thereof, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A PROTION OF SAID COMPONENT BEING CONSUMED BY SAID MICROORGANISM DURING THE CULTURING THEREOF, AND
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A PROTION OF SAID COMPONENT BEING CONSUMED BY SAID MICROORGANISM DURING THE CULTURING THEREOF, AND
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said discharged gas contains a gaseous product of metabolism of said microorganism, and said gaseous product is removed from the discharged gas prior to said recycling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
the non-consumed remainder of said component constituting a part of said discharged gas; b. sensing the concentration of said component in said discharged gas; c. generating a signal indicative of the sensed concentration; d. replenishing said discharged gas with an additional amount of said component in response to said signal; and e. recycling the replenished gas including said non-consumed remainder and said additional amount of said component to said medium for dispersal therein as feed gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
the non-consumed remainder of said component constituting a part of said discharged gas; b. sensing the concentration of said component in said discharged gas; c. generating a signal indicative of the sensed concentration; d. replenishing said discharged gas with an additional amount of said component in response to said signal; and e. recycling the replenished gas including said non-consumed remainder and said additional amount of said component to said medium for dispersal therein as feed gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said gaseous product is removed from said discharged gas by dispersing said discharged gas in a culture medium while another microorganism is being cultured in said other medium, said other microorganism consuming said gaseous product during the culturing thereof on said other medium, the remainder of said discharged gas being withdrawn from said other culture medium and recycled to said first-mentioned medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
THE NON-CONSUMED REMAINDER OF SAID COMPONENT CONSTITUTING A PART OF SAID DISCHARGED GAS; B. SENSING THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID COMPONENT IN SAID DISCHARGED GAS; C. GENERATING A SIGNAL INDICATIVE OF THE SENSED CONCENTRATION; D. REPLENISHING SAID DISCHARGED GAS WITH AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF SAID COMPONENT IN RESPONSE TO SAID SIGNAL; AND E. RECYCLING THE REPLENISHED GAS INCLUDING SAID NON-CONSUMED REMAINDER AND SAID ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF SAID COMPONENT TO SAID MEDIUM FOR DISPERSAL THEREIN AS FEED GAS.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
THE NON-CONSUMED REMAINDER OF SAID COMPONENT CONSTITUTING A PART OF SAID DISCHARGED GAS; B. SENSING THE CONCENTRATION OF SAID COMPONENT IN SAID DISCHARGED GAS; C. GENERATING A SIGNAL INDICATIVE OF THE SENSED CONCENTRATION; D. REPLENISHING SAID DISCHARGED GAS WITH AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF SAID COMPONENT IN RESPONSE TO SAID SIGNAL; AND E. RECYCLING THE REPLENISHED GAS INCLUDING SAID NON-CONSUMED REMAINDER AND SAID ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF SAID COMPONENT TO SAID MEDIUM FOR DISPERSAL THEREIN AS FEED GAS.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said microorganism is aerobic, and said gaseous component is elementary oxygen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said dispersed gas essentially consists of said oxygen, of hydrogen, and of carbon dioxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
Fermentation apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a fermentation vessel sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b. a supply conduit having an orifice in said vessel at a first level; c. a discharge conduit having an orifice in said vessel at a second level higher than said first level; d. a feedback conduit connecting said supply conduit and said discharge conduit; e. circulating means for withdrawing a gas from said vessel through said discharge conduit and for returning the wiThdrawn gas to said vessel through said feedback conduit and said supply conduit; f. sensing means for sensing the amount of a gaseous component in the gas withdrawn from said vessel and for generating a signal in response to the sensed amount; g. a source of said gaseous component; and h. valve means responsive to said signal for admitting a supplemental amount of said gaseous component to said feedback conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
Fermentation apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a fermentation vessel sealed from the ambient atmosphere; b. a supply conduit having an orifice in said vessel at a first level; c. a discharge conduit having an orifice in said vessel at a second level higher than said first level; d. a feedback conduit connecting said supply conduit and said discharge conduit; e. circulating means for withdrawing a gas from said vessel through said discharge conduit and for returning the wiThdrawn gas to said vessel through said feedback conduit and said supply conduit; f. sensing means for sensing the amount of a gaseous component in the gas withdrawn from said vessel and for generating a signal in response to the sensed amount; g. a source of said gaseous component; and h. valve means responsive to said signal for admitting a supplemental amount of said gaseous component to said feedback conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said supply conduit, said discharge conduit, said feedback conduit, and said source are sealed from said atmosphere.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said feedback conduit has two sections, and gas absorbing means operatively interposed between said two sections for absorbing a gaseous component from the gas being returned to said vessel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said gas absorbing means include a second fermentation vessel and a living culture of microorganisms in said second vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1732921A
Cited
US3740320A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |