US4401755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for measuring microbiologically active material
Assignee: Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Inc
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Filing: 1981-01-29
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The activity of a microbiologically active material is measured by suspending the material in a liquid medium capable of forming a gel. The resultant suspension is formed into small liquid droplets which droplets are caused to gel. The gel microdroplets (GMDs) are treated to effect desirable alteration of the microbiologically active material and the amount of metabolites or reaction products of the desired alteration within each get droplet is measured. Alternatively, incubation is carried out such that each GMD initially containing one cell contains many, a microcolony, which can be tested for desirable properties while retaining sufficient viable cells for with growth and harvesting for further testing and/or production.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Weaver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:39
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12N; C12N1/00; C12P; C12P1/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
The process of measuring the microbiological activity of a sample of a given material comprising the steps of: (a) forming mutually independent samples of said material by (i) forming a dilute suspension of said material in a liquid diluent capable of forming a gel upon subsequent treatment, said dilute suspension having a dilution selected so that there is provided a high probability that each microsample produced from said suspension contains one or less microbiologically active molecule or cell, (ii) converting said suspension into gel droplets having a size between about 0.2 and 1000 microns, and (b) measuring a product of microbiological activity of each of said gel droplets independently of the other of said droplets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
The process of measuring the microbiological activity of a sample of a given material comprising the steps of: (a) forming mutually independent samples of said material by (i) forming a dilute suspension of said material in a liquid diluent capable of forming a gel upon subsequent treatment, said dilute suspension having a dilution selected so that there is provided a high probability that each microsample produced from said suspension contains one or less microbiologically active molecule or cell, (ii) converting said suspension into gel droplets having a size between about 0.2 and 1000 microns, and (b) measuring a product of microbiological activity of each of said gel droplets independently of the other of said droplets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said droplets have a size between about 5 and 100 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said bacterium is E. coli.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said bacterium includes a genetically modified plasmid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active material is a bacterium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active material is an enzyme.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active material is a yeast.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active material is a mold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said material comprises an animal cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said material comprises a plant cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic is selectively tagged with a marker composition capable of being sensed and sensing said marker composition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic produces a metabolite capable of being sensed and sensing said metabolite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of any one of claims 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic coacts with a reagent within said micro-droplet to produce a reaction product capable of being sensed and sensing said reaction product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
The process for sensing the microbiological activity of a sub-sample having a desired microbiological characteristic from a large population of microbiologically active sub-samples lacking said desired characteristic which comprises forming a dilute suspension of said population in a liquid diluent capable of forming a gel upon subsequent treatment, said dilution being selected so that there is provided a high probability that each sub-sample produced from said suspension contains one or less microbiologically active molecule or cell, converting said suspension into gel droplets having a size between about 0.2 microns and about 1000 microns and sensing the gel droplets containing the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
The process for sensing the microbiological activity of a sub-sample having a desired microbiological characteristic from a large population of microbiologically active sub-samples lacking said desired characteristic which comprises forming a dilute suspension of said population in a liquid diluent capable of forming a gel upon subsequent treatment, said dilution being selected so that there is provided a high probability that each sub-sample produced from said suspension contains one or less microbiologically active molecule or cell, converting said suspension into gel droplets having a size between about 0.2 microns and about 1000 microns and sensing the gel droplets containing the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material is a bacterium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said bacterium is E. coli.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said bacterium includes a genetically modified plasmid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material is an enzyme.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material is a yeast.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material is a mold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the material comprises an animal cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the material comprises a plant cell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of any one of claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic is selectively tagged with a marker composition capable of being sensed and sensing said marker composition.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of any one of claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic produces a metabolite capable of being sensed and sensing said metabolite.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of any one of claims 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22 wherein the microbiologically active material having the desired characteristic coacts with a reagent within said micro-droplet to produce a reaction product capable of being sensed and sensing said reaction product.
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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |