US4590158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial monitor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-09-04
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2001-09-04
Abstract
Abstract In a system for monitoring fluid for microbial contamination, successive samples of the fluid to be monitored are aseptically directed periodically to a growth medium. A detector detects gaseous metabolic products evolving from the growth medium to provide an indication of incipient contamination of the fluid being monitored.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A. Eikman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:09
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/02; C12Q1/04; C12Q1/16; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/497
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means taking said samples automatically at spaced time intervals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means taking said samples automatically at spaced time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An automatic system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sampling means controls the size of said sample to be sufficiently small relative to the volume of the growth medium contained by said container means so that the number of samples introduced into said growth medium during said extended period of time will not substantially affect the characteristics of said growth medium if said samples are uncontaminated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An automatic monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fluid normally flows through tubing and wherein said sampling means periodically delivers into the growth medium contained by said container a sample of limited volume of the fluid flowing through said tubing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A continuous monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said growth medium is a radio-labeled growth medium, and said means for detecting changes comprises a detector arranged to detect collected radioactive gases evolving from said growth medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A continuous monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein said growth medium is a stable nuclide-labeled growth medium and said means for detecting changes is a detector adopted to detect collected stable nuclide-labeled gases evolving from said growth medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A continuously monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time interval between the taking of successive samples by said sampling means is at least ten minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous monitoring system as recited in claim 1, wherein there is provided means to maintain the temperature of said growth medium in said container to promote the growth of micro-organisms during said extended time interval.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means comprising means to introduce a solid member into a stream of said fluid and then deliver said solid member into said growth medium contained by said container, said solid member being adapted to collect substances from said stream by coming into contact with said fluid in said stream.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means comprising means to introduce a solid member into a stream of said fluid and then deliver said solid member into said growth medium contained by said container, said solid member being adapted to collect substances from said stream by coming into contact with said fluid in said stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said solid member comprises a strip of material and said sampling means comprises means to incrementally and periodically advance said strip through said stream of fluid and then direct said strip into the growth medium contained in said container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial comtamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means comprising means to advance sample discs automatically into a stream of said fluid and then transport the discs into the growth medium contained at said container, said sample disc comprising a material adapted to collect substances from said stream by coming into contact with said stream.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial comtamination comprising container means for containing a growth medium, sampling means in communication with said fluid and operable to aseptically divert said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium over an extended period of time, and means for detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium during said extended period of time, said sampling means comprising means to advance sample discs automatically into a stream of said fluid and then transport the discs into the growth medium contained at said container, said sample disc comprising a material adapted to collect substances from said stream by coming into contact with said stream.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means containing a radio-labeled growth medium having an inlet to receive samples and a gaseous outlet, sampling means in communication with said fluid and connected to said inlet means and operable to aseptically direct said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium, a gas permeable membrane obstructing said outlet, temperature control means to control the temperature of said radio-labeled growth medium, agitation means to stir the radio-labeled growth medium, and a nuclide-labeled gas detector connected to said gaseous outlet for detecting radio-labeled gases passing through said membrane.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for continuous monitoring of fluid for microbial contamination comprising container means containing a radio-labeled growth medium having an inlet to receive samples and a gaseous outlet, sampling means in communication with said fluid and connected to said inlet means and operable to aseptically direct said fluid to take periodic samples of said fluid and periodically introduce said samples into said growth medium, a gas permeable membrane obstructing said outlet, temperature control means to control the temperature of said radio-labeled growth medium, agitation means to stir the radio-labeled growth medium, and a nuclide-labeled gas detector connected to said gaseous outlet for detecting radio-labeled gases passing through said membrane.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of continuously monitoring fluid for the occurrence of microbial contamination comprising providing a growth medium, periodically directing samples of said fluid into said growth medium during an extended time interval whereby successive samples are directed into the same growth medium and detecting changes that occur in said growth medium in association with microbial growth occurs in said growth medium during said extended period of time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of continuously monitoring fluid for the occurrence of microbial contamination comprising providing a growth medium, periodically directing samples of said fluid into said growth medium during an extended time interval whereby successive samples are directed into the same growth medium and detecting changes that occur in said growth medium in association with microbial growth occurs in said growth medium during said extended period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of monitoring fluid for contamination as recited in claim 12, wherein the volume of said samples are sufficiently small relative to the volume of said growth medium so that the number of samples introduced into said growth medium during said extended time interval will not substantially affect the characteristics of said growth medium if said samples are uncontaminated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of monitoring of fluid as recited in claim 12, wherein said growth medium is a radio-labeled growth medium and said step of detecting changes comprises detecting radioactive gases evolving from said growth medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of monitoring fluid as recited in claim 12, wherein said growth medium comprises a stable nuclide-labeled growth medium and said step of detecting changes comprises detecting nuclide-labeled gases evolving from said growth medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of monitoring of fluid as recited in claim 12, further comprising promoting the growth of micro-organisms in said medium during said extended time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of monitoring fluid as recited in claim 12, wherein said step of periodically directing samples is carried out at spaced time intervals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of monitoring fluid as recited in claim 17, wherein the time interval between successive directing of samples of fluid into said medium is at least ten minutes.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for continuous monitoring of fluid for the occurance of microbial contamination comprising providing a growth medium, periodically at spaced intervals introducing samples into said growth medium wherein successive samples are directed into the same growth medium, and detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium, the interval between introducing successive samples into said growth medium being at least 10 minutes.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for continuous monitoring of fluid for the occurance of microbial contamination comprising providing a growth medium, periodically at spaced intervals introducing samples into said growth medium wherein successive samples are directed into the same growth medium, and detecting changes that occur in the event of microbial growth in said growth medium, the interval between introducing successive samples into said growth medium being at least 10 minutes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |