US4965206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Determination of biomass
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-02-09
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Granted: 1990-10-23
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Expires: 2010-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the determination of biomass in a suspension, such as a culture, in `real` time and a fermentation process using the method. In the method the electrical capacitance of the suspension is measured and from the measurement the volume fraction of the suspension enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells (biovolume) is determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas B. Kell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/48707; G01N33/48735
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for the determination of biomass in a medium comprising a suspending fluid and cells, electrodes being mutually spaced in said medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity of the material in the bulk of said medium, but essentially independent of the conductivity of the medium, using electrical capacitance measurement, and (b) determining the volume fraction of the medium enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells from said permittivity dependent signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for the determination of biomass in a medium comprising a suspending fluid and cells, electrodes being mutually spaced in said medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity of the material in the bulk of said medium, but essentially independent of the conductivity of the medium, using electrical capacitance measurement, and (b) determining the volume fraction of the medium enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells from said permittivity dependent signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fermentation process utilizing a culture comprising a suspending fluid and cells, said process comprising the steps of: (a) generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity of the culture in the bulk of the culture using electrical capacitance measurement, at a suitable frequency, between electrodes mutually spaced in said culture or a sample thereof; (b) providing an indication if the permittivity dependent signal differs from a predetermined value or falls outside a predetermined range, and/or (c) altering the value of a process parameter to return said signal towards the predetermined value or range, said predetermined frequency being such that the dielectric permittivity of the material in the bulk of the culture between the electrodes depends on the volume fraction of the culture enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fermentation process utilizing a culture comprising a suspending fluid and cells, said process comprising the steps of: (a) generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity of the culture in the bulk of the culture using electrical capacitance measurement, at a suitable frequency, between electrodes mutually spaced in said culture or a sample thereof; (b) providing an indication if the permittivity dependent signal differs from a predetermined value or falls outside a predetermined range, and/or (c) altering the value of a process parameter to return said signal towards the predetermined value or range, said predetermined frequency being such that the dielectric permittivity of the material in the bulk of the culture between the electrodes depends on the volume fraction of the culture enclosed by the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for performing a fermentation utilizing a culture comprising a suspending liquid and cells, the apparatus comprising: (a) a fermenter for containing the culture; (b) electrodes mutually spaced in the fermenter so as to be in contact with the culture in use; and (c) means for generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity in the bulk of the culture, using electrical capacitance measurement between the electrodes, at a predetermined frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus for performing a fermentation utilizing a culture comprising a suspending liquid and cells, the apparatus comprising: (a) a fermenter for containing the culture; (b) electrodes mutually spaced in the fermenter so as to be in contact with the culture in use; and (c) means for generating a signal dependent on the dielectric permittivity in the bulk of the culture, using electrical capacitance measurement between the electrodes, at a predetermined frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising means for determining whether the permittivity dependent signal differs from a predetermined value or falls outside a predetermined range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for altering one or more parameters of the process to return the permittivity dependent signal towards the predetermined value or the predetermined range, responsive to said means for determining.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein said predetermined frequency is in the range 0.1 MHz to 10 MHz.
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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) | 1993-10-22 | 1994-04-23 | 1994-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-22 | 1998-04-23 | 1998-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-22 | 2002-04-23 | 2002-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |