Apparatus for monitoring biofilm activity

Claim 2

A biofilm measuring system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. first and second electrodes made from the same electrically conducting material, submerged in said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. two terminals each of which is electrically connected to one of said electrodes for connecting said probe to a power source and measuring instrumentation; whereby the electrical characteristics of said probe change in response to biofilm activity on said electrodes and said insulation.

Claim 3

A biofilm probe for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure exposed to an aqueous solution as recited in claim 1 wherein said discs are made from metal and have essentially equal diameters.

Claim 4

A biofilm probe for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure exposed to an aqueous solution as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are made from a conducting metal.

Claim 5

A biofilm probe for monitoring activity on a structure exposed to an aqueous solution as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are made from a passivating, conducting metal.

Claim 6

A biofilm probe for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure exposed to an aqueous solution as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are made from stainless steel.

Claim 7

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. first and second electrodes made from the same electrically conducting material, submerged in said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm; and f. means for displaying the value of said electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm; whereby the amount of biofilm activity on said continuous, uniform surface is indicated by the value of said electrical characteristic.

Claim 8

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. first and second electrodes made from the same electrically conducting material, submerged in said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm; and f. means for displaying the value of said electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm; whereby the amount of biofilm activity on said continuous, uniform surface is indicated by the value of said electrical characteristic.

Claim 9

A system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said probe further comprises; a. a constant voltage DC power source connected to said electrodes; and b. a DC current meter measuring the applied current through said electrodes.

Claim 10

A system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm further comprises a DC voltage meter measuring the potential between said electrodes.

Claim 11

A system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm further comprises a DC current meter measuring the current between said electrodes.

Claim 12

A system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for determining the value of an electrical characteristic of said adhering biofilm further comprises a AC resistance meter measuring the resistance between said electrodes.

Claim 13

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. a probe having first and second electrically conducting electrodes submerged in contact with said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for applying a constant DC potential between said electrodes to thereby encourage different biofilm conditions on each electrode; f. means for determining a value of a generated DC current flow of said probe; and g. means for displaying the value of said generated DC current flow; whereby the amount of biofilm activity is indicated by the value of said DC current flow.

Claim 14

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. a probe having first and second electrically conducting electrodes submerged in contact with said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for applying a constant DC potential between said electrodes to thereby encourage different biofilm conditions on each electrode; f. means for determining a value of a generated DC current flow of said probe; and g. means for displaying the value of said generated DC current flow; whereby the amount of biofilm activity is indicated by the value of said DC current flow.

Claim 15

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution, said system comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. a probe having first and second electrically conducting electrodes submerged in contact with said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface in said aqueous solution; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for measuring changes in AC resistance between said electrodes; and f. means for displaying the changes of said AC resistance; whereby the amount of biofilm activity is indicated by the changes of said AC resistance.

Claim 16

In combination, a system for monitoring biofilm activity on a structure in contact with an aqueous solution, said system comprising: a. an aqueous solution capable of sustaining biofilm growth in contact with said structure; b. a probe having first and second electrically conducting electrodes submerged in contact with said aqueous solution and electrically insulated from said structure, each of said electrodes further comprising; i. a plurality of concentrically stacked, and axially spaced apart discs; and ii. a rod passing through and electrically connected to each of said discs; such that said discs of said first electrode are interleaved with said discs of said second electrode forming a cylinder; c. electrical insulation material between said electrodes, the exterior surface of said insulation in combination with the exterior surfaces of the electrodes presenting a continuous, uniform, cylindrical surface in said aqueous solution; d. biofilm adhering to said exterior surfaces of said electrodes and said insulation and forming the most direct electrically conducting path between said electrodes; e. means for measuring changes in AC resistance between said electrodes; and f. means for displaying the changes of said AC resistance; whereby the amount of biofilm activity is indicated by the changes of said AC resistance.