US5807701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting microorganisms
Assignee: Osmetech PLC
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Filing: 1995-06-09
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2015-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Alfred Payne
- 👤 Krishna Chandra Persaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:04
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/02; C12Q1/04; C12Q2304/00; C12Q2304/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for identifying a microorganism, comprising abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for identifying a microorganism, comprising abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising comparing the response of the sensors against a library of responses to known microorganisms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising inputting the response to a neural net trained against known microorganisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising performing a cluster analysis mapping of the sensor outputs.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
26 words
The method according to claims 1 or 2, in which the detection region comprises an enclosed space above a Petri dish or other laboratory culture dish.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
21 words
The method according to claims 1 or 2, in which the array of sensors is first purged using a purging gas.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for detecting a microorganism, comprising a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism, said detector means comprising an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for detecting a microorganism, comprising a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism, said detector means comprising an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising a store for a library of responses to known microorganisms and comparison means operable automatically to compare a given response against the library.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising a neural net, the input to which comprises the array of sensors and which is trained against known microorganisms.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claims 8 or 9, comprising a probe for sampling a detection region by abstracting gas or vapor from said region to be passed to said detector means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, said probe comprising a cover for enclosing a Petri or other laboratory dish or an area of growth medium thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, said probe comprising a carrier gas feed and return.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a source of carrier gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a bacteria.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 16, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 16 or claim 17, comprising comparing the response of the sensors against a library of responses to known bacteria.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 16 or claim 17, comprising inputting the response to a neural net trained against known bacteria.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 16 or claim 17, comprising performing a cluster analysis mapping of the sensor outputs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 16 or claim 17, in which the detection region comprises an enclosed space above a Petri dish or other laboratory culture dish.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to any one of claim 16 or claim 17, in which the array of sensors is first purged using a purging gas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the microorganism is a bacteria.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 or claim 24, comprising a store for a library of responses to known bacteria and comparison means operable automatically to compare a given response against the library.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 or claim 24, comprising a neural net, the input to which comprises the array of sensors and which is trained against known bacteria.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 or 24, comprising a probe for sampling a detection region by abstracting gas or vapor from said region to be passed to said detector means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 27, said probe comprising a cover for enclosing a Petri or other laboratory culture dish or an area of growth medium thereon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 28, said probe comprising a carrier gas feed and return.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 29, comprising a source of carrier gas.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a microfungi.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 31, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 31 or claim 32, comprising comparing the response of the sensors against a library of responses to known microfungi.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 31 or claim 32, comprising inputting the response to a neural net trained against known microfungi.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 31 or claim 32, comprising performing a cluster analysis mapping of the sensor outputs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 31 or 32, in which the detection region comprises an enclosed space above a Petri dish or other laboratory culture dish.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 31 or 32, in which the array of sensors is first purged using a purging gas.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the microorganism is a microfungi.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 38, in which the sensors comprise semi-conducting polymers, the resistance or impedance of which varies according to exposure to gases or vapors.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 38 or claim 39, comprising a store for a library of responses to known microfungi and comparison means operable automatically to compare a given response against the library.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 38 or claim 39, comprising a neural net, the input to which comprises the array of sensors and which is trained against known microfungi.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 38 or claim 39, comprising a probe for sampling a detection region by abstracting gas or vapor from said region to be passed to said detector means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 42, said probe comprising a cover for enclosing a Petri or other laboratory culture dish or an area of growth medium thereon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 43, said probe comprising a carrier gas feed and return.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 44, comprising a source of carrier gas.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism species and differentiating said gas or vapor from gas or vapor associated with other microorganism species.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting gas or vapor associated with a bacterial species and differentiating said gas or vapor from gas or vapor associated with other bacterial species.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting gas or vapor associated with a microfungi species and differentiating said gas or vapor from gas or vapor associated with other microfungi species.
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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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |