Electro-optical apparatus for microbial identification and enumeration
US4576916A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 11, 1984 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/808
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Rapid and accurate identifying and enumerating of microorganisms is carried out with an apparatus having an electrical cell, an optical sensing assembly, an automated microbial sample delivery means and an electrical signal processing means. The electrical cell contains a chamber having an inlet and outlet and paired electrodes located adjacent walls of the chamber. The optical sensing assembly has a laser light source to pass a beam of laser light through the electrical cell and between the electrodes, and a laser light detector in alignment with the light source to receive laser light emerging from the electrical cell. The electrical signal processing means translates variations in birefringence caused by a microbial sample into quantitative data. In operation of the apparatus, a polarized beam of laser light passes through a microbial sample containing an inhibiting reagent while the sample is in an electrical field between the electrodes, and the extend of birefringence is measured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.