Micromotility meter
US4603977A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1984 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/808
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A micromotility meter for evaluating the movement of helminths in a test solution is provided, including a dark chamber having a test tube holding the solution containing a drug to be tested and a plurality of helminths placed within the solution. The solution defines a meniscus at a side wall of the test tube. A light source is directed upwardly through the test tube and is refracted from the meniscus to a photodetector adjacent the meniscus on the outside of the tube. Movement of the helminths causes a variation of the light rays refracted from the meniscus which results in an amplitude modulated electrical signal emanating from the photodetector that reflects the movement of the helminths. An electronic computation means is responsive to the modulated signal to quantitatively analyze the movement of the helminths and provide an index of motility.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.