Patent · US Expired

Method and device for detecting biological molecules and/or microorganisms within a desired area or space

US5474910A · kind A · utility

88Cited by
5References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1993
Grant dateDec 12, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S250/91
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and device for detecting fluorescent biological molecules and/or microorganisms containing said fluorescent biological molecules within a given area or space. The method comprises illuminating an area or space with light of a suitable wavelength to excite the fluorescent biological molecules and then measuring the resultant fluorescent light from the illuminated area or space at a wavelength indicative of fluorescence of the fluorescent biological molecules. The invention can also be used to detect changes in the levels of such biological molecules and/or microorganisms within a given area or space by illuminating the area or space at two different times, measuring the resultant fluorescence after each illumination and comparing the respective fluorescence measurements. The present invention is also directed to a hand-held device for in vivo inspection of desired areas or spaces.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.