Cellular material detection apparatus and method
US5918259A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12Q2304/60
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring a gaseous environment for the presence of cellular material capable of providing a measure of presence and/or numbers of cellular microorganisms, such as bacterial cells, in a large volume of air such as in a warehouse or production facility or in an open air location where bacterial presence is suspected. The method and apparatus are particularly suited for determining the likelihood of pathogenic material being present in an environment by batch or on-line measurement of cell numbers. On-line measurement provides continuous monitoring of an environment for presence of pathogens. The device includes a continuous flow luminometer preferably fed by a cyclone or high velocity virtual impactor and luminescence reagents which detect the amount of ATP or adenylate kinase present in a sample of air.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.