Device and method for identifying microbes and counting microbes and determining antimicrobial sensitivity

US8637233B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Telemedicine Up Close, Inc. · US
• Texas State University · US

Inventors

• Cynthia S. Nickel · Wimberley, US
• Clois E. Powell · Seguin, US
• James R. Biard · Richardson, US
• William A. Stapleton · San Marcos, US
• Gary M. Aron · San Marcos, US
• Jeanette Hill · Chesterfield, US
• Ray G. Cook · Effingham, US
• Daniel M. Justiss · Austin, US
• Frederick J. Strieter · Dallas, US
• Wayne T. Kilian · Richardson, US
• Andrei M. Manoliu · Atherton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 4, 2012
• Grant date: Jan 28, 2014
• Expiry date: May 4, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/48735
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of determining antimicrobial activity of an agent can include providing a well, wherein the well contains at least one antimicrobial agent, the well further including at least two electrodes. A sample of a microbe can be added into the well and a voltage pulsed between the electrodes. An electrical property can be sampled and recorded. In another aspect, a method of identifying at least one microbe includes taking a sample containing the at least one microbe, isolating the at least one microbe from the sample, dividing the at least one microbe into a at least one well, wherein each well contains at least one antimicrobial agent and at least two electrodes. A voltage is pulsed between the at least two electrodes, an electrical property is sampled during the pulsing and recorded. In another aspect, a diagnostic device for detecting at least one microbe is presented.