Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Apparatus – Bioreactor
Patent
1985-02-25
1989-01-31
Scott, Samuel
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Apparatus
Bioreactor
435 34, 435173, 435300, 422102, 324 711, C12M 134
Patent
active
048015466
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for detecting micro-organisms in samples of a substance. The apparatus can be used, for example for monitoring products intended for human consumption, such as foods, drinks or pharmaceuticals, or may be used to monitor samples in pathological or other laboratories.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
It is known that the growth of micro-organisms in fluid samples can be detected by measuring the changing potential between electrodes in contact with the fluid sample, and apparatus comprising a battery of cells with a multiplexing recorder has been previously described in the literature, together with the use of a micro-processor to monitor the electrical potentials and record voltage changes from the battery of sample cells. It has been observed that when the growth of the micro-organisms reaches a particular stage, the potential shows a marked change, e.g. a steep fall, which may be due to migration and accumulation of the micro-organisms around one of the electrodes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a particulary simple and effective apparatus for use in detecting micro-organisms in any one of a plurality of samples of a substance, which may for example be a liquid or a mixture of liquid and solid materials, or even a solid such as a solid agar medium.
According to the present invention, such apparatus comprises a plurality of containers for the samples and a container-mounting member with means for receiving and locating each of the containers, characterised in that each container includes a first electrode of a noble metal and a second electrode of a different metal insulated from the first electrode, the electrodes being arranged so as to be contactable with a sample in the container, and presenting respective contact surfaces externally of the container, and characterised in that the container-mounting member is provided with a first set of contacts adapted to engage the external contact surfaces of the containers which correspond with the noble metal electrodes and with a separate lead from each of the said first set of contacts for connecting the noble metal electrodes to separate terminals of a multiplexing recorder system, and a second set of contacts adapted to make contact with the external contact surfaces of the containers which correspond with the second electrodes, all said second set of contacts being connected to a common lead for connecting said second electrodes to a common terminal of the multiplexing recorder system.
Suitably, the containers each comprise a container body formed at least in part of said different metal, and that part of the container body constitutes the respspective second electrode.
Each container may have an upwardly domed bottom through which projects a pin made of or coated with noble metal, constituting the first electrode. Alternatively, each container may have a pin made of or coated with noble metal projecting through its side and constituting the first electrode. Preferably each container has a body of aluminium and the pin constituting the first electrode is gold plated.
In alternative embodiments, each container comprises a closure, the first and second electrode of each container being provided in the respective container closure to extend therethrough.
Where the second electrode is constituted by the part of the container body made of said different metal, the first electrode may be provided in the container closure to extend through.
With these constructions, a set of simple and relatively inexpensive standard containers can be used in a practical and convenient manner for monitoring the samples. The electrode system is relatively simple and, where an aluminium container (which may be of a commercially available standard pattern) is used with a gold plated pin, a substantial potential difference is obtained, making measurement easier. The multiplexing recorder system can be arranged to provide a signal which will identify any container which shows
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Kamennk Noah
Metal Box Public Limited Company
Scott Samuel
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