Method and measuring device for determination of the growth rate of biofilm
AssigneeHelmholtz-Zentrum fuer Infektionsforschung GmbH
InventorsJost Van Duuren, Blanka Karge, Christoph Wittmann, Mark Broenstrup
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Abstract
A method for determination of the growth rate of biofilm using an electrical impedance analyses is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: bringing a culture medium fluid in contact to an electrode structure, having biofilm grown within the fluid culture medium with the biofilm arranged in distance to the electrodes structure, so that the fluid culture medium is placed between the growing biofilm and the electrode structure; measuring the impedance of the electrodes structure over a monitoring time, and determining the growth rate of the biofilm as a function of the reduction rate of the impedance values measured on the electrode structure.
Claims6
A measuring device for determining a growth rate of biofilm, comprising:
- at least one electrode structure;
- an impedance measuring unit electrically connected or connectable to the electrode structure for measuring impedance of the electrode structure;
- at least one receptacle for storing a fluid culture medium, wherein the at least one receptacle is arranged for being coupled to the electrode structure such that the fluid culture medium is able to contact the electrode structure;
- and
- an evaluation unit arranged for determining the growth rate of biofilm, wherein a biofilm growth area is located or locatable at a distance from the electrode structure such that the fluid culture medium is between the electrode structure and the biofilm being grown, and wherein the evaluation unit evaluates growth of the biofilm as a function of a reduction rate of the impedance values measured on the electrode structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.