# US 11,112,397 B2 · Open-cell foam biological indicator for bacteria detection and removal from water or air, and methods of use

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- Number: US 11,112,397 B2
- Document ID: US11112397B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/987,664
- Filed: 2018-05-23
- Published: 2019-01-17
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-09
- Assignees: Alphex Biocleanse Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Scott C. Smith
- Inventors: Scott C. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112397B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/1826: {Organic contamination in water}
- C12Q 1/02: involving viable microorganisms
- C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)}
- G01N 1/12: Dippers; Dredgers
- G01N 1/16: with provision for intake at several levels ({G01N1/2035} G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence)
- G01N 1/2214: {by sorption}
- G01N 1/2273: {Atmospheric sampling}
- G01N 1/2813: {Producing thin layers of samples on a substrate, e.g. smearing, spinning-on (G01N1/30 takes precedence)}
- G01N 33/497: of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
- G01N 33/184: {Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides or the like}
- G01N 2001/1056: {Disposable (single-use) samplers}
- G01N 2001/2826: {Collecting by adsorption or absorption}
- G01N 2333/37: from fungi
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES

## Abstract

An open-cell foam biological indicator for bacteria detection and removal from water or air, and methods of use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of detecting a bacteria or virus biological contaminants, comprising:
exposing to the biological contaminant a foam biological indicator comprising an open-cell polyolefin foam material or open-cell polyurethane foam material;
after a time that is sufficient to accumulate the biological contaminant, removing some or all of the biological indicator; and
testing the removed biological indicator for the presence of the accumulated biological contaminant, wherein testing the removed biological indicator for the presence of the biological contaminant comprises placing a portion of the removed biological indicator in a sterile container, adding a surfactant, blending to separate the biological contaminant from the removed biological indicator, and culturing the biological contaminant in a nutritive medium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a cross-linked copolymer of ethylene and alkyl acrylate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a cross-linked blend of a copolymer of ethylene and alkyl acrylate, and one or more other polymers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein the foam comprises at least one of low density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), natural rubber, and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the biological indicator comprises a plurality of separate pieces of the foam that are suspended at various levels through a water column.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the biological indicator comprises at least one foam structure that is selected from the group of foam structures consisting of foam strips, and foam cubes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a silane-grafted material or a silane-modified material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam is impregnated with a biocide.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein culturing the biological contaminant comprises removing from the sterile container and plating some of a liquid portion of the blend.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam material comprises one or more of ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene-ethyl acrylate (EEA), ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), synthetic rubber, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), olefin block copolymers, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer, singe site initiated polyolefins, metallocene catalyzed polyolefins, grafted polymers including but not limited silane and maleic anhydride, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polyisoprene, and equivalents and blends thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a polar component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam is either crosslinked or not crosslinked, and is foamed with either a physical or chemical foaming agent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing step comprises swabbing a surface with the biological indicator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing step comprises placing the biological indicator and water into a container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a single site initiated polyolefin elastomer.