# US 2014/0150537 A1 · Chip for measuring number of microbe, and apparatus for measuring number of microbe using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150537 A1 - Document ID: US20140150537A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/233,251 - Filed: 2012-07-26 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-05 - Assignees: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Toshiaki Takeshita; Junichi Kita; Hidenori Morita; Kazufumi Oouchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150537A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/02: by investigating impedance - C12M 41/36: {of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404)} - G01N 15/0656: {using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods (by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12)} - G01N 33/48735: {Investigating suspensions of cells, e.g. measuring microbe concentration (by chemical means C12Q1/04; colony counters C12M1/34; concentration of particle suspensions in general G01N15/06)} - G01N 15/01: specially adapted for biological cells, e.g. blood cells (investigating sedimentation of particle suspensions in blood G01N15/05) - G01N 2035/00495: {Centrifuges} - 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) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract This chip for measuring number of microbe comprises a chip main body (15A) in the form of a long plate, a measuring electrode (16) that is provided on a first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body (15A) and that is immersed in a measurement liquid, and a connecting electrode (17) that is connected to the measuring electrode (16) and is provided on a second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body (15A). Ground electrodes (37A and 37B) are provided on the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body (15A). Conductive patterns (34A, 34B and 34C) that are provided to the outer peripheral portion of the measuring electrode (16) are connected to the ground electrodes (37A and 37B). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chip for measuring number of microbe, comprising: a chip main body in the form of a long plate; a measuring electrode that is provided on a first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and that is immersed in a measurement liquid; a connecting electrode that is connected to the measuring electrode and is provided on a second end side on the opposite side from the first end in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body; a ground electrode that is provided on the second end side of the surface of the chip main body; and a conductive pattern that is connected to the ground electrode and is provided to the outer peripheral portion of the measuring electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the conductive pattern is connected to the ground electrode on the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and the second end of the conductive pattern is provided around the outer periphery of the measuring electrode on the first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and extends to the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the conductive pattern is provided around the outer periphery of the measuring electrode on the first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, extends to the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and is connected to the ground electrode provided on the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the conductive pattern is provided around the outer periphery of the measuring electrode on the first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, extends to the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and is connected to a voltage application electrode provided on the second end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 1, wherein the measuring electrode has mutually opposing first and second measuring electrodes on the first end side in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body, and the first and second measuring electrodes have mutually opposing comb electrodes formed a specific distance apart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 1, wherein the a connection pattern that connects the connecting electrode and the measuring electrode is covered by a covering body between the first end and second end in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus for measuring number of microbe in which the chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 1 is used, comprising: a container holder that holds a bottomed cylindrical container having an opening in its upper face, with the opening facing up; a rotary driver that rotates a liquid stored inside the container held in the container holder, around the central axis of the container running in a substantially vertical direction; an electrode insertion portion for inserting the chip for measuring number of microbe, through the opening in the container held in the container holder, at a position inside the container that is closer to the inner wall side than the central axis, and a position that is a specific distance away from the inner wall surface; and a measurement section that measures microbes at the measurement electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe inserted into the container by the electrode insertion portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) An apparatus for measuring number of microbe in which the chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 3 is used, comprising: a container holder that holds a bottomed cylindrical container having an opening in its upper face, with the opening facing up; a rotary driver that rotates a liquid stored inside the container held in the container holder, around the central axis of the container running in a substantially vertical direction; an electrode insertion portion for inserting the chip for measuring number of microbe, through the opening in the container held in the container holder, at a position inside the container that is closer to the inner wall side than the central axis, and a position that is a specific distance away from the inner wall surface; and a measurement section that measures microbes at the measurement electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe inserted into the container by the electrode insertion portion, wherein the electrode insertion portion has: a connection terminal that is connected to the connecting electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe; and a ground terminal that is connected to the ground electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe, and the ground terminal and the ground electrode are connected before the connection terminal and the connecting electrode are connected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus for measuring number of microbe according to claim 8, wherein the ground terminal of the electrode insertion portion is longer than the connection terminal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) An apparatus for measuring number of microbe in which the chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 4 is used, comprising: a container holder that holds a bottomed cylindrical container having an opening in its upper face, with the opening facing up; a rotary driver that rotates a liquid stored inside the container held in the container holder, around the central axis of the container running in a substantially vertical direction; an electrode insertion portion for inserting the chip for measuring number of microbe, through the opening in the container held in the container holder, at a position inside the container that is closer to the inner wall side than the central axis, and a position that is a specific distance away from the inner wall surface; and a measurement section that measures microbes at the measurement electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe inserted into the container by the electrode insertion portion, wherein the electrode insertion portion has: a connection terminal that is connected to the connecting electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe; a ground terminal that is connected to the ground electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe; and a voltage application terminal that is connected to the voltage application electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe, and the ground terminal and the ground electrode are connected before the connection terminal and the connecting electrode are connected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus for measuring number of microbe according to claim 10, wherein the connection terminal and the connecting electrode are connected before the voltage application terminal and the voltage application electrode are connected. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus for measuring number of microbe according to claim 11, wherein the ground terminal of the electrode insertion portion is longer than the connection terminal, and the connection terminal is longer than the voltage application terminal. ### Claim 13 A chip for measuring number of microbe, comprising: a chip main body in the form of a long plate; a measuring electrode that is provided on the lower end side of the surface of the chip main body, is immersed in a measurement liquid, and has mutually opposing first and second measuring electrodes on the lower end side of the surface of the chip main body; a connecting electrode that is provided on the upper end side of the surface of the chip main body, is connected to a measurement device, and has first and second connecting electrodes; a connector that connects the measuring electrode and the connecting electrode at the surface of the chip main body, and has a first connector where the first measuring electrode and the first connecting electrode are connected between the upper and lower ends of the surface of the chip main body, and a second connector where the second measuring electrode and the second connecting electrode are connected between the upper and lower ends of the surface of the chip main body; and a cover that is provided so as to cover the surface of the first and second connectors between the upper and lower ends of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 13, wherein the widths of the first and second connectors in the short-side direction are substantially the same, and are substantially one half the width of the chip main body in the short-side direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 13, wherein the first and second measuring electrodes form comb electrodes a specific distance apart, and the comb electrodes have a rectangular shape that is longer in the longitudinal direction of the chip main body, and are disposed in the center of the chip main body in the short-side direction on the lower end side of the surface of the chip main body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 15, wherein the cover is in the form of a long plate, and a center of the lower end of the cover is disposed more on the upper end side of the chip main body than the measuring electrode of the chip main body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 16, wherein both sides of the cover on the lower end side extend to the lower end of the chip main body, and the extension portions of both sides do not cover the comb electrodes of the measuring electrodes immersed in the measurement liquid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 13, wherein a first through-hole for separating from a measurement device to which the chip main body is mounted is provided in the middle of the chip main body, and the upper end of the cover is disposed more to the upper end side of the chip main body than the first through-hole of the chip main body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) An apparatus for measuring number of microbe in which the chip for measuring number of microbe according to claim 13 is used, comprising: a container holder that holds a bottomed cylindrical container having an opening in its upper face, with the opening facing up; a rotary driver that rotates a liquid stored inside the container held in the container holder, around the central axis of the container running in a substantially vertical direction; an electrode insertion portion for inserting the chip for measuring number of microbe, through the opening in the container held in the container holder, at a position inside the container that is closer to the inner wall side than the central axis, and a position that is a specific distance away from the inner wall surface; and a measurement section that measures microbes at the measurement electrode of the chip for measuring number of microbe inserted into the container by the electrode insertion portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus for measuring number of microbe according to claim 19, wherein the rotary driver rotates the liquid inside the container by rotating the container held in the container holder around the center axis.