Micromotility meter

A method of measuring the motility of helminths in a test solution, said method comprising:

• (a) introducing a plurality of helminths into a transparent container having a test solution therein,
• (b) directing a light upwardly through said solution to strike a meniscus formed between the solution and the transport container,
• (c) measuring the light refracted from said meniscus to detect variations in refracted light caused by movement of the helminths,
• (d) generating a motility index based on the variations in the refracted light.

A toxicity meter for evaluating an unknown test solution for organism toxicity, said meter comprising:

• (a) a dark chamber for receiving a transparent container containing a test solution and a plurality of motile organisms in said solution, said solution defining a meniscus at a side wall of the container,
• (b) a light source for directing light upwardly through said solution meniscus,
• (c) a photodetector means for collecting light refracted by said meniscus, said detector means generating a first signal that is modulated by variations in the refracted light caused by movement of the motile organisms,
• (d) a measuring means responsive to said modulated first signal to provide an index of motility of the organisms,
• (e) toxicity detector means for indicating when the variations in said first signal have dropped below a predetermined level, thereby indicating the motility of the organisms has ceased.

A method of measuring the toxicity of an unknown test solution, said method comprising:

• (a) introducing a plurality of living motile organisms into an unknown test solution in a transparent container,
• (b) directing a light upwardly through said solution to strike a meniscus formed between the solution and the transparent container,
• (c) measuring the light refracted from said meniscus to detect variations of refracted light caused by movement of the motile organisms,
• (d) generating a toxicity signal when the variations in the amplitude of said signal drops below a predetermined level.

A method of automatically testing a large number of test unknown solutions for helminths toxicity, said method comprising:

• (a) introducing each test solution into a separate transparent container, said containers having a plurality of helminths therein,
• (b) intermittently conveying each container past a measuring station wherein each container is evaluated for a predetermined period of time,
• (c) directing a light upwardly through said solution to strike a meniscus formed between the unknown solution and side wall of the container,
• (d) generating a motility index based on the measured variations in the refracted light over said period of time,
• (e) correlating the motility index to the unknown sample conveyed through said measuring station.