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US 4,906,566 AGranted
Method and apparatus for producing analytic culture
OwnerD. Roy Cullimore, George W. Alfordinventors
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OwnerD. Roy Cullimore, George W. Alfordinventors
Estimating the term…
A testing device allows field tests to determine the presence of microorganisms in a given fluid. A container may have a culture medium in dry form, and a floatable device in the container. When a liquid sample is placed into a container, the floatable device floats on the surface and intercedes the exchange of oxygen from the atmosphere to the liquid. An oxygen content sufficient for aerobes is provided at the surface of the liquid, a reduced oxygen content for microaerobes provided just below the intercedent device, and no-oxygen content for anaerobes is provided at the bottom of the container. Selection of the culture medium can assist in detecting specific organisms, and further information can be gained by observing colorations, gas bubbles, precipitates and the like.
A test apparatus for determining the presence of selected microorganisms in a given sample, said test apparatus comprising a test chamber having a bottom area, a central area, and an open top, a cover for selectively closing said open top, and a floatable intercedent device within said test chamber, a quantity of liquid within said test chamber, said quantity of liquid including a culture medium for promoting growth of selected microorganisms and said given sample, said intercedent device being floatable generally at the surface of said quantity of liquid, said intercedent device being of such size and shape as to substantially block said test chamber for inhibiting transfer of oxygen from the atmosphere above said intercedent device to said liquid below said intercedent device, the arrangement being such that said intercedent device in conjunction with said microorganisms reduces oxygen transfer to the area below said intercedent device for providing an area of diminished oxygen content.
A method of testing to determine the presence of selected microorganisms, including the step of placing a sample to be tested into a container, providing a culture medium for said selected microorganisms in a liquid within said container, floating an intercedent device generally on the surface of the liquid within said container for dividing said container, said intercedent device being of such size and shape as to reduce the surface area of said liquid exposed to the atmosphere above said liquid for reducing the oxygen transfer from above said intercedent device to below said intercedent device for providing a first area of the liquid adjacent to said intercedent device having sufficient oxygen content for growth of aerobic microorganisms, a second area of the liquid below said intercedent device having a reduced oxygen content for growth of microaerobic microorganisms, and a third area of the liquid adjacent to the bottom of said container substantially devoid of oxygen for growth of anaerobic microrganisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.