# US 5,707,823 A · Containers

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- Number: US 5,707,823 A
- Document ID: US5707823A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/505,266
- Filed: 1995-12-12
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-02-17
- Assignees: Oxoid Limited
- Inventors: Anthony Hugh Carr; Judith Marjorie Anderson; Roy Holbrook
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707823A

## CPC

- C12M 23/08: {Flask, bottle or test tube}
- C12M 23/38: {Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means}
- C12M 41/40: {of pressure}
- Y10S 435/808: Optical sensing apparatus
- 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}
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A gas-tight container incorporates a flexible diaphragm made of chlor-butyl rubber. The container finds particular use in systems for monitoring growth of microorganisms.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas-tight container incorporating a flexible diaphragm wherein the diaphragm comprises blue chlorbutyl rubber.

### Claim 2

A gas-tight container incorporating a flexible diaphragm wherein the diaphragm comprises chlorbutyl rubber which has a hardness in the range 40 to 50 Shore.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diaphragm has a thickness in the range 2.7 to 3.2 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The container according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a culture bottle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The container according to claim 4, wherein the bottle has a circular opening 20 mm in diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2)

The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the diaphragm is sealed to the container with a crimped annular overseal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The container according to claim 6, wherein the overseal has a matt or semi-matt finish.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The container according to claim 7, wherein the overseal is of aluminum and has a white semi-matt finish.

### Claim 9

A method of monitoring the growth of micro-organisms in liquid culture in a gas-tight container incorporating a flexible diaphragm of chlor-butyl rubber capable of moving in response pressure changes within the container, by detecting displacement of the diaphragm, wherein the position or conformation of the diaphragm is repeatedly sensed using distance-measuring means.

### Claim 10

Apparatus for monitoring the growth of micro-organisms in liquid culture, comprising of gas-tight container each containing a liquid test sample and incorporating a flexible diaphragm of chlor-butyl rubber capable of moving in response to pressure changes within the container and, distance-measuring means capable of detecting changes in position or conformation of said diaphragm.

### Claim 11

A gas-tight container comprising a culture bottle incorporating a flexible diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm comprises chlor-butyl rubber.

### Claim 12

A gas-tight container incorporating a flexible diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm comprises chlor-butyl rubber and the diaphragm is sealed to the container with a crimped annular overseal.