US 6,476,622 B2Granted

Methods and apparatus for measuring electrical changes in neoplasms and foodborne pathogens in a liquid medium

OwnerWilliam L. Robinson, Jr.inventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Rapid determination of pathogen and neoplasm levels is associated with irradiation in the processing of meat in order to assure quality with regard to both desired pathogen levels and integrity of the meat minimizing the level of irradiation utilized. Rapid determination of pathogen and neoplasm level by sensitive measurement of the rate of change of electrical impedance through a sample tested in a conductivity cell is suggested. Use of ultrasonic aqueous bath of sufficient energy level to cause cavitation impingement of the exterior surfaces of the meat so immersed is also suggested. The use of ultrasound achieves accelerated natural depuration by stimulating the natural excretory processes of living shellfish and achieves microscopic cleansing of the exterior of shellfish alive or dead. Said irradiated sample is analyzed for metabolic activity of foodborne contaminants and displayed as a two or three dimensional model. Genetic variations of suspected contaminants maybe confirmed using DNA Target sequencing techniques.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A system intended to provide empirical, quantitative, and qualitative indicia of pathogen levels, said system comprising:

means for passing alternating current of a known frequency and voltage through a test cell possessing two ends made of a dielectric material holding a biological tissue sample of known volume between two electrodes each spaced apart from each other a known distance, each electrode further being bonded to one of said two ends of said test cell;
means for passing said alternating current between said two electrodes of said test cell through a circuit including a bridge wherein said test cell holding said biological tissue sample effectively comprises one arm of said bridge, equivalent impedance another arm of said bridge, and changes in the impedance of the biological sample to said alternating current passing through said test cell disturbs the balancing of said bridge;
means for passing said alternating current through a circuit connected to said bridge which is capable of measuring changes in the impedance of the biological sample to said alternating current passing through said test cell as determined by an opposed impedance required in balancing said bridge disturbed by the changes in impedance of the biological tissue sample to said alternating current passing through said test cell.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.