US4030979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of detecting hydrogen-producing bacteria
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-10
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1995-12-10
Abstract
Abstract The presence of bacteria capable of producing hydrogen in a culture medium is determined by qualitatively and quantitatively detecting hydrogen by subjecting the culture medium to a hydrogen-sensing device and qualitatively and quantitatively redetecting hydrogen by resubjecting the culture medium to the hydrogen-sensing device.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Henry Zuber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/12; C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/32; C12M41/36; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/807; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/848; Y10S435/849; Y10S435/873; Y10S435/885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of detecting the presence of bacteria capable of producing hydrogen in a liquid culture medium which comprises the following steps: a. qualitatively and quantitatively detecting hydrogen by subjecting the liquid culture medium to a hydrogen-sensing device; b. qualitatively and quantitatively redetecting hydrogen by resubjecting the liquid culture medium to the hydrogen-sensing device of step (a) sometime thereafter; and (c) relating any change in the hydrogen concentration to bacterial content.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of detecting the presence of bacteria capable of producing hydrogen in a liquid culture medium which comprises the following steps: a. qualitatively and quantitatively detecting hydrogen by subjecting the liquid culture medium to a hydrogen-sensing device; b. qualitatively and quantitatively redetecting hydrogen by resubjecting the liquid culture medium to the hydrogen-sensing device of step (a) sometime thereafter; and (c) relating any change in the hydrogen concentration to bacterial content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the hydrogen is detected by determining a change in the value of an electromagnetic parameter of a supported palladium oxide thin film.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of detecting the presence of bacteria capable of producing hydrogen in a liquid culture medium which comprises the following steps: a. immersing a supported thin film of palladium oxide into the culture medium; b. determining an electromagnetic parameter of the supported palladium oxide thin film at the time of the initial immersion into the liquid culture medium in step (a); c. redetermining the electromagnetic parameter of the supported palladium oxide thin film subsequent to step (b) during an incubation period; and d. relating any change in the hydrogen concentration to bacterial content.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of detecting the presence of bacteria capable of producing hydrogen in a liquid culture medium which comprises the following steps: a. immersing a supported thin film of palladium oxide into the culture medium; b. determining an electromagnetic parameter of the supported palladium oxide thin film at the time of the initial immersion into the liquid culture medium in step (a); c. redetermining the electromagnetic parameter of the supported palladium oxide thin film subsequent to step (b) during an incubation period; and d. relating any change in the hydrogen concentration to bacterial content.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the temperature of the culture medium is about 36° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method defined in claim 3, step (b) wherein the electromagnetic parameter is sheet resistivity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 3, step (b) wherein the electromagnetic parameter is reflectivity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 3, step (a) wherein the thin film has a thickness of between 250 and 500 A. and is supported on a dielectric substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the culture medium is calibrated against a culture medium with a known bacteria content to allow quantitative determination of the elemental hydrogen producing bacteria.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the time that elapses between step (b) and step (c) is about 1 day.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 3, step (c) wherein an alarm system is activated if the electromagnetic parameter is different from the one in step (b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein step (c) is carried out prior to the formation of any visible gas bubbles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the bacteria capable of producing elemental hydrogen is E. coli and the culture medium is Difco Nutrient medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |