Patent US5309910A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4514495A
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Method for testing microbial interaction with growth affecting substances
Assignee: SPIRAL SYSTEM INSTRUMENTS Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1982-05-18
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Granted: 1985-04-30
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Expires: 2002-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A method for testing microbial interaction with growth affecting substances. A pattern of a microbe containing solution is applied on an interaction plate in a programmed concentration. A solution of a growth interacting substance is applied on the interaction plate in a programmed potency in a pattern which contacts the microbe containing solution to cause contact of the microbes with the growth interacting substance. The resultant plate is incubated for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate. The potency of a growth interacting substance is determined at any point of interest on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance deposited at that point.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Schalkowsky
- 👤 Ellen R. Schalkowsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:21
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12Q; C12Q1/00; C12Q1/02; C12Q1/18; C12Q1/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/809; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/832; Y10S435/839
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a programmed pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interacting substance on the interaction plate in the same pattern as the microbial solution in contact with the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at the point of interest on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a programmed pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interacting substance on the interaction plate in the same pattern as the microbial solution in contact with the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at the point of interest on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the patterns are spirals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein: (a) the programmed solution is a gradient of the growth interacting substance which changes potency as the radius of the spiral changes; and (b) the concentration of the microbe containing solution is constant per unit length of the spiral pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth inhibiting substance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth enhancing substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the growth interacting substance is a mutagenic substance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the point of interest is any point where there is a perceptible change in the density of the visible microbe colonies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies stops.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies changes from continuous to discontinuous.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the change in the programmed gradient is that the gradient decreases in potency as the radius of the spiral increases.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a spiral pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interaction substance on the interaction plate in the same spiral pattern as the microbial solution in contact with the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest, wherein the potency Pi is determined by solving the equation Pi=(RP×DFi)/(hxSR), and RP is the reference potency used in depositing the growth interaction substance, SR is a correction factor to account for less than complete diffusion or spreading between turns of the spiral pattern, h is the height of the culture medium in the interaction plate and DFi is the deposition factor of the growth interacting substance.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a spiral pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interaction substance on the interaction plate in the same spiral pattern as the microbial solution in contact with the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest, wherein the potency Pi is determined by solving the equation Pi=(RP×DFi)/(hxSR), and RP is the reference potency used in depositing the growth interaction substance, SR is a correction factor to account for less than complete diffusion or spreading between turns of the spiral pattern, h is the height of the culture medium in the interaction plate and DFi is the deposition factor of the growth interacting substance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein: (a) the programmed solution is a gradient of the growth interacting substance which changes potency as the radius of the spiral changes; and (b) the concentration of the microbe containing solution is constant per unit length of the spiral pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth inhibiting substance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth enhancing substance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the growth interacting substance is a mutagenic substance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the point of interest is any point where there is a perceptible change in the density of the visible microbe colonies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies stops.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies changes from continuous to discontinuous.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the change in the programmed gradient is that the gradient decreases in potency as the radius of the spiral increases.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a programmed pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interacting substance on the interaction plate in a pattern which contacts the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at the point of interest on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for investigating the effect of a growth interacting substance on microbial growth comprising: (a) applying a programmed pattern of a microbe containing solution on an interaction plate; (b) applying a programmed solution of the growth interacting substance on the interaction plate in a pattern which contacts the microbes; (c) incubating the interaction plate for a time sufficient to produce visible microbial colonies; and (d) detecting the presence or absence of visible microbial colonies on the interaction plate at a point of interest where the growth interacting substance has contacted the microbe containing solution and directly determining the potency of the growth interacting substance at the point of interest on the incubated interaction plate by correlating the position of the point of interest with the programmed volume of the growth interacting substance at that point of interest.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein: (a) the programmed solution is a gradient of the growth interacting substance which changes potency as the pattern changes; and (b) the concentration of the microbe containing solution is constant per unit length.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth inhibiting substance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the growth interacting substance is a growth enhancing substance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the growth interacting substance is a mutagenic substance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the point of interest is any point where there is a perceptible change in the density of the visible microbe colonies.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies stops.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the point of interest is where the growth of visible microbe colonies changes from continuous to discontinuous.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the change in the programmed gradient is that the gradient decreases in potency as the gradient is applied to the interaction plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-29 | 1988-10-29 | 1989-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-29 | 1992-10-29 | 1993-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-29 | 1996-10-29 | 1997-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |