Measuring Cell for Micro-organism pH Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring biological activities and physiological magnitudes in microorganisms are costly, difficult to clean, and require large volumes, leading to inaccurate results due to non-homogeneous temperature and low area/volume ratios, as well as limitations in measuring intracellular pH across a wide range.
Innovation Solution
A device with a measuring cell made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) featuring a vertical well with uniformly distributed holes for probe attachment, a cup with opposite holes for microorganism placement, and heating and stirring resources, using selective electrodes for pH and membrane potential measurements, allowing for small-volume culturing and continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional measuring devices with complex electrode assemblies are used, then measurement capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the measuring cell from the electrode assembly, allowing the cell to be a simple removable cup while electrodes remain in the fixed support. This segmentation enables independent cleaning of the cell and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removable measuring cell as an intermediary component that holds the microorganisms and allows selective insertion into the electrode assembly. This mediator enables easy cleaning and replacement without affecting the expensive electrode components.
2Volume of stationary object
If large volume chambers are used for microorganism culturing, then adequate space for growth is provided, but temperature homogeneity deteriorates due to low area/volume ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from large horizontal bioreactor chambers to a vertical well configuration with a removable cup. This dimensional change increases the surface area-to-volume ratio by allowing heating elements to contact the chamber walls more effectively, improving temperature homogeneity while maintaining adequate culturing volume.
3Measurement precision
If complex electrode assemblies integrated into chambers are used, then measurement function is achieved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates due to difficult access to internal surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the system into a fixed electrode assembly and a removable measuring cell. The cell can be completely removed and disassembled for thorough cleaning, while the electrode assembly remains stationary and protected. This segmentation directly addresses the cleaning difficulty of integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring cell is extracted as a separate removable component from the electrode assembly. This allows the cell to be easily taken out, cleaned, and sterilized independently, solving the accessibility problem of cleaning internal surfaces in integrated designs.
4Measurement precision
If fluorescent pH probes are used to measure intracellular pH, then pH measurement capability is achieved, but cost increases due to need for multiple probes covering different pH ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal ion distribution method using lipophilic neutral probes that can measure intracellular pH across the entire physiological range (pH 5.6-9.0) with a single probe type. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized fluorescent probes, reducing cost while maintaining comprehensive pH measurement capability.
5Volume of stationary object
If small volume chambers are used for microorganism analysis, then volume requirement is reduced, but temperature homogeneity worsens due to insufficient heating surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vertical well configuration where the removable cup sits within a heated chamber. This vertical arrangement maximizes the surface area exposed to heating elements from multiple directions, ensuring temperature homogeneity even in small volumes by utilizing three-dimensional heat distribution rather than simple horizontal heating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a cost-effective, easy-to-clean, and accurate means for measuring intracellular and extracellular pH, membrane potential, and enzymatic activity in small volumes, ensuring homogeneous temperature and reducing experimental errors.
Implementation Method 1
The flow from the external medium toward the interior across the membrane of the cell is detected and measured by an electrode that is sensitive to the lipophylic neutral form of the probe, which measures the concentration by measuring en electromotive force of the order of one millivolt
Implementation Method 2
ensuring homogeneous temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Device for the measurement of biological activities and/or physiological magnitudes, includes a measuring cell, equipped with a chamber suitable to receive micro-organisms to be analyzed, and one or more probes opening into the chamber. The probes are connected to measuring resources and resources for processing the electrical signals emitted by the probes. The measuring cell includes a vertical well, equipped in its lateral wall with holes uniformly distributed around the well in order to allow the probes to open into the well. The probes are sealingly attached to the well, and rest in the support resources, and suitable to receive a cup whose cross section is homothetic to the section of the well. The cup is equipped on its lateral wall with holes which are located opposite to the holes of the well when the cup is positioned in the well.