Patent ID: 8389274
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: C12M,C12Q

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of gas exchange by biological material suitable for non-expert use in a non-laboratory setting, wherein the apparatus comprises: a primary sealed container; wherein said primary sealed container includes a liquid-gas mixer to promote gas exchange between liquid phase contents and gaseous phase contents of said primary sealed container, and wherein said primary sealed container and the contents of said primary sealed container are a single-use, disposable item; a temperature control system; and an indirect gas pressure sensing system for non-invasive monitoring of gas pressure in said primary sealed container; wherein the indirect as pressure sensing system comprises: a secondary chamber; a non-biologically toxic gas impermeable flexible diaphragm; wherein the diaphragm is located between the primary sealed container and the secondary chamber to communicate pressure changes within the primary sealed container to the secondary chamber, wherein the diaphragm is mechanically free to respond to both negative and positive pressure changes, and wherein the diaphragm forms a barrier isolating the secondary chamber from the contents of the primary sealed container; and a gas pressure sensor; wherein the secondary chamber defines a sealed, gas-tight secondary volume; and wherein the gas pressure sensor is located within the sealed, gas-tight secondary volume; wherein the gas pressure sensor is isolated from changes in barometric pressure and able to detect a negative pressure in which a pressure within the primary sealed container is less than a pressure within the sealed, gas-tight secondary volume; and wherein there is a defined relationship between the primary and secondary pressures, which permits the pressure sensor in the secondary chamber to generate a signal representing primary pressure in the sealed container and remain isolated from the contents of the primary sealed container.