Patent ID: 7892495

Claim:
A system for detecting the presence and concentration of a microbial organism on an electrode submerged in an electrolytic solution through measured photo-induced interfacial voltages, said system including an electrometer configured to measure photo-induced interfacial voltages; an electrode assembly comprising a substrate and at least one electrode on a surface of the substrate, said at least one electrode being electrically coupled to the electrometer; a tissue culture adhesive thin film applied to an exposed surface of the at least one electrode; an attachment factor applied to the tissue culture adhesive thin film, said attachment factor being effective for interaction with the microbial organism; a microbial organism physically applied to the attachment factor; a transparent vessel for containing the electrolytic solution, said electrode assembly configured for placement of the at least one electrode in the transparent vessel; and a light source configured to controllably produce a flash of activating light directed through the transparent vessel at the electrode, said flash of activating light being configured to cause a sensible photo-induce interfacial voltage at the at least one electrode when the at least one electrode with the applied attachment factor is exposed to said flash of activating light while submerged in the electrolytic solution.