Patent Document ID: 20050208473
Application ID: 11043431
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A device for determining and controlling cell growth or growth rate of cells in a fermentation reaction comprising: a fermentation vessel containing said fermentation reaction, wherein said vessel further comprises: a combination of sensors including at least a full-spectrum probe spectrometer and pH and temperature sensors, that measures a combination of conditions of said fermentation reaction in real time; a combination of controls of said fermentation reaction including at least a temperature control device; a stirring mechanism capable of completely mixing contents of said fermentation vessel; and one or more variable-intensity, broad-spectrum light sources that radiate in at least the visible spectrum; and ports within said fermentation vessel for insertion of said instrumentation; and a computer configured for multiple function data acquisition from said combination of sensors; a data acquisition interface, which may be internal or external to the computer, that creates a digital pathway for said multiple functional data acquisition; and a software protocol that provides real-time instruction to said combination of controls based on said multiple function data acquisition.