US 12,281,296 B2
Electrochemical microbial sensor system and method of using same
Scott R. Burge, Tempe, AZ (US); and David A. Hoffman, Tempe, AZ (US)
Assigned to Burge Environmental, Inc., Tempe, AZ (US)
Filed by Burge Environmental, Inc., Tempe, AZ (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/244,440.
Application 17/244,440 is a continuation of application No. 16/054,789, filed on Aug. 3, 2018, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/586,602, filed on Nov. 15, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/570,186, filed on Oct. 10, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/541,338, filed on Aug. 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0246412 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 27/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/404 (2006.01); G01N 27/411 (2006.01); G01N 33/18 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01N 27/403 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 41/46 (2013.01) [G01N 27/404 (2013.01); G01N 27/411 (2013.01); G01N 33/1806 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01); C12M 41/32 (2013.01); G01N 27/4035 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor system comprising:
a plurality of first electrodes in a first environment to be monitored;
a biofilm formed overlying a surface of each of the first electrodes;
a reference cell; and
a measurement device electrically coupled to each of the first electrodes and the reference cell,
wherein the measurement device measures an open circuit voltage between each of the first electrodes and the reference cell to characterize microbial activity in the first environment, wherein the first environment interacts with the biofilm on each of the first electrodes to create the open circuit voltage, and
wherein the reference cell comprises a silver/silver chloride standard reference cell or a calomel standard reference cell.
 
8. A method of measuring microbial activity, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of first electrodes in a first environment to be monitored;
populating each or the first electrodes with a biofilm;
providing a reference cell; and
measuring an open circuit voltage between each of the first electrodes and the reference cell to characterize microbial activity in the first environment,
wherein the first environment interacts with the biofilm to create the open circuit voltage, and
wherein the reference cell comprises a silver/silver chloride standard reference cell or a calomel standard reference cell.