US 12,313,545 B2
Method, arrangement, computer program product and sensor foil for detecting microorganisms on a surface
Gregor Liebsch, Obertraubling (DE); Achim Stangelmayer, Neuburg an der Donau (DE); and Robert Meier, Nittendorf (DE)
Assigned to PRESENS PRECISION SENSING GMBH, Regensburg (DE)
Filed by PreSens Precision Sensing GmbH, Regensburg (DE)
Filed on Mar. 13, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/352,384.
Application 16/352,384 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IB2017/055727, filed on Sep. 21, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 16189897 (EP), filed on Sep. 21, 2016; and application No. 16198160 (EP), filed on Nov. 10, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0212269 A1, Jul. 11, 2019
Int. Cl. G01N 21/64 (2006.01); C09K 11/06 (2006.01); C12Q 1/04 (2006.01); G01N 21/77 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/6428 (2013.01) [C09K 11/06 (2013.01); C12Q 1/04 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6434 (2013.01); G01N 2021/7786 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An arrangement for detecting microorganisms on a surface of any topology under in situ examination, the arrangement comprising:
a sensor foil having an oxygen-permeable layer doped with an oxygen indicator dye and loaded with oxygen, and an oxygen-impermeable at least partially transparent read-out carrier layer carrying the oxygen-permeable layer, the sensor foil being thin and flexible to attach directly to at least one portion of the surface any topology carrying the microorganisms, the sensor foil being configured such that it attaches directly to the at least one portion of the surface of any topology in an airtight sealed manner, the surface of any topology being that of an item, a human or an animal;
the oxygen-permeable layer of the sensor foil having a first free surface side, and the oxygen-impermeable at least partially transparent read-out carrier layer of the sensor foil having a second free surface side oppositely of the first free surface side, the first free surface side of the oxygen-permeable layer adapted to attach directly in an airtight sealed manner to the microorganisms on the at least one portion of the surface of any topology;
thereby blocking re-oxygenation of the oxygen-permeable layer of the sensor foil;
a detection element arranged in optical relation to the sensor foil for receiving an emission of the oxygen indicator dye when the dye is in an excited state, the emission being transmitted through the oxygen-impermeable at least partially transparent read-out carrier layer, the detection element serving to detect an oxygen decrease in the oxygen-permeable layer of the sensor foil;
an evaluation unit for calculating a graphical or statistical representation of the received emission; and
a display connected to the evaluation unit and adapted to display the graphical or statistical representation of the received emission, the representation being indicative of a presence and concentration of the microorganisms on the at least one portion of the surface of any topology under in situ examination, which is airtight sealed by the first free surface side of the oxygen-permeable layer of the sensor foil in the airtight sealed manner.