US 12,448,599 B2
System for assessing a microbial characteristic within a growing medium and associated methods
Rahim Rahimi, West Lafayette, IN (US); and Jose Waimin, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Assigned to Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed by Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/858,302.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/218,777, filed on Jul. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0011317 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. C12M 1/34 (2006.01); G01N 27/02 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/487 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 41/36 (2013.01) [C12M 41/46 (2013.01); G01N 27/02 (2013.01); G01N 33/0031 (2013.01); G01N 33/48735 (2013.01); C12M 41/32 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for assessing a microbial characteristic within a growing medium, the system comprising:
a control sensor configured to be located in the growing medium and to measure electrical resistance of the growing medium while therein;
a sensing sensor configured to be located in the growing medium and to measure electrical impedance of a sensing element thereof while in the growing medium, wherein the sensing element comprises a microbially degradable material on a surface of a sensing electrode, and wherein contact of the sensing element with bacteria in the growing medium causes physical degradation of the microbially degradable material, and degradation of the microbially degradable material changes the impedance of the sensing element; and
a computer system comprising one or more processors that run one or more software programs configured to determine a characteristic of the bacteria in the growing medium based on a resistance of the growing medium and an impedance of the sensing element as measured by the control sensor and the sensing sensor.