・Specifically enhances autofluorescence from microbes.・Reduces false positive counts.・Reduces risk of microbial contamination within the equipment.0Prior irradiation sectionMicrobial particle counterSample liquid flow controllerWasteliquid7777907307007674777228001 ytisnetnIevitaleR13microbial detection sensitivity, reducing false positives from non-microbial particles, and keeping costs low. An added benefit is that the deep ultraviolet light prevents bacterial contamination within the device itself. This breakthrough laid the foundation for today’s microbial particle counters. It also introduced the concept of digitizing microbial information continuously and automatically, a major departure from tra-ditional manual measurement methods. We believe this will significantly address social challenges such as labor shortages driven by a declining population. Looking ahead, microbial particle counters will enable microbial information to be treat-ed as big data, opening the door to countless innovative solu-tions. As a first step, we are focusing on widespread adoption in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m excited to see how these counters evolve and the new possibilities they will unlock.for intensifying bacterial autofluorescence. What’s more, we eventually discovered that we could selectively enhance the autofluorescence of microbes to a certain level without en-hancing the fluorescence of particles other than microbes. We were delighted to confirm the reproducibility of this phenom-enon. I still remember how exciting the experiment was, even today.The role this patent will play in societyIf an expensive, high-output laser is used in the sensor unit of a microbial particle counter, detection sensitivity for bacteria with low autofluorescence in water can be improved to some extent. However, this approach also enhances the autofluorescence of non-microbial particles, increasing false positives, and results in significantly higher equipment costs. This invention solves all three issues at once: improving Figure: Excitation/Absorption Spectra of Riboflavin and NAD(P)H, Examples of Autofluorescent Substances, and Their Emitted AutofluorescenceMicrobes contain various physiologically active substances, some of which emit fluorescence when exposed to light (autofluorescent substances). Riboflavin (a flavin enzyme) and NAD(P)H are examples of such substances, both involved in energy metabolism within the cell. Riboflavin absorbs light at wavelengths ranging from near-ultraviolet to blue (380–490 nm) and emits yellow-green autofluorescence (500–560 nm). Unlike riboflavin, NAD(P)H is known to lose its autofluorescence when oxidized.XL-M4B: Advanced Microbial Particle CounterThe XL-M4B is a microbial particle counter designed for measuring biological particles (mainly bacteria) suspended in liquids. It is widely used in pharmaceutical plants to monitor biological particles in water for injection, purified water, and similar applications. Fully compliant with the rapid microbial method guidelines in the 18th edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, the XL-M4B significantly reduces the workload associated with pharmaceutical water management. Its real-time, continuous monitoring enables swift responses to contami-nation risks. This patented technology even makes it possible to detect starved bacteria with low metabolic activity, offering unmatched sensitivity and reliability in microbial particle detection.Internal configuration of the XL-M4BSchematic diagram showing one embodiment of the biological particle counting systemThe microbial particle counting system is composed of a prior irradiation section [700], a microbial particle counter [77], and a sample liquid flow controller sec-tion [800]. The microbial particle counter [77] is used to count the biological par-ticles contained in the sample liquid. Furthermore, the prior irradiation section [700] is installed upstream of the microbial particle counter [77] with respect to the sample liquid, and preparations are made in advance to increase the amount of autofluorescence and phosphorescence (light intensity), which are used as indicators when counting the biological particles with the microbial particle counter [77]. The sample liquid flow controller [800] regulates the flow rate of the sample liquid that flows into (and out of) the biological particle counter [77].Data loggerSemiconductor laser（405 nm）Deep UV lampCooling sectionSample flow controllerPressure gaugeCheck valveFlow cellOptical filter* Detects autofluorescence of individual microbesSensor unitSensor unitWasteliquidDetects autofluorescence of bacterial flavin enzymes and counts the microbes.PhotodetectorDisplay for count resultsand control panelSamplefeeding port1.0NAD(P)HEXCITATION0.05200RIBOFLAVINEXCITATIONNAD(P)HEMISSIONRIBOFLAVIN300400500Wavelength(mm)EMISSION600700Image of bacteriaPatented technologyDeep UVDeep UVirradiation sectionirradiation section
元のページ ../index.html#15