Device and Method for Detection of Growth Processes and Simultaneous Measurement of Chemico-Physical Parameters

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention provides a device and a method for non-invasive monitoring of growth processes (such as plant roots or tissues) while simultaneously measuring chemical and/or physical parameters of the growth environment. It utilizes a transparent planar optode (a chemical sensor) that allows both optical imaging and detection of parameters like pH, oxygen, or nutrient concentrations to be carried out at the same place and time with high spatial and temporal resolution. The system combines a growth container, precise lighting, imaging sensors, and data processing to provide synchronized information about the growth and the environment.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Plant root and shoot growth monitoring in agricultural or botanical research.
• Breeding programs and high-throughput screening for crop varieties under various environmental conditions.
• Investigating the effects of fertilizers, soil pH, or pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides) on plant development.
• Environmental sciences: studying soil/plant interactions, remediation, or the effects of toxins.
• Quality control in biotech labs growing tissues, fungi, or microorganisms in controlled environments.
• Testing plant or soil responses to climate change factors (temperature, water, CO2).
• Fundamental research in plant physiology, developmental biology, or microbiology.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables non-invasive, continuous, and simultaneous observation of both growth and environmental parameters, reducing the need for destructive sampling.
• Provides synchronized, high-resolution data (both spatial and temporal) on growth dynamics and their environmental triggers.
• Transparent optode design allows clear imaging and accurate chemical sensing at the same interface.
• Reduces manual labor, improves reproducibility, and allows automation in lab or greenhouse studies.
• Flexible for various growth containers and media (soil, agar, hydroponics, etc.), supporting a wide range of biological and environmental research.
• Improves understanding of interactions between organisms and their chemical/physical environment, supporting advances in crop science and environmental monitoring.
• Supports advanced screening, monitoring, and analysis in plant breeding, environmental impact assessment, and basic science.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the non-invasive detection of growth processes and simultaneous measurement of chemical and/or physical parameters, comprising the following components: a) a lighting unit (f, m), b) an optical detection unit (i, h, n, g), c) at least one growth container (b, I) containing a growth medium (d), d) at least one transparent, planar optode (c), e) a control unit (j), and f) an electronic data acquisition and evaluating unit (k). The invention relates further to a method for the non-invasive detection of growth processes and simultaneous measurement of chemical and/or physical parameters, comprising the following method steps: a) detecting the growth processes by means of imaging methods; and b) detecting the chemical and/or physical parameters by using a planar, transparent optode (c), wherein the data from a) und b) is obtained simultaneously and in parallel.