Patents by Inventor James D. Berg
James D. Berg has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7811783Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. In one embodiment, a plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 3 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. In another embodiment, a visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective after about 3 hours to 17 hours of incubation.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Colifast ASInventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
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Publication number: 20080124754Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. In one embodiment, a plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 3 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. In another embodiment, a visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective after about 3 hours to 17 hours of incubation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Inventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
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Patent number: 6908746Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. In one embodiment, a plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 3 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. In another embodiment, a visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective after about 3 hours to 17 hours of incubation.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Colifast ASInventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
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Publication number: 20040126836Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. In one embodiment, a plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 3 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. In another embodiment, a visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective after about 3 hours to 17 hours of incubation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
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Patent number: 6632632Abstract: A rapid method for detecting spoilage of a food sample, particularly a fish sample, by detecting and enumerating sulfide-producing bacteria (SPB). A growth medium containing iron and sulfur is combined with the food sample forming an incubation mixture which is incubated for a period of time. A plurality of fluorescence measurements are taken during an incubation period of about 4 hours to 17 hours at 30° C. SPB are determined to be present in the sample if the fluorescence measurement initially increases and then decreases to form a fluorescence maximum (peak). The time to detection of the fluorescence peak can be used with a correlation schedule to enumerate the SPB in the food sample. A visual test can also be used to identify color changes in the incubation mixture to provide a semi-quantitative enumeration of SPB effective in about 4 hours to 17 hours at 30° C.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Colifast ASInventors: Grete Lorentzen, Olaug Taran Skjerdal, James D. Berg
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Patent number: 6511819Abstract: A rapid method for detecting the presence or absence of coliform bacteria in a liquid or liquified dairy sample, for example, skimmed milk, lowfat milk, or whole milk. A growth medium containing a fluorogenic substrate is combined with the dairy sample and is incubated for a brief period of time, for example for about 4 hours, after which a first fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. The dairy sample is incubated again for about 2-8 hours after which a second fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. Total, fecal, or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are determined to be present in the sample if the second fluorescent value exceeds the first fluorescent value by a predetermined 4-methylumbelliferone concentration threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Nye Colifast ASInventors: Ingun Tryland, James D. Berg, Kari Skjanes
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Publication number: 20010051355Abstract: A rapid method for detecting the presence or absence of coliform bacteria in a liquid or liquified dairy sample, for example, skimmed milk, lowfat milk, or whole milk. A growth medium containing a fluorogenic substrate is combined with the dairy sample and is incubated for a brief period of time, for example for about 4 hours, after which a first fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. The dairy sample is incubated again for about 2-8 hours after which a second fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. Total, fecal, or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are determined to be present in the sample if the second fluorescent value exceeds the first fluorescent value by a predetermined 4-methylumbelliferone concentration threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2001Publication date: December 13, 2001Inventors: Ingun Tryland, James D. Berg, Kari Skjanes
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Patent number: 6165742Abstract: A rapid method for detecting the presence or absence of coliform bacteria in a liquid or liquified dairy sample, for example skimmed milk. A growth medium containing a fluorogenic substrate is combined with the sample and is incubated for a brief period of about 7-9 hours after which a single fluorescence value is measured. Total or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are determined to be present in the sample if the single fluorescent measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: NYE Colifast, ASInventors: Gro .O slashed.fjord, Kari Skj.ang.nes, Nina Aalen, James D. Berg
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Patent number: 5972641Abstract: A rapid method for detecting the presence or absence of coliform bacteria in a liquid or liquified dairy sample, for example skimmed milk. A growth medium containing a fluorogenic substrate is combined with the sample and is incubated for a brief period of about 7-9 hours after which a single fluorescence value is measured. Total or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are determined to be present in the sample if the single fluorescent measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Colifast Systems ASAInventors: Gro .O slashed.fjord, Kari Skj.ang.nes, Nina Aalen, James D. Berg
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Patent number: 5518894Abstract: A rapid presence-absence method for determining if fecal coliform cells are present in a sample. Portions of the original sample are filtered and retained upon microporous filters which are placed in incubation containers having an actuating medium containing a fluorogenic substrate. The samples are incubated for predetermined durations of from about twenty minutes to six hours. After adjusting the pH is incubation to an alkaline level, the containers are irradiated and the fluorescent light emitted is measured. The measured values are adjusted for background fluorescence and corrected for extraneous sources of fluorescence. It is concluded that fecal cells are present in the original sample (i.e., at least one fecal coliform cell per 100 milliliters) when the corrected fluorescence values are positive and meet certain predetermined criteria.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1993Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Inventor: James D. Berg
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Patent number: 5292644Abstract: A rapid process for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in products for human consumption comprises contacting the microorganisms with a methylumbelliferone substrate. The substrate is hydrolyzed into methylumbelliferone by an enzyme given off by the microorganisms. Hydrolysis is accelerated by sodium lauryl sulfate, which renders the microorganisms more permeable to the substrate, the enzyme, or both. The methylumbelliferone is detected by its fluorescence, either in solution or on an agar medium supporting microcolonies formed from individual microorganisms.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1991Date of Patent: March 8, 1994Inventor: James D. Berg