More modern synchrometer?

A matchbox-sized monitor enabling direct measurement of vital functions of bacteria could speed up infection detection and cancer treatment assessment.

The gadget, developed by scientists at the Swiss technology institute EPFL in Lausanne, uses a tiny lever, slightly thicker than human hair, that vibrates with bacteria activity. The oscillation, which is of order of one millionth of a millimetre, is detected by a laser, which translates it into an electrical signal. The line of the bacteria’s vital function is then displayed on an ECG-like monitor. When the line turns flat, the bacteria are dead.

"This method is fast and accurate," said lead researcher Dr Giovanni Dietler. "It can be a precious tool for both doctors looking for the right dosage of Antibiotics and for researchers to determine which treatments are the most effective."

From: http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/jul/bacteria-cardiogram.cfm