CA1041450A

CA1041450A - Biological chamber apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1041450A
Application number: CA219,544A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard L. Jackson (Jr.); John E. Martin (Jr.)
Original assignee: Miles Laboratories Inc
Current assignee: Bayer Corp
Priority date: 1974-03-18
Filing date: 1975-02-06
Publication date: 1978-10-31
Also published as: AU7807375A; FR2264872A1; DE2511622B2; SE412415B; JPS50126871A; SE7502906L; DE2511622C3; GB1471846A; FR2264872B1; DE2511622A1; AU476859B2

Abstract

BIOLOGICAL CHAMBER APPARATUS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus suitable for growth of microorganisms under con-trolled atmospheric conditions has a tray member with an open top and a closure member capable of being removably placed over the open top of the tray member. The tray member defines a main chamber therewithin and has means defining a separate open-topped chamber located within the main chamber and extending from the bottom of the tray to adjacent the plane of the open top thereof. This separate chamber communicates with the main chamber through at least one opening when the closure member is in place on the tray. A gas -generating composition can be placed in the separate chamber before the closure is placed on the tray. Thereafter when the cover is in place, gas from said composition can flow from the separate chamber into the main chamber to provide the desired atmosphere in said main chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Microorganisms are generally grown in covered ~ray-like receptacles, such as petri dishes. A growth medium, such as agar containing suitable nutrients, is placed in the tray, the culture of microorganisms is placed on the growth medium, a cover is placed over the tray and the covered tray is subjected to temperature conditions , ....................................................................... . . .
' suitable for microorganism growth. I~ the atmospheric -~
:: . , composition under which the microorganism grows is critical, the covered tray is usually placed in a chamber having a ~-~
; controlled atmosphere as well as temperature. In this case, suitable apparatus modiications are employed to enable the controlled atmosphere to easily enter the covered tray and contact the microorganism.
lS There is a need in the microbioloyical field for f a biological chamber apparatus in which a controlled atmos-phere can be generated. ;
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~, ~ STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION ~ ~
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, In accordance with the present invention, as -claimed herein, there is provided a biological chamber apparatus suitable fox growth therein o~ microorganisms whi~h comprises in combination (1) an open-topped tray member 1 . . .
i having a bottom wall and sidewalls extending upwardly there-1 from to define a main chamber therewithin, and (2) a closure ;
. ; 25 member capable of being removably placed over the open top of said tray member, said tray memher having wall means defining a separate open-topped chamber within said main chamber and having communication therewith adjacent the ` -~ -open top o said tray membex.
In one embodime~t of the presen~ invention, the ~I wall means defining the separate chamber extends upwardly

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from said bottom wall of said t.rav member. The said wall means may be generally U-shaped in plan view and may extend inwardly from a sidewall of said tray member. Alternatively, the said wall means may terminate below the plane of the open top of said tray member, khe space between the upper end of said wall means and the closure member providing said communication between said separate cha:mber and said main chamber when said closure member is in place on said -tra~
member. The said wall means may extend from said hottom of said tray member substantially to the plane of said open ~ :
top of said tray member and be formed with at least one . :
slot extending downwardly from the upper end of said wall .~
.~ means, said at least one slot providing said communication i between said separate chamber and said main chamber when .:! 15 said closure member is in place on said tray member. ~ .
~:, In another embodiment of the present invention, a biological chamber apparatus suitable for growth therein of . ~
If microorganisms has a microorganism growth medium layer :~:
f overlaying and adhering to the bottom wall of said tray :.
member in said main chamber and having a gas-generating ;fl composition located in said separate chamber.
In a further embodiment of the present i.nvention, a biological chamber apparatus suitable for growth therein of microorganisms is such that the tray member and the ~ 25 closure member are rectangular, the closure membex having a planar top wall and oppositely disposed longitudinal and ' transverse sidewalls depending therefroml at least two o said oppositely disposed sidewalls slanting outwardly at ~Yf an obtuse angle from the plane of said top wall. The said .: 30 obtuse angle is preferably at least 91.
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~; 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodi-` ment of the present invention; ..
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Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the unexploded : :~
~` 5 form of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along Line 2-2 of Figure l; . .:
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of Figure 2, of the tray portion of another embodiment of the present invention; and i ;
: 10 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that . . :
of Figure 2, of the unexploded form of such other embodi~
ment of the invention in the inverted position in which ~
the apparatus may be employed. .. :
." ., ;, ; DESCRIPTION OF THE IN~ENTION
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 10 of the ... ~ present invention comprises a tray member 12 and a closure : :
;. : ' , member 14 capable of removably telescopically fitting over . :.
tray member:l2 as shown in Figure 2. -~ :
Tray member 12 has a planar bottom wall 16, longitudinal ~ .
,~ ,, , .~ 20 parallel planar sidewalls 18 and 20 and transverse parallel :
:1, planar sidewalls 22 and 24 extending upwardly from bottom ~,! wall 16 to form a main chamber 26. The upper edges of side-walls 18, 20, 22 and 24 are coplanar to form open top 28 for tray member 12. An additional wall means 30 which is 25 : ~generally U-shaped in plan ~iew extends inwardly from side-wall 2Q and upwardly from bottom wall 16, forming a separate .~ :~
generally cylindrical open-topped chamber 32 within the .: :
maln chamber 26 of tray member 12. As shown in Figures 1 : and 29 separate chamber 32 has a closed end at bottom wall 30: 16 and an opposing open end 34 formed by the termination of -.
wall 30. As further shown in Figures 1 and 2, wall 30 . ::
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: i ; _ 3 -1 terminates below the plane of the open ~op 28 of tray 12.
Closure member 14 has a planar top wall 36, longitudinal . .
generally parallel planar sidewalls 38 and 40 and transverse generally parallel planar sidewalls 42 and 44 depending there-from. Closure member 14 is capable of removably telescopi-cally fitting over open end 28 of tray member 12 as shown in cross-section in Figure 2. When closure member 14 is in this position, the space between the upper end of wall means 30 and the top wall 36 of member 14 provides communication ;
between the separate chamber 32 and the main chamber 26 of tray 12.
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In the use of the apparatus of the present invention, ; ~ , . . .
`~ a growth medium, such as agar containing suitable nwtrients, `~
is poured or otherwise placed in the bottom of tray 12 out-side of the wall means 30. This is shown in phantom as . layer 46 in Figure 2 which is overlaying and adhering to the

3~ bottom wall 16. A microorganism to be grown is then applied to the exposed surface of the growth medium 46. A tablet or other convenient form of a gas-generating composition is then placed into chamber 32 through the open top thereof.
Such a tablet is shown in phantom in Figure 2 as item 48.
Closure member 14 is then placed on top of tray member 12 -;
and the apparatus is subjected to an incubating temperature.
If a carbon dioxide atmosphere, for example, is desired in the main chamber 26, the tablet 48 can be composed principally of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, for ex-ample. Moisture from the nutrient layer 46 upon contact :~
with the tablet 48 causes a reaction between the citric acid -; and sodium blcarbonate to proceed and generation of carbon ~ dioxide gas results. This gas fills the chamber 32 and then i:
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j ~ flows into and fills the chamber 26 above the layer 46. ~t ` ~
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$ ~ ~ is understood that water or other activator could also ba $ ~ " .
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1 added directly to the gas-generating composition in chamber 32 if desired. However, for prolonged maintenance of the gaseous atmosphere within chamber 26, it is preferred that water in vapor form only contact the tablet 48, and to this end the wall 30 prevents any direct contact of the tablet 48 with the layer 46. Water could also be added to the growth medium 46 in the event the growth medium material is supplied in a dehydrated form. It is also understood that other carbon dioxide-generating compositions could be employed as well as other compositions which can generate other desired gaseous atmospheres. ~
A preferred configuration for the tray member is shown ;
~ in Figures 3 and 4. Elements of Figures 3 and 4 correspond-,:3 ing to Figure 2 have the same number with the suffix "a".
In this embodiment the upper end of the additional wall means 30a is coplanar with the upper edges of the longitudi-nal and transverse sidewalls of tray member 12a so that the ~1 open end 34a is substantially coplanar with open top 28a.
Open end 34a should not be above open top 28a. At least 20~ one and p~eferably a plurality of slots 50 are formed in wall means 30a around the periphery of open end 34a. Slots 50 extend downwardly from the upper end of wall means 30a as shown and provide communication between chamber 32a ';~
, and chamber 26a when a closure member such as closure ` ~ ~
2;5 ~member 14 lS in place on the tray member 12a. ; ;---The apparatus of the present invention reta ms ~he gas $~ generating composition in the spearate chamber and out of contact wlth the growth medlum layer ln chamber 24a even if the apparatus is inverted during incubation~ storage or 30~ transportatlon, for example. Figure 4 shows the preferred ~ -"1 ~ , . , ', ~

lI34 3L450 1 embodiment in such inverted position and with cover 14a in place. In Figure 4 the gas-generating tablet 48a is shown in phantom and the growth medium layer 46a is also shown in phantom. -In order to minimize loss of desired atmosphere during the growth of the microorganism in the main chamber 26 of Figure 2, it may be desirable to place the entire apparatus 10 in a further container such as a sealable organoplastic bag (not shown). The use of this overall bag is not a part of the present invention.
- The above description relates to apparatus wherein the separate chamber 32 and 32a are located midway along one ~
longitudinal sidewall of the tray members 12 and 12a re- ~;
spectively. It is understood that the present invention also includes apparatus wherein the separate chamber is located at other places within the main chamber. The signi-ficant features necessary are that the separate chamber have i~; an open énd through which the gas-generating composition is,~; introduced and that there be at least one opening through , ~ 20 which such separate chamber communicates with the main ~;
chamber when the closure member is in place on the tray ; .
member.
The apparatus of the present invention need not be limited to rectangular shaped tray and closure members. A , clrcular configuration for example, can be used if desired. ;
Apparatus of the present invention is adapted for rapid use by technicians in screening for possible disease.
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~ In such use, it is desirable that the technician use one ~
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hand to open and close the biological chamber apparatus and the other hand to collect samples and apply them to the growth~medium layer. In the preferred rectangular con-: ~ :

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1 figuration shown in the drawing the sidewalls 38, 40, 42 and 44, and particularly the longitudinal sidewalls 38 and 40, of the closure member 14, slant outward slightly as shown. It is preferred to have the cover sidewalls slant ;
outwardly at an obtuse angle of at least about 91 from the plane of the top wall 36 of the cover to accomplish the ` purposes of the invention.
When such apparatus is employed, the technician can hold the tray member in one hand and move the closure member 14 with fingers of the same hand to the open position there-of shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2. This is best accomplished by lifting the longitudinal side of cover 14 at sidewall 38 thereof away from the corresponding longi-tudinal side of tray member 12, while at the same time pivoting or rocking cover 14 about the upper edge of khe longitudinal sidewall 20 at the opposite side of tray 12.
During such opening movement portions of the transverse ~ ;
sidewalls 42 and 44 of cover 14 adjacent sidewall 40 there- ~ ;
of remain in overlapping relation with portions of the ! ~ transverse sidewalls 22 and 24, respectively, of tray 12 adjacent the sidewall 20 thereof, thus facilitating manual -~
control o both the cover and tray during such manipulation.
The same fingers can then close the chamber when desired `~
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Z! by rocking cover 14 in the reverse direction to its closed 25~ ~ position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. This fr~es the "~
other hand of the technician for handling microorganism -'J~ samples.
.! ~ : ,' ' The various elements of this apparatus are conveniently formed from organoplastics. While it is not necessary, it 30 ~ is preferred that the closure member 14 be transparent so that microorganism growth in the main chamber can be ob-served.
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1!~4 1 45 0 The apparatus of the present invention has the techn~cal :
- and commercial advantages of convenience and simplicity of operation. It is an advance in the art of biological chamber apparatus.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A biological chamber apparatus comprising in combination an open-topped tray member having a generally planar bottom wall and having sidewall means extending up-wardly from said bottom wall to define a main chamber there-with, said sidewall means terminating in a continuous planar upper edge surface, wall means defining a separate open-topped chamber within said main chamber, said wall means terminating in an upper edge surface substantially coplanar with said upper edge surface of said sidewall means, said wall means having at least one slot formed in the upper edge portion thereof, and said separate open-topped chamber being adapted to accommodate therein a gas-generating composition, and a closure member for said tray member having a planar surface portion removably positioned on said upper edge surface of said tray member sidewall means and of said wall means defining said separate open-topped chamber.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 having a micro-organism growth medium layer overlaying and adhering to the bottom wall of said tray member in said main chamber and having a gas-generating composition located in said separate chamber.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the tray member and the closure member are rectangular, the closure member having a planar top wall and oppositely disposed longitudinal and transverse sidewalls depending therefrom, at least two of said oppositely disposed sidewalls slanting out-wardly at an obtuse angle from the plane of said top wall.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said obtuse angel is at least 91°.