DE202017104958U1 - Portable electroless incubator for growing colonies of microorganisms and portable test equipment therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable electroless incubator (10) for growing colonies of microorganisms, wherein sample containers, such as petri dishes (20) or the like, containing samples (21) containing microorganisms, can be introduced into the interior (11) of the incubator (10). 11) of the incubator (10) over a period of several hours uniform temperature can be produced to promote the proliferation of microorganisms, with a material that the required temperature in the interior (11) of the. By a phase change and thus released enthalpy Incubator (10) (hereinafter referred to as phase change material 30) wherein the phase change material (30) is physically separated from the interior (11) of the incubator (10), characterized in that the incubator (10) is designed as a flexible envelope with walls (14) is formed of a flexible plastic, wherein the plastic of the walls (14) of the incubator (10) are double-layered and d between the two layers the phase change material (30) is that the phase change material (30) consists of 1-tetradecanol, during the use of the incubator (10) in the phase transition of the phase change material (30) of its enthalpy of enthalpy is free and thereby the interior (11) of the incubator (10) is kept constant at a temperature of 37 ° C to 38 ° C.

Description

The invention relates to a portable incubator for cultivating microorganisms of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1. Such incubators find particular application to study the quality of water, in particular to determine whether water is contaminated with bacteria such as Escherichia coli or other harmful bacteria. Such tests are particularly necessary in countries and areas with poorly developed infrastructure or in war and crisis areas or after natural disasters. In all these areas, however, there is often a poor or no power supply. To grow the colonies of microorganisms or bacteria, but a relatively constant temperature is necessary. This must be produced without power supply.

The WO 2012/002982 A1 describes isolated chambers, which can serve as incubators and which are equipped with a material that can change the phase and provide a uniform temperature due to the released enthalpy. These chambers also contain facilities that can cause the phase change of the phase change material. In particular, these devices often have a power connection to be supplied with the necessary energy. The so designed chambers are not portable and quite expensive and expensive to design and manufacture.

Furthermore, portable incubators exist in which individual pads containing a phase change material can be introduced to achieve a desired temperature. However, these incubators are still relatively expensive to manufacture and relatively bulky. In addition, especially in war and crisis areas, the pillows can be lost or even slip inside the incubator. So it can happen that the desired temperature is not achieved or not long enough. A portable test equipment is not known here.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a small, handy and portable incubator that provides the required temperature for the desired period without power supply and is easy and very inexpensive to manufacture and flexible in its use. Another object of the invention is to provide a portable test equipment that includes all the necessary instruments and equipment and that is inexpensive to manufacture and manageable for an operator.

These objects are achieved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 6, which have the following special significance.

The incubator is designed as a flexible envelope with walls made of a flexible plastic. This plastic is designed to be double-layered, wherein the phase change material is arranged between the two layers of the plastic. The phase change material is 1-tetradecanol, which has a melting point of about 38 ° C. At the beginning of the cultivation process for the cultures of microorganisms, the phase change material is liquid. One or more samples are placed in the incubator. Upon solidification of the 1-tetradecanol, the solidification enthalpy is released, which leads to the fact that prevails inside the incubator, a constant temperature of 37 ° C to 38 ° C for several hours. During this time, colonies of microorganisms can grow in the samples and, at the end of that time, it can then be checked whether and, if so, how many cultures have accumulated in the sample. Thus, it can be determined whether the water or the corresponding sample has a good quality or is contaminated with microorganisms. The incubators created in this way are very simple to manufacture and thus very inexpensive. They are very flexible and space-saving and can be used in crisis areas in larger numbers.

To create a sample, an amount is first taken from the water to be examined. This is then filtered through a membrane. The membrane is impermeable to microorganisms, so that they accumulate on the membrane. The membrane is then inserted by means of forceps or tweezers into a sealable sample container, such as a Petri dish or the like. in which a nutrient medium is either already contained or in which a nutrient medium is added. The sample container is then kept for several hours in the incubator of the invention at a constant, favorable for the growth of the bacteria, temperature and then the resulting bacterial cultures are determined under a microscope.

Preferably, the incubator still comprises one or more closing means which are reclosable. Here, for example, buttons, snaps, zippers, zip closures or the like can be used. The incubator containing the samples may then be sealed to better keep the temperature inside constant and prevent samples from falling out.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, one or both layers of the walls of the incubator are made of a transparent material. Then it can be seen from the outside if that Phase change material is already solidified or not yet open without the incubator.

The outside of the incubator can be provided with an insulating layer to minimize heat losses to the outside. Then more energy is released into the interior of the incubator and the desired temperature can be achieved and maintained longer.

After use, the phase change material, which is located in the walls of the incubator, solidifies. In order to make the incubator operational again, it can be placed in hot water or another similarly warm environment until the phase change material has absorbed its enthalpy of fusion and re-melted. Then the incubator can be used directly as described above.

Further, it is part of this invention to provide portable test equipment that is easy to use and can be carried by one person without any problem. For this purpose, a container is provided, in which the instruments and materials that are necessary for sampling and preparation are arranged and also at least one inventive incubator. Of course, several incubators can be provided. As a container, for example, a bag, such as a shoulder bag or a backpack serve, which are handy and can be carried easily and easily by an operator, even if the distance to be covered on a bicycle, a scooter or even on the back of a horse, mule o .ae. or on foot. Then all the required items and materials for the operator are at hand.

It is particularly advantageous if the container of the portable test equipment is designed to be thermally insulating. Then, the incubator or incubators may be placed in the container for the time needed to culture them. This prevents heat loss and the incubators are stored well and conveniently.

Further advantages and embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings. Show it:

1 : an incubator according to the invention slightly opened,

2 : the incubator off 1 wide open,

3 : the incubator off 1 and 2 with two petri dishes,

4 : the incubator off 3 with the Petri dishes in the back inside,

5 : a Petri dish after cultivating the cultures of microorganisms, schematically,

6 : a container with portable test equipment,

7 : the container off 6 with three incubators.

The 1 to 4 show the structure of the incubator according to the invention 10 , One recognizes inside 11 that the walls 12 are executed double-layered and between these two layers a phase change material 30 contain. This is liquid here, but solidifies on cooling below 37 ° C and releases its enthalpy of solidification. The material is 1-tetradecanol.

The incubator 10 has in this embodiment, two closing means 13 on, namely two plastic push buttons. Other closing means 13 can of course be provided as well.

In the interior 11 of the incubator 10 Here are two examples Petri dishes 20 brought in. As you can see, the incubator offers 10 still room for more Petri dishes 20 or differently shaped samples 21 ,

5 schematically shows a sample 21 namely a Petri dish 20 , about 20 hours in an incubator according to the invention 10 spent. Indicated on the surface are cultures of microorganisms grown which can then be counted under a microscope to determine the water quality.

In the 6 and 7 is a portable test equipment 40 shown in a container 41 , here a shoulder bag is arranged. This test equipment 40 includes a variety of items, instruments, and materials needed for sampling. The container 41 is easy and ergonomic to carry by an operator.

After sampling and preparation, samples can be taken 21 then in the incubator 10 be spent. The incubator 10 can then, as in 7 shown in the container 41 arranged to culture the cultures here.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the embodiments shown here are merely exemplary realizations of the invention. This is not limited to this.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

incubator

11

Inside of 10

12

Wall of 10

13

closure means

14

Wall of 10

15

Outside of 10

20

Petri dish

21

sample

30

Phase change material

40

Portable test equipment

41

container

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2012/002982 A1 [0002]

Claims (7)

Portable electroless incubator ( 10 ) for culturing colonies of microorganisms, wherein in the interior ( 11 ) of the incubator ( 10 ) Sample vessels such as Petri dishes ( 20 ) or the like, the microorganism-containing samples ( 21 ), wherein inside ( 11 ) of the incubator ( 10 ) a uniform temperature over a period of several hours to promote the propagation of the microorganisms, with a material that by a phase change and thus released enthalpy the required temperature inside ( 11 ) of the incubator ( 10 ), (hereinafter phase change material 30 called) the phase change material ( 30 ) physically from inside ( 11 ) of the incubator ( 10 ), characterized in that the incubator ( 10 ) as a flexible envelope with walls ( 14 ) is formed of a flexible plastic, wherein the plastic of the walls ( 14 ) of the incubator ( 10 ) are formed double-layered and between the two layers of the plastic, the phase change material ( 30 ) is that the phase change material ( 30 ) consists of 1-tetradecanol, wherein during use of the incubator ( 10 ) at the phase transition of the phase change material ( 30 ) whose solidification enthalpy is released and thereby the interior ( 11 ) of the incubator ( 10 ) is kept constant at a temperature of 37 ° C to 38 ° C. Portable incubator ( 10 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the incubator ( 10 ) one or more closing means ( 13 ), which are reclosable. Portable incubator ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the plastic from which the walls of the incubator ( 10 ) is transparent. Portable incubator ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after use the respective incubator ( 10 ) may be associated with hot water or a similarly warm environment to form the phase change material ( 30 ) to melt again and the incubator ( 10 ) again. Portable incubator ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outside ( 15 ) of the incubator ( 10 ) is provided with an insulating layer. Portable test equipment ( 40 ) for testing water for harmful bacteria, such as Escherichia coli bacteria, with a container ( 41 ), in which the materials and instruments required to carry out the test can be taken up and at least one portable incubator ( 10 ) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5 in the container ( 41 ) is located. Portable test equipment ( 40 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the container ( 41 ) is formed thermally insulating.

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