GB2391017A

GB2391017A - Device for spreading bacterial culture

Info

Publication number: GB2391017A
Application number: GB0216774A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Christie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-19
Filing date: 2002-07-19
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: GB0216774D0

Abstract

A microbial spreader 20, 200 comprising an elongate handle 40, 400 having at one end a head 60, 600 which is shorter than the handle and which crosses the longitudinal axis A of the handle. The head may be located centrally, and be perpendicular, to the handle. The handle may bend away from its longitudinal axis towards the spreader head, which extends back and across the handle's longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the head and handle may form a T shape. The free ends 800, or end, 80 of the head may be slanted upwards. The head and handle may be rod shaped, integrally formed, made of plastic and the handle may be thicker than the head.

Description

GB 2391017 A continuation (58) Field of Search:

INT CL7 C12M 1/221/241/2611281/30

Other: ONUNE: EPODOC, WPI, JAPIO, TXTE, INTERNET

Title: Improvements in and relating to Microbial Spreaders.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved microbial spreader.

Microorganisms, such as bacteria, that grow in nature as single cells are generally easy to grow in culture dishes, usually on top of agar, a semisolid base of plant polysaccharides. single cell can be readily grown into a colony wherein each cell may be assumed to contain the saline constituents in the same proportions. One of the main advantages of such systems is that they more closely resemble the in vivo state than any in vitro system. The cultures may be used for producing protein and DNA and it is possible to artificially alter the pattern of gene expression within the cells to study the effects of switching genes on/off.

It is important for the microorganism to be transferred onto the support, such as agar, under sterile conditions and spread out over the surface of the plate or dish.

A pipette or inoculating loop is used to transfer a sample of a microbe to a culture dish and a spreader is then used to arrange the microbe across the surface of the dish.

Glass spreaders are known that are sterilised prior to use, for example by heating the spreader in a flame. Additionally, disposable spreaders of plastics materials are known that are aseptically packaged, being removed from the package immediately prior to use.

1 he spreaders that are currently on the market are L-shaped wherein the longer arm acts as a handle to hold the spreader and the shorter arm is moved across the surface of the plate or dish to spread inocula that has already been placed on to the medium within the dish. However, whilst these spreaders are satisfactory for their intended purpose, the shorter arm of the spreader does tend to flip from one side to the other, hindering application of the inocula across the entire surface of the medium.

This becomes particularly tiresome when a large number of inoculations are being prepared. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved microbial spreader that aims to overcome, or at least alleviate, the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a microbial spreader comprising a an elongated member forming a handle having at one end thereof a relatively shorter member forming a head wherein at least part of the head crosses the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Preferably, the head is substantially perpendicular to the handle. The handle is preferably in the form of an elongated rod or tube. The handle is preferably approximately 4 times the length of head. The head is preferably in the form of a relatively shorter rod or tube that crosses over part of handle. It is preferable for the head and handle to be formed integrally.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the handle is located substantially centrally to the head of the spreader.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle is bent away from its longitudinal axis towards the head of the spreader and then turns back in on itself to form the head. In an alternative embodiment, the handle and head form a T-shaped member, wherein the handle extends from the substantially perpendicularly from the centre of the head.

Preferably, the handle is slightly thicker than the head of the spreader.

Preferably, the spreader is of a plastics material. The spreader may be sterilised and aseptically packaged. A plurality of spreaders may be contained within a single package, preferably being joined together by an easily-breakable joint.

The free end or ends of the head of the spreader are preferably slanted upwardly. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a prior art microbial spreader;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a microbial spreader according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a microbial spreader according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a conventional microbial spreader is illustrated. The spreader 2 has an elongated handle 4 with a head 6 extending perpendicularly from one end thereof to form an L-shaped device. The handle tends to be around four times the length of the head. For example, the handle may be around 14 cm long with a head that is around 3.5cm long. The head is only about lmm in thickness, whereas the handle is slightly thicker, for example 2-3mm in thickness. The free end 8 of the head is slanted upwardly. The head is used to spread inocula across a culture dish. However, the head of the device tends to flip from one side to the other thereby hindering application of the inocula.

Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates one embodiment of a spreader according to the present invention. The spreader 20 again comprises a handle 40 formed from an elongated member and a head 60 lying substantially perpendicularly thereto having its free end 80 slanted upwardly. However, the handle is bent away from its longitudinal axis A towards its end nearest the head. The head then extends back across and beyond the longitudinal axis of the handle. This results in the longitudinal axis A passing substantially through the centre of the head which

greatly enhances the stability of the spreader when using it to apply inocula to a surface. A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. The head 600 of the spreader 200 extends across one end of the handle 400 with the handle substantially in the centre thereof, forming a T-shaped configuration having two free ends 800 that slant upwardly. The longitudinal axis A of the handle is again positioned centrally to the spreader head to stabilise the device when in use.

It is to be appreciated that the spreader of the present invention may be made of any suitable material but preferably, the spreader is of a plastics material.

Claims

1. A microbial spreader comprising an elongated member forming a handle having at one end thereof a relatively shorter member forming a head wherein at least part of the head crosses the longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. A microbial spreader as claimed in claim I wherein the head is substantially perpendicular to the handle.

3. A microbial spreader as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the longitudinal axis of the handle is located substantially centrally to the head of the spreader.

4. A microbial spreader as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the handle bends away from its longitudinal axis towards the head of the spreader, the head extending back towards and across the longitudinal axis of the handle.

5. A microbial spreader as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the handle and head form a T-shaped member, the handle extending substantially perpendicularly from the centre of the head.

6. A microbial spreader as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the handle is in the form of an elongated rod or tube and the head is a relatively shorter rod or tube.

7. A microbial spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle and head are formed integrally.

8. A microbial spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle is thicker than the head.

9. A microbial spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims i wherein the spreader is made of a plastics material.

10. A microbial spreader as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the free end or ends of the head are slanted upwardly.

11. A microbial spreader substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.