Chamber for testing growth of living organisms in space
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsTravis Tubbs, Morgan Vance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chamber for growing living organisms in space. The chamber has at least one receptacle for removably receiving a cuvette. The cuvette is maintained at atmospheric pressure and has a living organism inside and which is subject to space experimentation. The cuvettes have at least one transparent window for viewing the living organism and allowing light to reach the living organism inside the cuvette. The light may be integrated into the chamber. The chamber may be transported to and from outer space on a transport vehicle. The transport vehicle may be subjected to the vacuum of space during extra vehicular activities while the cuvettes remain at atmospheric pressure, protecting the living organism and allowing the experimentation to continue.
Claims15
A chamber for growing living organisms therein and comprising:
- a base;
- a first row and a second row of receptacles for removably receiving a plurality of elongate cuvettes therein and extending outwardly from the base;
- a lid spaced apart from the base in a height direction and removably covering the first row and the second row of receptacles;
- a plurality of elongate cuvettes for receiving living organisms and growth media therein, each cuvette being complementary to and fitting within a respective receptacle;
- a source of illumination for illuminating living organisms disposed within the cuvettes and the chamber with the plurality of cuvettes therein occupying a volume of less than or equal to one liter.
A chamber for growing living organisms therein and comprising:
- a base;
- a removable lid parallel to and spaced apart from the base and removably covering the first row of receptacles and the second row of receptacles and;
- a plurality of open receptacles for removably receiving a like plurality of elongate cuvettes therein and being intermediate the base and removable lid;
- and
- a plurality of elongate cuvettes for receiving living organisms and growth media therein, each cuvette being complementary to and fitting within a respective receptacle;
- the cuvettes having at least one elongate transparent window for viewing contents therein and a removable end cap for receiving artificial light from the chamber therethrough,
- the chamber with the like plurality of cuvettes therein occupying a volume of less than or equal to one liter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.