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US 9,914,903 B2Granted
Automatic device and method for inoculating a sample at different concentrations
AssigneeInterlab, Inc.
InventorM. Emmanuel Jalenques
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic device for inoculating a sample on a substrate with a dilution mechanism formed by a head that holds a stylus in cooperation with a first dilution tank and a second dilution tank to dilute an original sample in at least one sub-sample and for inoculating the sub-sample on a substrate.
Claims20
An automatic device for inoculating an original sample on at least one substrate contained in at least one Petri dish, the automatic device comprising:
- a cleaning tank;
- at least one storage area for retaining the original sample;
- at least one dilution tank;
- a stylus comprising a tube adapted to take the original sample from the at least one storage area, to distribute the original sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish, to dilute a portion of the sample with diluent in the at least one dilution tank to create at least a first sub-sample, to take at least a portion of the first sub-sample, and to distribute the at least a portion of the first sub-sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish;
- a platform that retains the at least one storage area for the original sample, the cleaning tank, the at least one dilution tank, and the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish;
- a head wherein the head is movable horizontally relative to the platform, wherein the head is movable vertically relative to the platform, and wherein the head retains the stylus;
- a storage area for diluent disposed upstream of the stylus for supplying diluent to the stylus;
- a storage area for disinfecting product disposed upstream of the stylus for supplying disinfecting product to the stylus;
- and
- a pump connected to the tube of the stylus to permit taking and distribution of liquids from the at least one storage area for the original sample, the at least one dilution tank, and the storage areas for diluent and the disinfecting products;
- wherein, by programmed operation of the head and the pump, the automatic device automatically takes at least a portion of the original sample from the least one storage area for the original sample through the stylus, inoculates a portion of the original sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish by distributing the portion of the original sample in a line on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish through the stylus, with the stylus moved to the cleaning tank, cleans and disinfects the stylus by distributing through the stylus disinfecting product from the storage area for the disinfecting product upstream of the stylus, dilutes a portion of the sample by mixing the portion of the sample with diluent in a first dilution tank to create at least a first sub-sample, takes at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample from the at least one dilution tank, and inoculates at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish by distributing the at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample in a line on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish through the stylus separate from the original sample.
8 more elements
An automatic device for inoculating an original sample on at least one substrate contained in at least one Petri dish, the automatic device comprising:
- a cleaning tank;
- a sample tank for retaining the original sample;
- at least one dilution tank;
- a stylus comprising a tube adapted to take the original sample from the sample tank, to dilute a portion of the sample with diluent in the at least one dilution tank to create at least a first sub-sample, to take at least a portion of the first sub-sample, and to distribute the at least a portion of the first sub-sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish;
- a platform that retains the sample tank, the cleaning tank, the at least one dilution tank, and the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish;
- a head wherein the head is movable horizontally relative to the platform, wherein the head is movable vertically relative to the platform, and wherein the head retains the stylus;
- a storage area for diluent disposed upstream of the stylus for supplying diluent to the stylus;
- a storage area for disinfecting product disposed upstream of the stylus for supplying disinfecting product to the stylus;
- and
- a pump connected to the tube of the stylus to permit taking and distribution of liquids from the sample tank, the at least one dilution tank, and the storage areas for diluent and the disinfecting products;
- wherein, by programmed operation of the head and the pump, the automatic device automatically takes at least a portion of the original sample from the sample tank through the stylus, inoculates a portion of the original sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish by distributing the portion of the original sample in a line on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish through the stylus, with the stylus moved to the cleaning tank, cleans and disinfects the stylus by distributing through the stylus disinfecting product from the storage area for the disinfecting product upstream of the stylus, dilutes a portion of the sample by mixing the portion of the sample with diluent in a first dilution tank to create at least a first sub-sample, takes at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample from the at least one dilution tank, and inoculates at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish by distributing the at least a portion of the at least a first sub-sample in a line on the at least one substrate contained in the at least one Petri dish through the stylus.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.