PORTABLE INCUBATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to portable incubation device comprising a device housing (14) accommodating an incubation chamber housing (3) defining an incubation chamber (9) with an opening (4) together with a feed system (1) and a temperature control system of the heating module (2), characterised in that in the incubation chamber (9) there is at least one heating system (6) comprising at least one heating module (7), preferably two, wherein on the heating system (6) there is a supported a frame (10) supporting a culturing dish (11), and wherein the temperature control system of the heating module (2) provides continuous real time regulation of the desired incubation temperature in the incubation chamber (9).

Claims

1. Portable incubation device comprising a device housing 14 accommodating an incubation chamber housing 3 defining an incubation chamber 9 with an opening 4 together with a feed system 1 and a temperature control system of the heating module 2, characterised in that in the incubation chamber 9 there is at least one heating system 6 comprising at least one heating module 7, preferably two, wherein on the heating system 6 there is a supported a frame 10 supporting a culturing dish 11, and wherein the temperature control system of the heating module 2 provides continuous real time regulation of the desired incubation temperature in the incubation chamber 9.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the heating segment is connected to the housing by means of mounting plates 8.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the main incubation chamber 5 comprises at least one incubation chamber 9, preferably forming an incubation column 17.

4. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises an optical system 15, more preferably a gas composition control element 16.

5. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises a light source 12.

6. A device according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises a mechanism for automatically transporting the culture dish collector unit 13 cooperating with the culture dish collector unit 18.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the heating module comprises transducers of electric energy into thermal energy.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that the spatial configuration of the transducers of electric energy into thermal energy and their number corresponds to the geometry of the culture dish so as to provide an optimum spatial distribution of the heating module temperature.

Description

[0009] Examples of embodiments of the invention are shown illustrated, where FIG. 1 is a front (a) and side (b) view of a portable incubation device for one culture dish, FIG. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E depict examples of spatial configurations of the distribution of transducers of electric energy into thermal energy on the mounting plate, FIG. 3 is a front (a) and side (b) view of an automated modular incubation device for cell culture using multiple dishes, FIG. 4 is a front (a) and side (b) view, and (c) a single heating segment of a stationary incubation device for multiple culture dishes; and FIG. 5 is a front (a) and side (b) view of a stationary incubation device for multiple culture dishes having separate incubation chambers; and FIG. 6 depicts the optimisation of the incubation process by achieving a stable, even distribution of the temperature of the culture substrate placed in a Petri dish (symbols Sp1, Sp2, Sp3 refer to local temperatures of the culture substrate).

Example 1: Portable Incubation Device for a Single Culture Dish

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, a portable incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms has been developed in order to provide a portable incubator for a single culture dish. The invention according to the first embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1, where (a) is a front view, and (b) is a side view. The portable incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms comprises an incubation chamber housing (3) accommodating an integrated feed system (1) and an integrated temperature control system of the heating module (2), wherein the incubation chamber housing (3) has a covered opening (4) through which the culture dish (11) is inserted. One heating segment (6) consists of two heating modules (7), equipped with at least one temperature sensor, integrated with at least two mounting plates (8) allowing them to be mounted in an incubation chamber (9), at least on one of which a frame (10) is placed with a culture dish (11), and the transfer of heat necessary to obtain the suitable thermal conditions is carried out from the top and bottom of the culture dish located between the two heating modules, so that the portable incubation device allows for mobile incubation of a single culture dish at a selected temperature, that is to say in customised thermal conditions.

[0011] The heating module (7) is equipped with an additional thermal sensor allowing for wirelessly controlling the temperature inside the culture dish. The housing of the device (14) consists of an incubation chamber housing (3), a bottom and an upper base, it is equipped with a cover made of a heat insulating material and allows the user to open or close the incubation space to which the culture dishes are inserted/removed for the purpose of isolation from the external environment. The device is equipped with additional light sources (12) in the form of LEDs emitting radiation in the range from 400 to 1100 nm, which allow for illuminating microorganisms during incubation or in the form of a light source emitting UVC-UVB radiation, which is activated before or after incubation in order to sterilise the inside of the incubation chamber. The device is equipped with an additional optical system (15) consisting of a camera and a lens for controlling the growth of microorganisms and their characterisation. The device is equipped with additional elements controlling the gas composition (16) of the atmosphere inside the incubation chamber. The heating plate of the heating element (7) is coated with a thermal conductive material allowing for even temperature distribution. The mounting plate (8) of the heating module and the frame for the culture dish (10) are made of a heat insulating material.

Example 2: Embodiment of the Heating Module

[0012] Each heating module (see FIG. 2) consists of heating elements (2) suitably arranged on the mounting plate (1). The temperature sensors used allow for continuous control and regulation of the heating temperature. The heating plate of the heating module comprises an assembly of resistors or other elements allowing for the conversion of electrical energy into thermal one, the arrangement of which on the plate is adapted to the geometry of the culture dish. Preferably, the heating plate consists of transducers of electric energy into thermal energy suitably arranged on the mounting plate. FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E illustrate examples of spatial configurations of the distribution of transducers of electric energy into thermal energy on the mounting plate. In addition, the distance between the transducers, their number and configuration may vary to adjust to the conditions of thermal incubation of samples placed in incubation dishes having different spatial geometry. The suitable spatial configuration of the transducers, their number and a suitable heating temperature control system allow for the most optimal real-time adjustment of the surface temperature distribution of the heating module allowing for a far more functional incubation of samples placed in culture dishes having different spatial geometry.

Example 3: Automated Modular Incubation Device for Cell Culture using Multiple Dishes

[0013] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the modular design allowed for obtaining a a portable incubation device for personalised culture of microorganisms in the form of an incubation column for culturing cells in more than one culture dish with cells at an individually selected temperature, which operates in a fully automated manner, reduces power consumption and allows for the integration thereof with other devices, functional modules, e.g. for automatic culture plating and preparation of microorganisms samples, characterisation of their properties: growth dynamics, phenotypic characteristics, morphology, optical properties or recording additional optical patterns of microorganisms, etc. The invention according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 3.

[0014] A modular incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises an integrated feed system (1), integrated systems controlling the temperature of the heating segments (2) and an automatic transmission system of the culture dish collector unit (18), an incubation chamber housing (3) with a covered opening (4), through which at least one culture dish is inserted, a main incubation chamber (5) divided into more than one separate smaller chamber allowing for the incubation of samples at different temperatures, each of which consists of a heating segment (6) containing two heating modules (7) placed on mounting plates (8) between which a frame (10) is inserted with the culture dish (11), integrated with an automatic transmission system consisting of the culture dish collector unit (18) and an automatic transmission mechanism of the culture dish collector unit (13), which allows the culture dish to be transmitted from/to each heating segment by ejecting and displacing the culture dish alone or the culture dish together with the frame outside of the main incubation chamber. Each heating segment allows for obtaining individual temperature conditions for incubating the cell culture, with the transfer of heat to the culture dish implemented by two heating modules located above and below the culture dish, insertion and removal of the culture dish is implemented automatically, and the entry opening (4) to the incubation chamber is covered with an automatically opening/closing cover/door/screen.

[0015] It is preferable that introducing the culture dish into one of the heating segments does not lead to a change in the temperature conditions of the incubation of the remaining culture dishs in other heating segments as is the case in conventional embodiments where various culture dishs are incubated in a common incubation chamber.

[0016] The housing of the device (14) comprises more than one heating segment (6) and provides thermal insulation from the external environment. The housing opening (4) limits the incubation space to be separated from the outside environment by means of a fully automatic and fully integrated lid/door/dome that integrates with the control system. Each heating segment (6) enables the culture of microorganisms in a culture dish at various temperatures adapted to the specific requirements of microorganism culture in the incubation device. Each heating segment (6) is thermally insulated from neighboring heating segments (6) by means of a thermal barrier that restricts the flow of heat and air between the segments. Each heating module (7) generates heat energy with a uniform temperature distribution adapted to the geometry of the culture dish. All heating segments (6) are stacked one on top of another to form an incubation column (17) in the incubation space. Transport of the culture dish to/from the heating segment (6) takes place automatically. The incubation device for individualized culture of microorganisms is integrated with other functional modules such as automatic seed sampling, sample preparation, characterization of samples, which ensures a fully automated culture and characterization of cell culture properties such as growth dynamics, colony size, phenotypic characteristics, morphology, optical or optical pattern registration of these farms. The automatic transport unit of the dishwasher assembly (13) to/from the heating segment (6) is integrated with additional sample preparation units, their testing or characterization allowing fully automated transport of the culture dish between successive heating segments (6) and additional functional modules. The control unit also controls the operation of additional functional modules such as that of sample preparation. The device is equipped with an additional optical system (15) consisting of a camera including a lens that allows for recording pictures of the cell culture during and after incubation in order to characterise the phenotypic characteristics of such culture. Each heating segment (6) comprises light sources (12) in the form of LEDs emitting radiation from the spectral range of 400 to 1100 nm, which illuminate the culture dish during incubation in order to stimulate the dynamics of the growth of microorganisms. Each heating segment (6) is equipped with an additional element controlling the gas composition (16) inside the segment in order to provide optimum conditions for the growth of microorganisms. The device is equipped with an intelligent, automated power control system for each heating segment (6). The device consists of more than one incubation column located next to each other, each of which comprises at least one heating segment (6) with a culture dish (11) operated by at least one automatic transmission mechanism of the culture dish unit (13) in the heating segment (6) of each of the incubation columns. The device consists of more than one incubation column located opposite to each other, each of which comprises at least one heating segment (6) with a culture dish, operated by at least one automatic transmission mechanism of the culture dish unit (13) in the heating segment (6) of each of the incubation columns.

Example 4: Stationary Incubation Device for Multiple Culture Dishes

[0017] According to the third embodiment of the invention, it is possible to develop a stationary incubation device for thermally customised culture of microorganisms in multiple culture dishes that reduces power consumption. The invention according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 4.

[0018] A modular incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms according to the third embodiment of the invention comprises a feed system (1), systems controlling the temperature of the heating segments (2) an incubation chamber housing (3) with a covered opening (4), through which more than one culture dish is inserted, a main incubation chamber (5) divided into more than one separate smaller chamber allowing for the incubation of samples at different temperatures, each of which consists of a heating segment (6) containing two heating modules (7) placed on mounting plates (8) between which a frame (10) is inserted with the culture dish (11). The user autonomously places the culture dish (11) in each of the heating segments, opens/closes the door/screen/cover covering the entry opening (4) to the main incubation chamber (5), and the device reduces the power consumption and allows for incubating the culture dish (11) with microorganisms in customised thermal conditions. The housing of the device (14) comprises more than one heating segment (6) and provides thermal insulation from the external environment. Each heating segment (6) comprises a light source (12) in the form of LEDs emitting radiation from the spectral range of 400 to 1100 nm, which illuminate the culture dish (11) during incubation in order to stimulate the dynamics of the growth of microorganisms. Each heating segment (6) enables the culture of microorganisms in a culture dish at various temperatures adapted to the specific culture requirements in the incubation device. All heating segments (6) are stacked one on top of another to form an incubation column in the incubation space. The device is equipped with an intelligent, automated power control system for each heating segment (6).

Example 5: Stationary Incubation Device for Multiple Culture Dishes Having Separate Incubation Chambers

[0019] According to the fourth embodiment of the invention, it is possible to develop a stationary incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms in multiple culture dishes that reduces power consumption. The invention according to the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 5.

[0020] A modular incubation device for customised culture of microorganisms according to the fourth embodiment of the invention comprises systems controlling the temperature of the heating module (2), incubation chamber housing (3) of the incubation column (17) comprising at least heating segment (6) delimiting the main incubation chamber (5) with an opening (4) through which more one culture dish (11) is inserted, the main incubation chamber (5) divided into incubation chambers(9) allowing for the incubation of samples at different temperatures, each of which consists of a heating segment (6) containing two heating modules (7) placed on mounting plates (8) between which a frame (10) is inserted with the culture dish (11). The frame (10) on which the culture dish (11) is placed, upon insertion into the incubation chamber (9) covers the entry opening (4) through which it has been inserted for the purpose of separation from the external environment. The device is equipped with frames (10) transmitting the culture dish (11) allowing the covering of the entry opening (4) of the incubator for the purpose of separation from the external environment. The housing of the incubation chamber (3) comprises more than one heating segment (6) and provides thermal insulation from the external environment. Each heating segment (6) comprises light sources (12) in the form of LEDs emitting radiation from the spectral range of 400 to 1100 nm, which illuminate the culture dish (11) during incubation in order to stimulate the dynamics of the growth of microorganisms. Each heating segment (6) enables the culture of microorganisms in a culture dish (11) at various temperatures adapted to the specific culture requirements in the incubation device. All heating segments (6) are stacked one on top of another to form an incubation column (17) in the incubation space. The device is equipped with an automated mechanism allowing for the insertion and removal of the frame with the incubation dish from the incubation chamber and transfer to a deposition site. The device is equipped with an intelligent, automated power control system for each heating segment. The device consists of multiple incubation columns (17) operated by a single automatic transmission mechanism of the culture dish collector unit (13) and the the culture dish collector unit (18).