Mini-incubator carrier box “Mini-incubator”

Abstract

The carriers that are available in the market don't maintain all the necessary parameters that are mentioned in the subject matter of this application. Many of them are: 1) Costly 2) Allow the transport of cells for short period of time 3) Are suitable for transporting certain type of cells 4) Don't include control for all the parameters that are required for the experiments 5) Need extra steps that can affect cell/organs and waste the time, efforts and money of the researchers. 6) Limit researchers for using containers with certain sizes and materials. 7) Involve changing the conditions of cell growth such as splitting the cells, freezing, centrifuge them during the process of transporting them. Alternatively, the Mini-incubator carrier box in my invention is an economic transport system and practical. It enables the researchers to fix different containers at different sizes using clamps and screws and to transport the organs/samples/cells in any container for long period of time and long distance under optimized conditions without the need of extra steps/costs.

Claims

1. A portable mini-incubator carrier box for transporting biological samples and live cells comprising: an incubating carrier box for housing said biological samples and live cells; in operative connection with said carrier box are temperature sensing and adjustable controllers for maintaining temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide and oxygen gas levels within the carrier box; an inlet nozzles in operative connection with said incubating carrier box for introducing a carbon dioxide and oxygen into said incubating carrier box; an outlet nozzles in operative connection for removing gases from said incubating carrier box; a portable carbogen gas cylinder for introducing carbon dioxide and oxygen, wherein a mixture of gases of 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide is in operative connection with said incubating carrier box; disposed within the said carrier box includes rustproof stainless steel trays, clamps and screws for fixing and retaining containers; a handle on the exterior of said carrier box for carrying and transporting said incubating carrier box; a power source, battery and charging mechanism for providing power to said incubating carrier box; a digital screen used for displaying the temperature, pressure and gas levels for maintaining said incubating carrier box; wherein said incubating carrier box is constructed of materials which are fireproof and waterproof.

2. The portable mini-incubator carrier box of claim 1, wherein said rustproof stainless steel trays are in operative connection with a shaking or stirring device located at the base of the carrier box for rotating and shaking said trays optionally actuated by buttons located outside of said portable mini-incubator carrier box.

3. The portable mini-incubator carrier box of claim 1 wherein said incubator carrier box further comprises thermally controlled heating and cooling units configured to be disposed at the base of said portable mini-incubator carrier box controlled by actuating buttons located outside of said portable mini-incubator carrier box.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES AND DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 displays a diagram for the Mini-incubator carrier box and the parts of this box as the following: Number 1, 2 and 3 are the places of 3 clips; Number 4 is the handle of the Mini-incubator carrier box; Number 5 is the water reservoir, Number 6 shows the power switch and the fan switch; Number 7 is the place of the 2 buttons that are used to adjust the readings in the Mini-incubator carrier box; Number 8 is the digital screen; Number 9 is the place of 3 knobs to control the temperature, humidity and the levels of CO.sub.2/O.sub.2; Number 10 is an inlet nozzle for the infecting CO.sub.2/O.sub.2; Number 11 is an outlet nozzle; Number 12 is the CO.sub.2/O.sub.2 container; Number 13 is a hole for the plug of the charger.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a diagram for the stainless steel tray with a 24 well-plate fixed on top of the tray by clamps. Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 are the places of 4 clamps; Number 5 is a 24 well-plate; Number 6 is a stainless steel tray.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram for the stainless steel tray with an Erlenmeyer flask placed on top of it using an additional flat base that is fixed by clamps on top of the tray in order to give a strong hold and fixation to large laboratory wares (e.g. flasks). Number 1, 2, 3 and 4 are the places of 4 clamps that fix the base to the stainless steel tray; Number 5 is a base; Number 6 is an Erlenmeyer flask.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom of the stainless steel tray. The tray would be used to fix the container of the cells/biological samples on top of it by clamps that would be connected with screws on the bottom of the tray.

(5) FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of the screws that would be used to fix the clamps to the bottom of the stainless steel tray for proper holding of the plate or the container of the cells/biological samples.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram for the Mini-incubator carrier box with an open lid showing that the inside of the box is made of stainless steel. It shows 2 Petri-dishes fixed on top of the stainless steel tray by clamps.

(7) FIG. 7: The design and the shape of the Mini-incubator carrier box in white color (FIG. 7A) and black color (FIG. 7B).

(8) FIG. 8 displays a special diagram for the Mini-incubator carrier box with a special design in which 2 additional compartments are added to the outside of the box as safe storage for the Carbogen gas cylinder and other accessories of the Mini-incubator carrier box such as connecting tube and spray bottle of an EPA-registered disinfectant. The design allows the researcher to transport the samples/cells/organs for long distance and when the needed time for the transport exceeds the shelf life of the gas in the Mini-incubator carrier box.

(9) FIG. 9 displays another diagram for the special design of the Mini-incubator carrier box that is explained in FIG. 8.

(10) FIG. 10: Charger for the battery of the Mini-incubator carrier box.

(11) FIG. 11: Carbogen gas cylinder to provide 95% O.sub.2 and 5% CO.sub.2 in the Mini-incubator carrier box.

(12) FIG. 12: Tube for connecting the gas cylinder to the Mini-incubator carrier box.

(13) FIG. 13: Spray bottle that can be filled with the disinfectant to prevent contamination in the Mini-incubator carrier box.