U.S. patent number 3,618,734 [Application Number 04/831,957] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-09 for specimen incubator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Research Foundation of Children's Hospital of the District of Columbia. Invention is credited to Waheed N. Khan.
United States Patent |
3,618,734 |
Khan |
November 9, 1971 |
SPECIMEN INCUBATOR
Abstract
A specimen incubator including a closed cabinet having an access
opening ch can be selectively opened and closed, and wherein are
mounted a plurality of specimen support trays movable in a path in
the cabinet in a manner for selective placement of any given tray
at the access opening, and further including means for controllably
circulating a gaseous medium in the cabinet with means provided to
preclude entrance of external atmosphere into the incubator under
open conditions thereof, the incubator preferably including
pluralities of specimen support trays in vertically separate tiers,
and movement of the trays in the individual tiers being
individually separately controllable.
Inventors: |
Khan; Waheed N. (Silver Spring,
MD) |
Assignee: |
Research Foundation of Children's
Hospital of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC)
|
Family
ID: |
25260292 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/831,957 |
Filed: |
June 10, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/219; 198/793;
119/318; 119/324; 435/809 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12M
41/00 (20130101); C12M 41/14 (20130101); G01N
35/04 (20130101); C12M 23/48 (20130101); G01N
2035/00356 (20130101); G01N 2035/0408 (20130101); Y10S
435/809 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C12M
1/00 (20060101); G01N 35/04 (20060101); G01N
35/00 (20060101); C12b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;195/139,127,142
;119/15,35 ;198/75,181,84 ;21/80 ;34/205,211,216,233 ;99/182 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Taneuholtz; Alvin E.
Claims
1. A specimen incubator comprising:
A. a closed cabinet having an access opening;
B. means to selectively open and close said opening;
C. a plurality of vertically spaced shelves having openings therein
within said cabinet;
D. a plurality of individually tiered arrays of specimen support
trays above said shelves, means for mounting said trays for
movement along a path within said cabinet and means operable for
selective placement of any of said trays at said opening;
E. housed controllable gas circulating means, comprising a
selectively operable fan and gas flow conduit leading from said
housed means and terminating in a perforated end-portion positioned
exteriorly on the said cabinet adjacent to said access opening;
and
F. said gas-circulating means operable when the closure means are
opened to thereby prevent entrance of external atmosphere into the
said cabinet.
2. A specimen incubator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure
means for said access opening comprises a slidable door in sealing
engagement with said access opening when in closed position, said
conduit having an air opening therein preceding said perforated end
portion, said door having a plate valve thereon adapted for
insertion in said air opening in said conduit with said door in
closed position to preclude flow through said perforations, and
said housing having an opening therein for directing gas medium
flow therefrom into the interior of the cabinet and through the
shelf openings for circulation through and about the cabinet
interior in a recirculating cycle of the medium.
3. A specimen incubator as claimed in claim 2, and further
including a filter and an adjustable heater in said housing for
filtration and temperature control of the gaseous medium circulated
within said cabinet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, specimen incubator systems and arrangements in
facilities such as hospitals, laboratories and the like, such as
used in microbiological studies, for example, have been cumbersome
and inconvenient in structure and placement within a facility. In
many such known installations a centrally located communally used
area was provided which, in many instances, required a substantial
amount of a technician's time in transporting specimens to the
area, and in such areas the arrangement was such that placement and
arrangement of the specimens, observation thereof, removal for
study and reporting required considerable periods of time, and in
many instances necessitated inconvenient operations of a tedious
nature. In such hitherto known arrangements there was, accordingly,
a very substantial time loss factor for the laboratory technicians,
as well as a highly undesirable delay in obtaining results of
specimen culturing, studies, and reporting, with possible serious
results stemming therefrom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principle feature of the present invention to provide a
specimen incubator of the nature in question, which overcomes
drawbacks and undesirable features in previous known systems or
installations, and which provides a self-contained incubator having
such dimensions, construction and operation as to be easily placed
in one or more convenient locations for use, and which is capable
of holding a plurality of test specimens in such a manner that they
are easily accessible for placement, observation, and removal at
areas readily and quickly available for a technician. Time delays
in overall incubation time and obtaining results thereof is
substantially minimized, and results can be made available much
more rapidly with a very substantial saving in technician's time.
The present invention permits easy insertion and removal of a
plurality of individual specimens in the incubator, and
incorporates means operable in such a manner as to render each
individual specimen readily and easily accessible to a technician.
The invention also includes a structure whereby external
atmosphere, which might invite contamination within an incubator,
is precluded when an access opening into the incubator is used for
insertion or removal of a test specimen.
Other and additional objects of the invention will be more readily
understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment
thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an incubator according to the
invention, arranged on a support, and showing an access door in
closed position;
FIG. 2 is a vertical elevational view of the incubator with a front
wall removed to disclose a specimen tray arrangement and
schematically air circulation flow;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the invention generally on
line 3--3 of FIG. 2, parts being broken away, and disclosing in
greater clarity the arrangement of air circulating means including
a spacing shelf and circulation apertures therein;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating
structure adapted to maintain desired atmospheric conditions within
the incubator with an open access door;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view generally along
line 5--5 of FIG. 4, with the access door closed;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the access door open;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view disclosing a portion of
drive mechanism for specimen trays or containers, shown operatively
connected thereto;
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a specimen tray and specimen
tube-supporting means thereon;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the tray of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing a modified specimen
tube support; and
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary schematic plan view showing drive
mechanism for specimen trays, taken generally along lines 11--11 of
FIG. 7.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, the incubator of the
present invention, generally designated 20, includes a cabinet 22
adapted for placement on any suitable support such as shown for
example in broken lines at 24. Inspection and viewing windows 26
are provided in the front and rear of the cabinet to permit readily
viewing the interior of the cabinet and these windows can, if
desired, be provided with tinted glass for light control. Access
doors 28 are provided in the front and rear sides of the cabinet,
and are selectively closable by means of sliding glass, or other
transparent material, doors or panels 30, and having operating
handles 32. Any suitable support and guide track means can be
provided for the sliding doors 30, and preferably maintain a
relatively tight sealing engagement with these doors to insure
controlled atmospheric conditions within the incubator.
A plurality of vertically spaced shelves 34 are mounted in the
cabinet, and can, if desired, be removable. The shelves have a
plurality of circulation openings 36 therethrough, to permit
airflow and circulation in the cabinet and the inner compartmented
structure thereof.
A plurality of specimen trays 38 are arranged in vertically spaced
tiers as shown in FIG. 2, above the respective shelves 34, and are
adapted to be moved, selectively in the individual tiers, in paths
40 whereby the individual trays can be positioned at one of the
access doors 28 for specimen placement in the trays or removal
therefrom by an operator or technician. The individual trays can
consist of generally cylindrical shaped containers 42 having closed
bottoms 44 and open tops 46. The sides of the cylinders are open as
indicated at 48 for access to the tray, and additionally for
viewing of specimens placed therein. Shafts 50 are affixed to the
bottoms of the trays by any desired means such as by hubs 52, the
shafts depending vertically downwardly from the trays. Movement of
the trays along the paths, in each of the tiers, and support of the
individual trays, will be readily apparent from FIG. 11 of the
drawings. Upper and lower link chains 54 and 56 are supported on
hubbed sprockets 58 and 60 supported on the shelves in spaced
positions along the paths, and in the embodiment shown at the four
corners of the paths. The sprocket wheels engage in the chain link
openings in a usual manner for operatively driving the chains.
Chain tensioners 62 are mounted at the corners of the paths to
properly maintain driving tension on the chains, and to give
adequate support for the containers. The specimen trays or
containers have their shafts 50 inserted in spaced ones of open
chain link connecting pins 64 of the chains. The provision of the
upper and lower chain runs serve to support the specimen trays,
through the shafts 50, in a vertical position, and, additionally,
as the chains are moved in the respective paths will convey the
individual specimen trays around the paths in an obvious
manner.
The drive means whereby the chains and trays can be moved includes
motor 66 and gear reduction box 68, supported on brackets 70 or the
like. Output shaft 72 is connected to one-half of a separable
pin-type coupling, generally designated 74, with the lowermost
portion thereof being operatively spring tensioned by spring 76
into coupling relationship with the upper portion thereof. A handle
78 connected to the lowermost coupling part is adapted for manual
movement thereof, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, for manual
coupling or uncoupling. A handwheel 81 is connected to shaft 80 of
the sprockets, as is the uppermost portion of the coupling, and
upon disengagement of the coupling with the handwheel can be used
for manual movement of the specimen trays along the paths. As will
be seen, drive means for the different sets of chains are
individually provided and, as will be pointed out hereinafter, are
selectively and individually operable for separate movement of the
different sets of trays. Obviously, only one drive mechanism is
needed for each of the sets of chains.
In addition to the foregoing described important feature, whereby
any individual specimen tray can be brought to a position in front
of one of the access doors, it is also of substantial importance
that means be provided for ensuring that the ambient atmosphere
within the incubator be maintained uniform throughout at the proper
temperature, with means also being incorporated for filtering of
air within the incubator. To this end, a fan blower 82 is mounted
in the cabinet, including a motor and fan as shown in FIG. 2, and
within, as regards the fan, a housing 84 within which is also
mounted filter 86 and resistance heater 88. The inlet end of
housing 84 is open to permit air within the incubator to enter and
be driven by the fan through the filter and over the heater toward
a closing flange 90 or the like having, in the embodiment shown,
two openings 92 in proximity to the periphery thereof, to which are
connected conduits 94 which extend to proximity with access doors
28, and terminate in perforated end conduit sections 96. The flange
90 is also provided with a centrally disposed air opening 96. The
arrangement of the conduits and opening is such that, dependent
upon operation of other components of the incubator, a flow of air
is established as indicated by the arrows through the confines of
the incubator when the access doors are closed, and when the access
doors are open will create an air film or curtain across the access
openings to prevent entry of outside air into the incubator. Means,
as will appear hereinafter, are provided to restrict airflow
through the perforated conduit sections 96 when the doors are
closed. Under normal operation of the incubator, it is desirable to
maintain a temperature therein in the neighborhood of 37.degree. C.
although, as will be readily understood, this can be varied as
dictated by operating requirements for the incubator. Control of
the air heater effects this operation.
Cages 98 are attached to the cabinet around the access openings and
within which the access doors 28 are slidably contained and in
sealing relationship with respect to the interior and exterior of
the cabinet. An air inlet opening 100 is provided in each of the
conduits 94 at its juncture point with the perforated end sections
94A. The doors have valve plates 102 formed as extensions thereof,
or as plates affixed thereto, and which are operable upon closing
of an access door to obturate air inlet openings 100 to preclude
airflow from the conduit into and through the perforated sections.
The doors when closed additionally prevent entrance of exterior air
into the incubator. Airflow to form the film or curtain upon
opening a door is indicated by arrows 104 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Circulation within the incubator is possible by means of,
including, the apertures 36, the flow being indicated by arrows
106. If desired, air leakage can be provided for in connection with
the air inlet opening 100 and plate valve 102 to further ensure
against entry of exterior air into the incubator.
Control of operation of the incubator is accomplished by a
plurality of switches mounted on the exterior of the cabinet
generally as indicated at 108. Motor switch sets MS.sub.1, MS.sub.2
and MS.sub.3 are operatively connected to respective ones of motors
66 to operate the chains in the various tiers. The motors being
reversible, the left-hand ones of the switch buttons will operate
the chains in one direction, and conversely the right-hand switches
will operate the chains in the other direction. The blower motor is
operated by switch B and resistance heater is actuated by switch T.
This is a variable temperature switch or rheostat, the control
factor being indicated generally at 110 in FIG. 2.
If desired, the shelves 34 can be provided with upraised ridges
112, FIG. 3, and boxes 114 adapted to contain specimen material or
the like can be supported on the shelves, and restrained thereon by
means of the ridge.
Referring to FIGS. 8-10 inclusive, means can be incorporated for
supporting test tubes or the like. In FIGS. 8 and 9 this includes
an upper open ring 116 and a closed bottom cup 118. In the
modification shown in FIG. 10, the upper ring is replaced by a
spring clip 120 of a known construction, and serves to increase
stability of a supported test tube.
From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that the
incubator of the invention permits quick and easy disposition of
any specimen within the incubator for easy access at the front and
rear sides by operation of the various motor control switches. The
condition of the air within the incubator is also readily
controllable by means of the door structures and the control means
for the air flow within the incubator in the manner hereinbefore
described.
Under certain conditions, it is desirable to have a controllable
carbon dioxide content within the incubator. To this end, a supply
of carbon dioxide, not shown, can be introduced into the incubator
by manipulation of CO.sub.2 button C.
It will be apparent that the present incubator has desirable small
dimensions adapted to contain a plurality of specimens, each of
which is readily available through easy access means, and the size
of the incubator permits plural placement in desirable use areas.
The multiplicity of specimens which can be placed in such an
incubator in a centrally located position saves a substantial
amount of time in a technician's placement or removal to increase
available incubation time. This saving in time results in speeding
up operations where quick results are desired, such as in
sensitivity tests and the like, due to minimizing time required
following taking a specimen and placement in an incubator, and
subsequent observation, and saving in overall reporting time. The
number of technicians required under normal operating conditions is
very substantially reduced due to the convenience and operation of,
and selective placement of a plurality of these incubators.
Manifestly, minor changes can be effected in the invention without
departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in, and
limited solely by the appended claims.
* * * * *