Receiving device for a nutrient carrier

Abstract

An accommodation device (2) for a culture medium carrier (7), such as a petri dish in particular, is specified. The accommodation device (2) has a hermetically closable interior (23) for accommodation of the culture medium carrier (7). By means of a wirelessly remote-controllable drive (25), the accommodation device (2) can be opened and closed, in order respectively to provide access to the culture medium carrier (7) and to hermetically close the interior (23) with the culture medium carrier (7) accommodated therein. The accommodation device (2) as a whole may be introduced into and removed from a hermetically insulable space (11) in an insulator (1). Also specified is a method of identifying microbes in the atmosphere of an insulator (1).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] Recording device for a culture medium carrier

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to a receiving device for a nutrient medium carrier, such as, in particular, a Petri dish. The receiving device is designed for insertion into a hermetically sealable isolator in order to detect germs in the atmosphere of the isolator. The invention therefore also relates to a method for detecting germs in the atmosphere of an isolator.

[0005] STATE OF THE ART

[0006] Aseptic isolators are used particularly in the pharmaceutical industry to create a defined, germ-free atmosphere relative to the surrounding work area so that sensitive or hazardous products can be processed. Isolators are often used, for example, as part of filling systems used to fill containers such as vials, ampoules, or syringes with a biopharmaceutical product. Due to the ultra-pure and particularly germ-free atmosphere in the isolator, the risk of contamination of the product by germs such as viruses or bacteria during the filling process can be significantly reduced or, in the best case, largely eliminated. The containers are hermetically sealed while still in the isolator before being removed from the isolator for storage, transport, and distribution. The sterility of the products contained in the sealed container can thus be guaranteed to a high degree.

[0007] The atmosphere in such isolators is typically monitored as part of a biomonitoring system to ensure that the isolator room is always free of microbiological contamination, even during extended use. For this purpose, Petri dishes containing a suitable nutrient medium are placed in the isolator room. The nutrient medium is thus exposed to the atmosphere within the isolator room. Any microorganisms present in the isolator atmosphere settle in the Petri dish and grow there into detectable colonies.

[0008] In the current state of the art, the handling of Petri dishes, especially positioning, opening, and resealing with a lid, inside the isolator is typically performed using a gloved hand. The flexible gloved hand openings pose a risk of damage and resulting leakage. Germs that have settled in the culture medium and may have already multiplied there can also be transported through the gloved hand during handling and thus spread throughout the isolator.

[0009] It is therefore known to provide a robot with gripping arms inside the isolator, which handles the nutrient medium carriers, ie the Petri dishes, so that the use of gloves can be dispensed with.

[0010] For example, WO 2020 / 233854 A1 discloses a packaging system for filling and sealing medicines into containers, which has a 6-axis robot for handling the Petri dishes.

[0011] WO 2021 / 156263 A1 discloses a method for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator. The transfer of culture media from a transfer lock to a designated culture media holder is carried out robotically.

[0012] However, robots, especially multi-joint robots and robots with gripper arms, are generally complex in design and therefore expensive. Controlling and programming robots is also often difficult and only possible by trained specialists. Adjusting simple parameters, such as repositioning Petri dishes, is therefore often not easily possible. Furthermore, retrofitting existing isolators with a robot is complex or often not even possible.

[0013] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device that allows for the simple and safe handling of culture media carriers in an isolator. The device should have the simplest possible design and, if possible, be able to be used with existing isolators without much effort.

[0015] To achieve this object, a receiving device for a nutrient medium carrier, such as a Petri dish, is proposed, as defined in claim 1. Furthermore, claim 11 defines a method for detecting germs in the atmosphere of an isolator. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0016] The present invention therefore provides a receiving device for a nutrient medium carrier, such as in particular a Petri dish, comprising a hermetically sealable interior for receiving the nutrient medium carrier; as well as a wirelessly remote-controlled drive for opening and closing the receiving device in order to allow access to the nutrient medium carrier or to hermetically seal the interior with the nutrient medium carrier received therein.

[0017] The recording device can be inserted into and removed from a hermetically sealed chamber of an isolator as a whole.

[0018] Because the receiving device features a wireless remote-controlled drive for opening and closing, and can be inserted into the isolator as a whole with the culture medium carrier contained therein, no further handling of the culture medium carrier is necessary inside the hermetically insulated isolator chamber, e.g., using gloved hands or robotic arms. Handling can therefore be carried out exclusively using a wireless remote control in a safe and very simple manner. For this purpose, the culture medium carrier is inserted into the receiving device outside the isolator under a protective atmosphere, which is then hermetically sealed. The receiving device can then be inserted into the isolator chamber, where it can be sterilized from the outside while still sealed, without damaging the growth or culture medium during decontamination.When the isolator is ready for production, the drive of the receiving device can be activated via the remote control to open it and allow access to the culture medium carrier. The culture medium is then exposed to the atmosphere of the isolator chamber. After a certain exposure time, the receiving device can be closed again using the remote control, preventing germs from escaping from the culture medium carrier to the outside and back again. In this state, the receiving device can be removed from the isolator together with the culture medium carrier contained therein, which is hermetically isolated from the environment. The culture medium carrier can then be removed from the receiving device and transported further for incubation and / or microorganism detection. Alternatively, the further transport can also be carried out together with the receiving device.

[0019] Because the recording device, including the culture medium carrier, can be inserted into the isolator as a whole and removed from it, it is particularly well-suited for use in existing isolators or for retrofitting. Its application is particularly in so-called "gloveless" isolators, i.e., isolators that do not have gloves. Compared to a typical robotic arm, the recording device is not only easier to operate and control, but also typically significantly simpler to construct and therefore generally more cost-effective overall.

[0020] The nutrient medium carrier can, in particular, be a Petri dish. The nutrient medium is then held inside the Petri dish, which can, in particular, have a lid. The nutrient medium carrier preferably has a dish and a lid, wherein the lid can advantageously be locked to the dish. This allows the nutrient medium carrier to be transported safely outside the holding device and, in particular, in such a way that the nutrient medium contained therein is protected from the environment. However, it is also entirely possible for the nutrient medium carrier to have a dish and a lid that cannot be locked together. In principle, however, it is also conceivable for the nutrient medium carrier to be a simple plate that carries the nutrient medium.

[0021] A Petri dish is considered a flat, round, usually transparent dish, which may or may not have a lid. If the Petri dish has a lid, it can extend over or under the dish, meaning the edge of the lid can extend radially beyond the dish or be located entirely within the dish.

[0022] The culture medium carrier, especially the Petri dish, can be part of the storage device and, for example, can be sold together with it. When the storage device is sealed, the interior of the storage device is hermetically isolated from the environment. Any germs present can then neither enter the interior nor escape from it. If a culture medium carrier is housed in the interior of the sealed storage device, this is also hermetically isolated from the environment.

[0023] The drive is used to open and close the recording device, i.e., to release or hermetically seal the interior. The drive is preferably a motor, in particular an electric motor. The drive can be remotely controlled, for example, via infrared, radio, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. The recording device preferably has a correspondingly designed and, depending on the specific application, specifically designed remote control. However, the remote control can be a smartphone with an app installed for operating the recording device.

[0024] An "isolator" is generally understood to be a container whose interior can be hermetically insulated, i.e., separated, from the surrounding workspace. A defined atmosphere can be created within the interior for processing sensitive or hazardous products, such as pharmaceutical products in particular. The isolator can be stationary or mobile. The isolator is typically located in a room within a building, which forms a surrounding workspace. This contrasts with a clean room in, for example, a laboratory or other building, which itself forms the workspace. The isolator can, in particular, form part of a filling system, which is used, for example, to fill containers with a pharmaceutical product.

[0025] The recording device preferably also has at least one energy storage element, such as a battery, for supplying the drive with electrical energy. The battery can be a rechargeable or disposable battery. The presence of an energy storage element makes handling the recording device particularly easy when inserting it into the isolator or removing it from the isolator.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving device is designed to lift a lid of the nutrient medium carrier from a tray of the nutrient medium carrier upon opening. The nutrient medium carrier can thus be inserted into the receiving device sealed outside the insulator and only opened in the hermetically sealed space of the insulator. Preferably, the receiving device is also designed to replace the lid on the tray upon closing. The nutrient medium carrier can thus be resealed while still in the insulator.

[0027] The receiving device preferably has a first holding element for securing the lid of the nutrient medium carrier. The first holding element can serve, in particular, to open and / or close the nutrient medium carrier when opening or closing the receiving device. Furthermore, the receiving device preferably has a second holding element for securing the tray of the nutrient medium carrier. The second holding element can serve, in particular, to open and / or close the nutrient medium carrier when opening or closing the receiving device. If both the first holding element and the second holding element are present, the nutrient medium carrier can be opened and closed particularly securely.

[0028] The first holding element is particularly preferably one or more clamping elements, which preferably clamp the lid of the nutrient medium carrier from one or more radial directions. Although this is not preferred, the first holding element could alternatively also be formed by a fixing element that rests against the lid from below, i.e., in the direction in which the lid is lifted from the tray upon opening.

[0029] The second holding element is preferably formed by a fixing element which rests on the tray from above, i.e. rests on the tray opposite to the direction in which the closure lid is lifted from the tray when opened. The fixing element, which can in particular be designed as a fixing ring, preferably rests on the outer radial edge of the tray. The fixing element preferably also clamps the tray firmly so that it cannot be rotated relative to the fixing element when the interior of the recording device is closed. Such a clamping of the tray can in particular serve to enable rotation of the closure lid relative to the tray in order to unlock or lock the nutrient medium carrier by means of a bayonet or threaded closure.In principle, however, it is also conceivable that the second holding element, as in the above-mentioned preferred variant of the first holding element, is one or more clamping elements which clamp the tray of the nutrient medium carrier preferably from one or more radial directions.

[0030] As mentioned, the nutrient medium carrier preferably has a tray that can be closed by a lid. The tray and lid then preferably jointly define an interior space that serves to accommodate a nutrient medium. The lid can preferably be locked to the tray. This enables safe transport of the nutrient medium carrier outside the receiving device. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving device is designed to unlock and lock the nutrient medium carrier accommodated in the hermetically sealed interior space of the receiving device, i.e., to unlock the lid relative to the tray or to lock it to the tray in order to make the interior of the nutrient medium carrier accessible or to close it. This makes handling of the nutrient medium carrier particularly safe, since it can then be unlocked and opened, as well as closed and locked again, inside the hermetically sealed insulator.

[0031] To unlock and lock the nutrient medium carrier inside the receiving device, the receiving device preferably has an actuating element that allows manual unlocking and locking of the nutrient medium carrier. This makes the receiving device particularly easy to manufacture and operate. The actuating element preferably forms part of the locking mechanism specified below. In other embodiments, however, it may also be advantageous for the receiving device to have a motor-driven actuating element, i.e., allowing automatic unlocking and locking of the nutrient medium carrier.

[0032] The nutrient medium carrier can, in particular, have a threaded or bayonet closure. A bayonet closure is a closure in which the two parts to be connected are connected by inserting them into one another and then rotating them in opposite directions. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the holding device has a locking mechanism for unlocking and locking such a nutrient medium carrier with a threaded or bayonet closure. For this purpose, the locking mechanism is preferably designed to rotate the lid relative to the tray of the nutrient medium carrier and, in the case of a bayonet closure, to insert the lid and tray into or onto one another beforehand. To ensure reliable function of the locking mechanism, it preferably has one or more guides.The one or more guide rails advantageously serve to provide guidance for the insertion of the lid and the dish into or into each other, and / or for the rotation of the lid relative to the dish. Since many commercially available culture medium carriers, and in particular Petri dishes, have a threaded or bayonet closure, this type of embodiment of the holding device is particularly advantageous. A threaded or bayonet closure also allows for a particularly simple yet secure locking of a lid to a dish of a culture medium carrier.

[0033] The locking mechanism preferably comprises a first holding element for securing the lid of a nutrient medium carrier, wherein the first holding element is movable from an initial position to a depressed position and from the depressed position to a depressed, rotated position in order to lock a nutrient medium carrier having a bayonet closure. If the receiving device comprises a second holding element, this preferably serves to hold the tray of the nutrient medium carrier in a fixed position during the depressing and rotating of the first holding element.

[0034] The locking mechanism is preferably designed to be manually operated by a user for unlocking and locking. However, it is also conceivable for a motor to be present to operate the locking mechanism. The motor can, but does not have to, be formed by the aforementioned drive.

[0035] The receiving device preferably has a receiving vessel and a closure lid, which together delimit the interior space provided for receiving the nutrient medium carrier. When the receiving device is closed, the interior space is preferably delimited exclusively by the receiving vessel and the closure lid. The receiving vessel and / or the closure lid preferably has a sealing element in order to hermetically seal the interior space from the environment. The sealing element advantageously extends completely circumferentially around the interior space. In order to open and close the interior space, the closure lid can preferably be pivoted about a pivot joint over an angular range of at least 45°, more preferably at least 90°, even more preferably at least 180°. Pivoting the closure lid relative to the receiving vessel by at least 45° or at least 90° enables a sufficiently large orEven complete exposure of the interior space defined by the receiving vessel. This makes the device particularly suitable for use in insulators with vertical airflow. A pivoting angle of at least 180° allows optimal air circulation to the exposed receiving vessel from all sides, making the device suitable not only for use in insulators with vertical airflow, but also for use in insulators with horizontal airflow.

[0036] Preferably, the angular range over which the closure lid can be pivoted about the pivot joint relative to the receiving vessel is selectable. This means that the angular range over which the closure lid is pivoted when opened can preferably be set using the remote control, or that the pivoting of the closure lid can be stopped using the remote control, for example after a certain angular range. The nutrient medium carried by the nutrient medium carrier can thus be optimally positioned in the air flow of the isolator and exposed to it, whereby this can be a horizontal and / or vertical air flow. The receiving device preferably has a controller which controls the pivoting of the closure lid by means of the drive, whereby the receiving device advantageously also has a memory element for storing the angular range through which the closure lid is to be pivoted when opened.In this way, the opening position of the closure lid relative to the receptacle can be adapted to the respective application and the conditions prevailing in the isolator.

[0037] In order to achieve and ensure a particularly good hermetic seal of the interior to the outside when closed, the recording device preferably has a fully circumferential, at least double sealing lip.

[0038] The present invention also relates to a method for detecting and in particular for monitoring germs in the atmosphere of an isolator, the method comprising at least the following steps:

[0039] - introducing a receiving device, which is preferably designed as indicated above, into a space of the isolator, wherein the receiving device has a hermetically sealed interior in which a nutrient medium carrier, such as in particular a Petri dish, is accommodated;

[0040] - Hermetically sealing the space of the isolator with the recording device accommodated in it as a whole; and

[0041] - Opening the interior of the recording device by means of a remote control located outside the hermetically sealed space of the isolator.

[0042] The above-mentioned process steps are preferably carried out in the specified order. However, the process may include any additional process steps.

[0043] When opening the interior, the remote control is typically located in a workspace surrounding the isolator. The remote control is typically operated by a user, i.e., a human. In certain embodiments, the remote control can also have an interface to a computer or control unit to enable machine-controlled operation of the remote control.

[0044] Following the aforementioned process steps, the culture medium carrier, with the culture medium it supports, is typically exposed to the atmosphere of the hermetically sealed isolator chamber for a certain period of time, referred to as the exposure time. Any germs present in the atmosphere of the isolator chamber can settle on the culture medium during this exposure time.

[0045] The method may further comprise the following steps, which are preferably carried out subsequent to the above-mentioned steps:

[0046] - Hermetically sealing the interior of the recording device by means of the remote control after a certain exposure time during which a nutrient medium carried by the nutrient medium carrier was exposed to the atmosphere of the hermetically sealed space of the isolator;

[0047] - Opening the isolator compartment; and

[0048] - Removing the recording device as a whole from the isolator compartment.

[0049] To open the space of the isolator, the isolator preferably has an access opening, which serves in particular for inserting and removing the recording device. The access opening can be designed as a lock, which allows the recording device to be inserted or removed in such a way that the atmosphere in the isolator space is not affected at all or only to a minimal extent. The recording device is usually inserted and / or removed by a user, for example by laboratory personnel, but can alternatively also be done by a machine, such as a robot. The nutrient medium carrier can have a tray and a lid. The lid is then preferably lifted from the tray when the interior of the recording device is opened. When the recording device is opened, the nutrient medium contained in the nutrient medium carrier is therefore preferably made accessible at the same time.It is preferable to put the lid back on the tray when closing the interior of the recording device.

[0050] The tray and the lid of the culture medium carrier can be interlocked. In this case, the lid is preferably unlocked from the tray in the hermetically sealed interior of the receiving device, particularly preferably before the receiving device is inserted into the space of the isolator. Unlocking is preferably done manually using an actuating element provided for this purpose on the receiving device.

[0051] After the exposure time, the lid is locked to the shell, preferably in the hermetically sealed interior of the recording device, particularly preferably after the recording device has been removed from the isolator chamber. Locking is preferably done manually using an actuating element provided for this purpose on the recording device.

[0052] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. In the drawings:

[0054] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an insulator with a recording device incorporated therein according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0055] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a recording device according to an embodiment of the invention, in the closed state;

[0056] Fig. 3 is a side view of the recording device of Fig. 2;

[0057] Fig. 4 is a view of the recording device of Fig. 2, in the fully opened state, with a nutrient medium carrier held therein;

[0058] Fig. 5 is a view of the receiving device of Fig. 2, in a fully opened state, without a nutrient medium carrier; Fig. 6 is a view of the receiving device of Fig. 2, in a partially opened state, with a nutrient medium carrier held therein;

[0059] Fig. 7 is a central sectional view through the receiving vessel of the recording device of Fig. 2, with the nutrient medium carrier received therein;

[0060] Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the area outlined in dashed lines in Fig. 7;

[0061] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle of the recording device of Fig. 2;

[0062] Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed view of the area outlined in dashed lines in Fig. 9;

[0063] Fig. 11 is a central sectional view through the closure cover of the recording device of Fig. 2;

[0064] Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed view of the area outlined in dashed lines in Fig. 11;

[0065] Fig. 13 a central sectional view through the closure lid and the

[0066] Receptacle of the recording device of Fig. 2, in the closed state, with a nutrient medium carrier received therein;

[0067] Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the closure cover of the recording device of Fig. 2; and

[0068] Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism housed in the closure cover of the recording device of Fig. 2.

[0069] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0070] Figure 1 shows an insulator 1 with a recording device 2 according to the invention incorporated therein. Figures 2 to 15 show the recording device 2 according to the invention and parts thereof in different views.

[0071] As can be seen in Figure 1, the recording device 2 was introduced as a whole through an access opening 12 of the isolator 1 into a hermetically isolable chamber 11 of the isolator 1. The recording device 2 contains a nutrient medium carrier (not visible in Figure 1), which is arranged in an interior space of the recording device 2 and is hermetically insulated from the environment, i.e., in this case, from the chamber 11 of the isolator 1. The nutrient medium carrier, which carries a nutrient medium, was introduced into the previously sterilized recording device 2 before it was inserted into the isolator 1 after a possible further sterilization. The Isolator 1 can be, in particular, a glove-free isolator such as, but not exclusively, the so-called Vanrx SA25 product isolator from Vanrx (part of Cytiva), Canada.After the access opening 12 has been closed and the chamber 11 has been hermetically sealed to the outside, the chamber 11 can be sterilized. For this purpose, a so-called VHP (vaporized hydrogen peroxide) decontamination can be performed, in particular but not exclusively. The culture medium carrier is protected by the receiving device 2 during this time. When the isolator is ready for production, the receiving device 2 in the now closed and sterilized isolator 1 can be opened wirelessly from the outside using a remote control 5, and the culture medium arranged on the culture medium carrier can thereby be exposed to the atmosphere in chamber 11 of the isolator 1.The nutrient medium can thus be used for bio-monitoring during a certain exposure time, i.e. any germs present in room 11 settle on the nutrient medium and can thus be detected: The nutrient medium can be incubated outside of isolator 1 in a further step in order to subsequently identify the resulting germ populations.

[0072] After the exposure time has elapsed, the receiving device 2 is closed again using the remote control 5, so that the culture medium carrier, including the culture medium, is hermetically isolated from the environment. The opening and closing of the receiving device 2, and thus the entire handling of the culture medium carrier inside the hermetically sealed isolator 1, is thus carried out exclusively using the remote control 5. Neither gloved hands nor a robot are necessary. This largely eliminates the risk of inadvertently spreading germs into the chamber 11 of the isolator 1. The isolator 1 can be a conventional isolator with or without a gloved hand.

[0073] After closing the receiving device 2, the access opening 12 can then be opened, and the still-closed receiving device 2 can be removed as a whole from the isolator 1. Outside the isolator 1, the receiving device 2 can then be opened, and the culture medium carrier can be removed from it, for example, for incubation and / or analysis. The receiving device 2 can be used for further applications with other culture medium carriers or with new culture media.

[0074] A possible embodiment of a recording device 2, as can be used in Figure 1, for example, is shown in Figures 2 to 15 in various views. As can be clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3, the recording device

[0075] 2 a base part 21 on which a receptacle 3 is arranged, which can be closed by means of a closure lid 4. For this purpose, the closure lid 4 can be pivoted relative to the receptacle 3 about a pivot joint 27, which is laterally

[0076] 3 and the closure lid 4. The swivel joint 27 thus connects the receptacle 3 and the closure lid 4 to one another.

[0077] The base part 21 has four support feet 22 with which the recording device 2 can be placed on a flat surface as intended or on or in a holder provided for this purpose.

[0078] The base part 21 forms a drive housing 24 laterally of the pivot joint 27, in which a drive 25 in the form of an electric motor is housed (see Figure 3). The drive 25, which can be controlled by means of the remote control 5, serves to open and close the recording device 2 by pivoting the closure cover 4 about the pivot joint 27. A battery 26, which is also housed in the base part 21, as indicated in Figure 3, serves to supply power to the drive 25. The battery 26 is charged by a wireless system, e.g. by induction, so that no plugs are necessary on the recording device 2. Also preferably arranged in the base part 21 are an electronics unit with a control system, a storage element and / or a wireless communication device, none of which, however, are visible in the figures.

[0079] While the recording device 2 is shown in the closed state in Figures 2 and 3, Figures 4 and 5 each show the recording device 2 in the fully open state. Figure 4 shows the recording device 2 with, and Figure 5 shows it without, a nutrient medium carrier 7 inserted therein. The nutrient medium carrier 7 is designed here as a Petri dish with a tray 71 and a lid 72 that can be inserted into the tray 71. The tray 71 and lid 72 can be locked together by means of locking elements 711 and 721. The locking elements 711 and 721 preferably form a bayonet lock, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment shown. In the present exemplary embodiment, the nutrient medium carrier 7 is a Petri dish known under the name ICRplus Settle Plate from Merck KGaA, Germany. A cross-sectional view through the closed and locked nutrient medium carrier 7 is shown in Figure 7.Pivoting the closure lid 4 by 180° relative to the receiving vessel 3, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, has the advantage that the nutrient medium held in the tray 71 can then be optimally exposed to the atmosphere in the space 11 of the isolator 1. This allows air to flow to the nutrient medium from all sides.

[0080] Preferably, the angular range through which the closure lid 4 can be pivoted relative to the receptacle 3 about the pivot joint 27 is adjustable. Thus, the closure lid 4 can, for example, be pivoted by only 90° when opened, as shown in Figure 6, which may be advantageous depending on the situation and application.

[0081] The receiving vessel 3 of the receiving device 2 is shown in more detail in Figures 7 to 10. It has a receiving tray 31 with a central, circular recess 311. A washer 32 is inserted into the recess 311 and serves to support the tray 71 of the nutrient medium carrier 7. A fixing ring 33 serves as a holding element for holding the tray 71 when the receiving device 2 is opened. The fixing ring 33 is designed with a radially inwardly extending, circumferential retaining web 331 for resting on the tray 71 (see Figure 7 and in particular Figure 8). By resting the fixing ring 33 on the tray 71, the tray is clamped downwards towards the receiving tray 31 when the receiving device 2 is closed and cannot move with the closure lid 4 when it is lifted and / or rotated.

[0082] When the receiving device 2 is closed, a sliding ring 45 (see Figures 11 to 13), explained further below, comes to rest between the fixing ring 33 and the closure lid 4 and thus serves to clamp the tray 71. Furthermore, the fixing ring 33, with its central opening, serves to center the tray 71 after the nutrient medium carrier 7 has been inserted into the receiving vessel 3. On the outer edge of the fixing ring 33, two diametrically opposed engagement recesses 332 are provided, which facilitate the removal of the fixing ring 33 from the receiving tray 31. The removal of the fixing ring 33 is necessary if the nutrient medium carrier 7 is to be removed from the receiving device 2.

[0083] In addition to the advantages already mentioned, the modular design of the receiving vessel 3 with receiving tray 31, base ring 32, and fixing ring 33 has the additional advantage that the receiving vessel 3 can be relatively easily adapted to other shapes, sizes, and / or types of nutrient medium carriers 7. For this purpose, one or more appropriately adapted fixing rings 33 must simply be provided.

[0084] When the receiving device 2 is closed, a hermetically insulated interior space 23 is formed, which is jointly and exclusively delimited by the receiving vessel 3 and the closure lid 4. To ensure a hermetic seal, the receiving tray has two completely circumferential sealing lips 312 (see Figure 10), each of which is designed to bear circumferentially against a sealing ring 42 of the closure lid 4. The sealing ring 42, which can be seen, for example, in Figures 6 and 11, is inserted into a groove arranged in the region of the underside of the closure lid 4 and extends completely circumferentially along the radial outer side of the closure lid 4. Due to the double design of the sealing lip 312, a particularly efficient hermetic insulation of the interior space 23 is achieved and ensured.

[0085] The design of the closure cover 4 is shown in Figures 11 to 15. As a basic support structure, the closure cover 4 has a shell structure 41, as can be clearly seen, for example, in Figures 11 and 14. In the lower region of the shell structure 41, the aforementioned groove with the sealing ring 42 inserted therein is formed on the radial outer side.

[0086] As can also be seen in Figures 11 and 13, the casing structure 41 has a central, vertically extending through-opening in which a locking mechanism 6 is arranged. Attached to the underside of the locking mechanism 6, explained further below, is a retaining plate 44 which covers the interior of the closure cover 4 downwards and thus forms a lower end of the closure cover 4. The retaining plate 44 is essentially circular and has a central upward curvature. A through-opening is formed in the center of the curvature, which serves to fix the main plate 44 to the actuating rod 62. Fixing is achieved via a screw 43. The screw 43 is screwed through the through-opening provided on the retaining plate 44 into an actuating rod 62 of the locking mechanism 6 (Figures 11 and 13), whereby the retaining plate 44 is fastened to the actuating rod 62 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0087] On its outer side, the holding plate 44 has recesses 441 that are open radially outwards, into which a clamping part 46 and a locking element 451 are each inserted. In the fully assembled state, the clamping part 46 and the locking element 451 are each held in the recess 441 defined by the holding plate 44 and the casing structure 41. The clamping part 46 is arranged radially inside the locking element 451. The locking elements 451 each form part of a sliding ring 45, i.e., the locking elements 451 are integrally connected to one another by the sliding ring 45. The locking elements 451 serve to non-rotatably attach the sliding ring 45 to the holding plate 44. Through their insertion in the recess 441, the otherwise unconnected clamping parts 46 are also non-rotatably attached to the holding plate 44.

[0088] The clamping parts 46 extending axially downward toward the receiving vessel 3 form holding elements designed to radially clamp the lid 72 of the nutrient medium carrier 7. When the receiving device 2 is closed, the sliding ring 45, which does not extend completely circumferentially, first slides downward in the axial direction along the radial outer side of the lid 72. The lid 72 is thus lightly clamped along a certain, not entirely complete circumferential area. In addition, the lid 72 is centered by the sliding ring 45 with respect to the closure lid 4, so that the clamping parts 46 can slide radially downward along the outer side of the lid 72 and clamp it firmly (see Figure 13). The lid 72 is thus clamped to the holding plate 44 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0089] The holding plate 44 shown in Figures 11, 13 and 14 has a lower stop surface which serves to press the lid 72 down towards the shell 71.

[0090] The functioning of the locking mechanism 6 becomes clear from a combination of Figures 11, 13, and 15: As its central element, the locking mechanism 6 comprises the above-mentioned actuating rod 62, which extends centrally and vertically. At the upper end, an actuating knob 61 is non-rotatably attached to the actuating rod 62 by means of a screw 613. The actuating knob 61 is used for manual operation of the locking mechanism 6 by a user. In the present embodiment, the actuating knob 61 comprises an upper knob element 611 and a lower knob element 612, which are assembled in an interlocking manner such that together they form a predominant portion of the outer surface of the actuating knob 61.In the area of ​​their radially outer edge, an outer sealing ring is clamped between the two knob elements 611 and 612 to prevent the penetration of particles and liquids into the interior of the actuating knob 61. An inner sealing ring 615 is arranged in a radial outer groove located at an upper portion of the actuating rod 62, which extends into the actuating knob 61. The inner sealing ring 615 is clamped between the actuating rod 62 and the lower knob element 612, thereby sealing these two elements from each other.

[0091] In other embodiments, the actuating knob 61 can also be formed as a single piece. Depending on the embodiment, the actuating knob 61 can also be removable from the actuating rod 62, in particular without the aid of a tool. For example, the actuating knob 61 can be attached to the actuating rod 62 by means of a locking engagement. By removing the actuating knob 61 before inserting the recording device 2 into the isolator 1, the likelihood of contamination can be reduced.

[0092] The actuating rod 62 has a circumferential central flange 621 arranged in the middle of its longitudinal extension. On diametrically opposite sides, a short guide web 622 extends radially outward from the central flange 621. The two guide webs 622, in combination with a guide unit 65 of the locking mechanism 6, serve to guide the lid 72 during the unlocking and locking of the nutrient medium carrier 7 when the receiving device 2 is closed. The central flange 621 and the guide webs 622 are preferably formed integrally on the vertical rod-shaped part of the actuating rod 62.

[0093] Viewed from top to bottom, the guide unit 65 comprises an upper link guide 651, a middle link guide 652, a lower link guide 653, and an intermediate ring 655, which are connected to one another in a rotationally secure manner by means of connecting pins 654. The elements 651, 652, 653, and 655 are all ring-shaped with a central through-opening through which the actuating rod 62 extends. In the link guides 651, 652, and 653, however, the central through-opening is each non-circular in order to form a link that only permits rotational movement of the actuating rod over a certain, predetermined angular range and enables axial displacement of the actuating rod only in certain predefined rotational positions.

[0094] The basic position of the actuating rod 62 and thus of the locking mechanism 6 is shown in Figures 11, 13 and 15: The guide webs 622 of the actuating rod 62 are located at the height of the central slotted guide 652. Viewed from above (Figure 15), the actuating rod 62 is rotated counterclockwise until the guide webs 622 rest against the slotted guide 652. In this basic position of the locking mechanism, the locked nutrient medium carrier 7 is usually inserted by the user into the opened receiving device 2. The situation after the receiving device 2 has been closed by means of the drive 25 is shown in Figure 13. The nutrient medium carrier 7 remains locked and is arranged in the now hermetically insulated interior space 23 of the receiving device 2. Due to the pressure exerted by the closure lid 4 on the fixing ring 33, the shell 71 is clamped in the receiving shell 31 by the fixing ring 33.The cover 72 is slightly clamped by the sliding ring 45.

[0095] In order to unlock the nutrient medium carrier 7 when the recording device 2 is closed, i.e. to operate its bayonet lock between the tray 71 and the lid 72, the operating knob 61 is now manually pushed down by a user and then turned counterclockwise: The operating rod 62 with its guide webs 622 is thereby advanced in the axial direction to the height of the lower link guide 653. The holding plate 44 thereby comes into contact with the lid 72 and presses it towards the tray 71. At the same time, the clamping parts 46 slide downward along the outside of the lid 72 and clamp it with a considerably greater clamping force than that previously exerted by the sliding ring 45. The lid 72 is thus held rotationally fixed to the holding plate 44 and thus to the operating rod 62.The subsequent counterclockwise rotation of the actuating rod 62, as mentioned above, rotates the lid 72 relative to the tray 71, causing the locking elements 711 and 721 of the bayonet lock to engage outward. The nutrient medium carrier 7 is thus unlocked, and the recording device 2 can be opened. Because the lid 72 is clamped by the clamping parts 46, it moves along with the closure lid 4 upon opening and is lifted from the tray 71. The nutrient medium contained in the nutrient medium carrier 7 is thus exposed to the surrounding atmosphere.

[0096] After the receiving device 2 is reclosed by means of the drive 25, the interior 23 of the receiving device 2, with the nutrient medium carrier 7 accommodated therein, is again hermetically sealed from the environment. However, the nutrient medium carrier 7 is still unlocked, i.e., the locking elements 711 and 721 of the bayonet lock do not engage. The locking mechanism 6 is still in the same position as when the receiving device 2 was opened, i.e., the guide webs 622 of the actuating rod 62 are arranged at the height of the lower guide rail 653.

[0097] To lock the nutrient medium carrier 7 when the recording device 2 is closed, i.e., to lock the tray 71 and lid 72 together using the bayonet lock, the user manually turns the actuating knob 61 clockwise and then pulls it upward. By turning it clockwise, the lid 72, which is still held in place by the clamping parts 46, is also rotated, causing the locking elements 711 and 721 of the tray 71 and the lid 72 to engage with each other again, thereby locking the nutrient medium carrier 7. Upon subsequent axial retraction of the actuating knob 61 upward, the clamping parts 46 are retracted relative to the lid 72, since the lid is now held to the tray 71 due to the locked bayonet lock. The cover 72 is thus no longer clamped by the clamping parts 46, and the locking mechanism 6 is again in its basic position shown in Figures 11, 13 and 15.

[0098] The recording device 2 can then be opened again by means of the drive 25, whereby the cover 72 remains on the shell 71 during opening. This is because, firstly, the cover 72 is held to the shell 71 via the bayonet lock and, secondly, it is no longer clamped by the clamping parts 46.

[0099] A further position of the locking mechanism 6, which is referred to below as the disassembly position, is made possible by the upper guide rail 651. For this purpose, the operating knob 61 must be turned clockwise by the user from the basic position and then pulled upwards: Since the upper guide rail 651 has a radial inner surface that complements the central flange 621 and the guide webs 622, any further rotation of the operating rod 62 is impossible in the disassembly position. In the disassembly position, the operating rod 62, together with the retaining plate 44 attached to it, is thus retracted further upwards into the casing structure 41 compared to the situation shown in Figures 11 and 13. The disassembly position serves to facilitate the disassembly of the closure cover 4, for example for cleaning and / or sterilization purposes.By pressing the actuating knob 61 down from the disassembly position and then turning it counterclockwise, the locking mechanism 6 can be easily returned to its home position. With respect to the locking mechanism 6, markings are preferably provided on the outside of the closure lid 4 and the actuating knob 61, which allow a user to identify the disassembly position, the home position, and the position at which the nutrient medium carrier 7 is unlocked inside the recording device 2. Corresponding markings can be seen in Figures 2 and 14.

[0100] As can also be seen from Figures 11, 13, and 15, the locking mechanism 6 can have a compression spring 63 for applying a force to the actuating rod 62 axially in the direction of the home position or disassembly position. The compression spring 63 can be designed, in particular, as a spiral spring that extends around the actuating rod 62 and, in the axial direction, bears, on the one hand, against the central flange 621 of the actuating rod 62 and, on the other hand, against a spring stop disc 661 that is stationary relative to the casing structure 41.

[0101] The spring stop disk 661 is part of a lower fastening unit 66, which also includes a lower fastening disk 662. The lower fastening disk 662 is screwed with an external thread into an internal thread of the casing structure 41 and thus forms a lower end of the locking mechanism 6. To seal the locking mechanism 6 and thus the closure cover 4 downwards, a lower outer sealing ring 663 is provided, which is arranged circumferentially between the lower fastening disk 662 and the casing structure 41 and seals them against one another. A lower inner sealing ring 664 seals the lower fastening disk 662 in the region of its central through-opening against the actuating rod 62. The spring stop disk 661, which also has a central through-opening for the actuating rod 62 to pass through, rests on the upper side of the lower fastening disk 662.

[0102] At the top, the locking mechanism 6 has an upper fastening unit 64 with an upper fastening disc 641. The upper fastening disc 641 is arranged above the upper guide 651. An upper sealing ring 642 is clamped between the casing structure 41 and the upper fastening disc 641 in order to seal the casing structure 41 and the upper fastening disc 641 from the actuating rod 62. The actuating rod 62 extends through a central through-opening of the upper fastening disc 641.

[0103] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the figures and the description, and a multitude of modifications are possible. For example, the nutrient medium carrier does not necessarily have to have a lid that can be locked with a tray. The nutrient medium carrier could just as easily be formed by a flat plate. Accordingly, the receiving device does not necessarily have to have a locking mechanism, even if this is preferred. Furthermore, opening the receiving device does not necessarily have to be achieved by pivoting a closure lid. In certain embodiments, the closure lid could, for example, also be moved translationally away from the receiving vessel or shifted relative to a window opening. If a locking mechanism is present, it can be operated by a motor drive instead of manually.Furthermore, various of the described individual elements are not absolutely necessary and could certainly be omitted or designed differently in other embodiments. The guide slots 651, 653, and 654, as well as possibly the upper fastening disc 641, the spring stop disc 661, and / or the lower fastening disc 662, could, for example, be formed together as a single-piece element, thereby eliminating the connecting pins 654. Further modifications are possible.

[0104] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0105] 1 insulator 31 receiving tray

[0106] 11 Hermetically insulated 311 recess

[0107] Room 312 sealing lip

[0108] 12 Access opening 32 Washer

[0109] 33 Fixing ring

[0110] 2 Recording device 331 Retaining bridge

[0111] 21 Base part 332 Recess

[0112] 22 Support foot

[0113] 23 Interior 4 Cover

[0114] 24 Drive housing 41 Shell structure

[0115] 25 Drive 42 Sealing ring

[0116] 26 Battery 43 Screw

[0117] 27 Swivel joint 44 Holding plate

[0118] 441 recess

[0119] 3 Receptacle 45 Slide ring locking element 641 Upper fastening disc

[0120] Clamping part 642 Upper sealing ring

[0121] Remote control 65 guide unit

[0122] 651 Upper guide rail

[0123] Locking mechanism 652 Middle guide rail

[0124] 653 Lower guide rail

[0125] Operating knob 654 connecting pin

[0126] Upper knob element 655 intermediate ring

[0127] Lower knob element

[0128] Screw 66 Lower mounting unit

[0129] Outer sealing ring 661 spring stop disc

[0130] Inner sealing ring 662 Lower fastening disc

[0131] 663 Lower outer sealing ring

[0132] Actuating rod 664 Lower inner sealing ring

[0133] center flange

[0134] Guide bar 7 culture medium carrier

[0135] 71 bowl

[0136] Compression spring 711 locking element

[0137] 72 lids

[0138] Upper fastening unit 721 locking element

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS A receiving device (2) for a nutrient medium carrier (7), such as in particular a Petri dish, comprising a hermetically sealable interior (23) for receiving the nutrient medium carrier (7); and a wirelessly remote-controlled drive (25) for opening and closing the receiving device (2) in order to allow access to the nutrient medium carrier (7) or to hermetically seal the interior (23) with the nutrient medium carrier (7) received therein; characterized in that the receiving device (2) as a whole can be inserted into and removed from a hermetically insulated space (11) of an insulator (1). The receiving device (2) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one energy storage element, such as in particular a battery (26), for supplying the drive (25) with electrical energy.The receiving device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving device (2) is designed to lift a lid (72) of the nutrient medium carrier (7) from a tray (71) of the nutrient medium carrier (7) upon opening, and to place the lid (72) back onto the tray (71) upon closing. The receiving device (2) according to claim 3, comprising a first holding element (44, 45, 46) for holding the lid (72) and a second holding element (33) for holding the tray (71) upon opening and closing the receiving device (2). The receiving device (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lid (72) is lockable to the tray (71), and wherein the receiving device (2) is designed to unlock and lock the nutrient medium carrier (7) received in the hermetically sealed interior (23). The receiving device (2) according to claim 5, comprising a. Locking mechanism (6) for unlocking and locking a nutrient medium carrier (7) having a threaded or bayonet closure (711, 721). The receiving device (2) according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism (6) comprises a first holding element (44, 45, 46) for holding the lid (72), and wherein the first holding element (44, 45, 46) is movable from an initial position into a depressed position and from the depressed position into a depressed, rotated position in order to lock a nutrient medium carrier (7) having a bayonet closure (711, 721).Recording device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a receiving vessel (3) and a closure lid (4), which together delimit the interior (23), wherein the closure lid (4) can be pivoted about a pivot joint (27) over an angular range of at least 45°, preferably of at least 90°, particularly preferably of at least 180°, for opening and closing the interior (23). Recording device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the angular range over which the closure lid (4) can be pivoted about the pivot joint (27) is selectable. Recording device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a completely circumferential, at least double-constructed sealing lip (312) for hermetically sealing the interior (23) in the closed state. Method for detecting germs in the atmosphere of an isolator (1), comprising at least the following steps: - introducing a receiving device (2), preferably designed according to one of the preceding claims, into a space (11) of the isolator (1), wherein the receiving device (2) has a hermetically sealed interior space (23) in which a nutrient medium carrier (7), such as in particular a Petri dish, is received; - Hermetically sealing the space (11) of the insulator (1) with the Entire recording device (2) contained therein; and - Opening the interior (23) of the recording device (2) by means of a remote control (5) arranged outside the hermetically sealed space (11) of the isolator (1). The method according to claim 11, further comprising the following steps: - hermetically sealing the interior (23) of the recording device (2) by means of the remote control (5) after a certain exposure time during which a nutrient medium carried by the nutrient medium carrier (7) was exposed to the atmosphere of the hermetically sealed space (11) of the insulator (1); - opening the space of the insulator (11); and - Removing the receiving device (2) as a whole from the space (11) of the insulator (1). Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the nutrient medium carrier (7) has a tray (71) and a lid (72), and wherein the lid (72) is lifted from the tray (71) when the interior space (23) of the receiving device (2) is opened. Method according to claim 13, wherein the tray (71) and the lid (72) of the nutrient medium carrier (7) are lockable to one another, and wherein the lid (72) is unlocked relative to the tray (71) in the hermetically sealed interior space (23) of the receiving device (2), preferably before the receiving device (2) is introduced into the space (11) of the insulator (7).