A cell culture incubator

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of cell culture technology, and specifically provides a cell culture incubator, which comprises: a box body, which is provided with a box door, and a culture cavity for placing samples to be cultured; a gas circulation pipeline, which is installed in the box body and has an external circulation air inlet, an internal circulation air inlet and an air outlet, the external circulation air inlet is connected to the outside, and the internal circulation air inlet and the air outlet are both connected to the culture cavity; a circulation switching component, which is installed in the gas circulation pipeline and is used to switch the air outlet between two states of being connected to the external circulation air inlet or being connected to the internal circulation air inlet; a gas driving component, which is installed in the pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline between the circulation switching component and the air outlet, and is used to drive the gas in the gas circulation pipeline to flow toward the air outlet; the cell culture incubator can effectively simplify the structure of the cell culture incubator and reduce the production cost of the cell culture incubator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of cell culture technology, and in particular to a cell culture box. Background Art

[0002] In the field of cell culture technology, it is necessary to place the sample to be cultured into a cell culture chamber for culture and proliferation. The related technology usually adjusts the temperature and humidity in the incubator by setting an internal circulation component, a temperature regulating component and a humidity regulating component on the incubator. In order to reduce the energy consumption of the incubator, the related technology can use external gas to adjust the temperature and humidity in the incubator. For example, when the temperature in the incubator is too high and the temperature of the external gas is lower than the temperature in the incubator, the related technology can use external gas to reduce the temperature in the incubator. For another example, when the humidity in the incubator is too high and the humidity of the external gas is lower than the humidity in the incubator, the related technology can reduce the humidity in the incubator by replacing the gas in the incubator with external gas. Since the use of external gas to adjust the temperature and humidity in the incubator requires the installation of an external circulation component on the incubator, and the external circulation component and the internal circulation component require the use of different air ducts, the cell culture chamber of the related technology has the disadvantages of complex structure and high production cost.

[0003] There is no effective technical solution to the above problems. It should be noted that the above information disclosed in this section is only used to understand the background of the present invention, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a cell culture chamber that can effectively simplify the structure of the cell culture chamber and reduce the production cost of the cell culture chamber.

[0005] The present application provides a cell culture incubator comprising:

[0006] A box body is provided with a door, and a culture cavity for placing samples to be cultured is provided inside the box body;

[0007] The gas circulation pipeline is installed in the box and has an external circulation air inlet, an internal circulation air inlet and an air outlet. The external circulation air inlet is connected to the outside world, and the internal circulation air inlet and air outlet are both connected to the culture chamber;

[0008] A circulation switching component is installed on the gas circulation pipeline and is used to switch the gas outlet between two states: connecting to the external circulation gas inlet or connecting to the internal circulation gas inlet;

[0009] The gas drive assembly is installed in the pipe section between the circulation switching assembly and the gas outlet in the gas circulation pipeline, and is used to drive the gas in the gas circulation pipeline to flow toward the gas outlet.

[0010] The present application provides a cell culture incubator that can switch between an internal circulation state and an external circulation state through the cooperation of a circulation switching component and a gas drive component. Therefore, the present application is equivalent to allowing the external circulation component and the internal circulation component to share the same air duct, that is, the present application can reduce the number of air ducts required for each cell culture incubator from two to one, thereby effectively simplifying the structure of the cell culture incubator and reducing the production cost of the cell culture incubator.

[0011] Optionally, the cell culture incubator further includes a swing assembly and an air suction assembly. The swing assembly is mounted on the top wall of the culture chamber and is hinged to the air outlet. The air suction assembly is mounted outside the culture chamber and is located below the door. The swing assembly is used to adjust the air outlet direction of the gas circulation pipeline. When the door is opened, the air outlet is connected to the external circulation air inlet, the gas circulation pipeline discharges air toward the air suction assembly, and the air suction assembly is opened.

[0012] Since this technical solution can form an air curtain from top to bottom when the door is opened through the cooperation of the circulation switching component, the suction component and the swing wind component, this air curtain can effectively reduce the amount of external pollutants entering the culture chamber during the process of opening the door and reduce the heat exchange and moisture exchange between the culture chamber and the external environment, thereby effectively reducing the situation where external pollutants entering the culture chamber contaminate the samples to be cultured and improving the temperature stability and humidity stability in the culture chamber.

[0013] Optionally, the cell culture chamber further includes a first sterilization filter assembly, which is disposed in the external circulation air inlet.

[0014] Since the first sterilization filtration component of this technical solution is arranged in the external circulation air inlet, that is, this technical solution can filter and sterilize the external gas entering the gas circulation pipeline, this technical solution can effectively improve the cleanliness of the external gas entering the gas circulation pipeline, thereby effectively avoiding the situation where the sample to be cultured is contaminated due to the external gas entering the gas circulation pipeline containing pollutants and / or bacteria, and the culture and proliferation of the sample to be cultured fails.

[0015] Optionally, the cell culture incubator further includes a second sterilization filter assembly, which is disposed in the internal circulation air inlet.

[0016] Since the second sterilization filtration component of this technical solution is arranged in the internal circulation air inlet, that is, when the cell culture incubator is in the internal circulation state, this technical solution can filter and sterilize the gas in the culture chamber. Therefore, this technical solution can effectively improve the cleanliness of the gas in the culture chamber, thereby effectively reducing the contamination of the sample to be cultured due to the gas in the culture chamber containing pollutants and / or bacteria, and the failure of culture and proliferation of the sample to be cultured.

[0017] Optionally, the cell culture chamber also includes an internal circulation water tank, a humidifying wet curtain, an internal circulation water pipeline and a first liquid drive component. The internal circulation water tank is placed in the culture chamber, the humidifying wet curtain is placed in the internal circulation water tank and its height is greater than the maximum liquid level height of the internal circulation water tank, the internal circulation water pipeline is located in the culture chamber, the internal circulation water pipeline has a first water inlet and a first water outlet, the first water inlet is located in the internal circulation water tank and its height is less than the minimum liquid level height of the internal circulation water tank, the first water outlet is located above the humidifying wet curtain, and the first liquid drive component is used to drive the liquid in the internal circulation water pipeline to flow in one direction.

[0018] Since the first water outlet of the technical solution is located above the humidifying wet curtain, that is, the technical solution can use the first liquid driving component to spray the water in the internal circulation water tank onto the humidifying wet curtain, and the water sprayed on the humidifying wet curtain can be quickly absorbed and diffused, and the water in the humidifying wet curtain can be quickly evaporated under the action of gas circulation. Therefore, the technical solution can quickly and evenly humidify the culture chamber, thereby effectively improving the humidification efficiency and humidification uniformity of the cell culture incubator.

[0019] Optionally, the internal circulation water pipeline also has a second water outlet, which is located in the internal circulation water tank and its height is less than the height of the humidification wet curtain. The cell culture incubator also includes a temperature control module, a first heat exchange component and a water outlet switching component. The temperature control module is connected to the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component. The temperature control module is used to cool or heat the liquid in the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component. The water outlet switching component is used to switch the first water inlet between two states: being connected to the first water outlet or being connected to the second water outlet.

[0020] Optionally, the culture chamber below the internal circulating water pipeline has a slope that slopes downward away from the door and a condensed water outlet pipe, and the condensed water outlet pipe is connected to the lowest point of the slope.

[0021] Since the culture chamber located below the internal circulating water pipeline of this technical solution has a slope tilted downward away from the box door and a condensed water outlet pipe, the condensed water outlet pipe is connected to the lowest point of the slope, that is, this technical solution can use the slope and the condensed water outlet pipe to promptly outlet the dripping condensed water out of the culture chamber. Therefore, this technical solution can effectively avoid the situation where the dripping condensed water in the culture chamber cannot be discharged from the culture chamber, resulting in bacteria breeding in the condensed water dripping in the culture chamber.

[0022] Optionally, the temperature control module is a semiconductor temperature control module, and the cell culture incubator also includes an external circulation water tank, an external circulation water pipeline, a second liquid drive component and a second heat exchange component. The two working surfaces of the semiconductor temperature control module are respectively connected to the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component and to the external circulation water pipeline through the second heat exchange component. The external circulation water pipeline has a second water inlet and a third water outlet. The second water inlet and the third water outlet are both located in the external circulation water tank. The second liquid drive component is arranged on the external circulation water pipeline. The second liquid drive component is used to drive the liquid in the external circulation water pipeline to flow in one direction.

[0023] Optionally, the pipe section in the internal circulating water pipeline located in the first heat exchange component is a serpentine pipeline.

[0024] Since the pipe section in the internal circulation water pipeline of this technical solution located in the first heat exchange component is a serpentine pipe section, this technical solution can effectively increase the contact area between the internal circulation water pipeline and the first heat exchange component, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency between the temperature control module and the internal circulation water pipeline.

[0025] Optionally, the cell culture incubator further includes a heating component and a temperature sensor, and the heating component and the temperature sensor are both arranged in a pipe section between the circulation switching component and the gas outlet in the gas circulation pipeline.

[0026] From the above, it can be seen that the cell culture incubator provided by the present application can switch between the internal circulation state and the external circulation state through the cooperation of the circulation switching component and the gas drive component. Therefore, the present application is equivalent to making the external circulation component and the internal circulation component share the same air duct, that is, the present application can reduce the number of air ducts required for each cell culture incubator from two to one, thereby effectively simplifying the structure of the cell culture incubator and reducing the production cost of the cell culture incubator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a cell culture incubator provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a cell culture incubator provided in an embodiment of the present application that does not include a box body.

[0029] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the gas circulation pipeline, gas drive assembly and swing wind assembly provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of the gas circulation pipeline, gas drive assembly and swing wind assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 5This is a structural diagram of the inner circulation water tank, inner circulation water pipeline, first liquid drive component, humidification wet curtain, outer circulation water tank, outer circulation water pipeline and second liquid drive component provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the temperature control module, first heat exchange component, second heat exchange component, inner circulating water pipeline and outer circulating water pipeline provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a cell culture incubator in an external circulation state provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a cell culture incubator in an internal circulation state provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the cell culture incubator provided in an embodiment of the present application with the door open.

[0036] Figure numerals: 1, box body; 2, box door; 3, culture chamber; 4, gas circulation pipeline; 5, circulation switching component; 51, wind cut baffle; 52, first rotating component; 6, gas drive component; 7, pressure relief valve; 8, swing wind component; 81, first swing wind guide plate; 82, second swing wind guide plate; 83, swing wind duct side pad; 84, swing wind guide plate connecting rod; 85, second rotating component; 9, suction component; 91, air outlet duct; 92, circulation fan; 93, air inlet duct; 10, first sterilizing filter component; 11, second sterilizing filter component; 12, internal circulation water tank; 13, humidifier Curtain; 14. Internal circulation water pipeline; 15. First liquid drive component; 16. First water inlet; 17. First water outlet; 18. Second water outlet; 19. Temperature control module; 20. First heat exchange component; 21. Water outlet switching component; 22. Inclined surface; 23. Condensate outlet pipe; 24. Condensate collecting box; 25. External circulation water tank; 26. External circulation water pipeline; 27. Second liquid drive component; 28. Second heat exchange component; 29. Heating component; 30. Temperature sensor; 31. Thermal insulation layer; 41. External circulation air inlet; 42. Internal circulation air inlet; 43. Air outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application generally described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the application for protection, but merely represents the selected embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0038] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters represent similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined or explained in subsequent drawings. At the same time, in the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0039] like Figures 1-9 As shown, the present application provides a cell culture incubator comprising:

[0040] The box body 1 is provided with a door 2, and the box body 1 is provided with a culture cavity 3 for placing the sample to be cultured;

[0041] The gas circulation pipeline 4 is installed in the box body 1 and has an external circulation air inlet 41, an internal circulation air inlet 42 and an air outlet 43. The external circulation air inlet 41 is connected to the outside, and the internal circulation air inlet 42 and the air outlet 43 are both connected to the culture chamber 3;

[0042] The circulation switching assembly 5 is installed on the gas circulation pipeline 4 and is used to switch the gas outlet 43 between two states: being connected to the external circulation gas inlet 41 or being connected to the internal circulation gas inlet 42;

[0043] The gas driving component 6 is installed in the pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline 4 between the circulation switching component 5 and the gas outlet 43 , and is used to drive the gas in the gas circulation pipeline 4 to flow toward the gas outlet 43 .

[0044] In which, the box body 1 of this embodiment can be the box body 1 of an existing cell culture box, and the box door 2 of this embodiment can be the box door 2 of an existing cell culture box. The box body 1 of this embodiment is provided with a culture chamber 3 for placing samples to be cultured (samples that need to be cultured and proliferated). Specifically, when the box door 2 is opened, the culture chamber 3 is connected to the outside world. This embodiment can place the sample to be cultured into the culture chamber 3 or take the cultured sample (the sample that has completed culture and proliferation) out of the culture chamber 3. Preferably, this embodiment can realize the monitoring of the opening and closing of the box door 2 by setting a micro switch or a Hall sensor at the box door 2. The gas circulation pipeline 4 of this embodiment is installed in the box body 1, and the gas circulation pipeline 4 has an external circulation air inlet 41, an internal circulation air inlet 42 and an air outlet 43. The external circulation air inlet 41 is connected to the outside world, that is, the external gas can enter the gas circulation pipeline 4 through the external circulation air inlet 41, and the internal circulation air inlet 42 and the air outlet 43 are both connected to the culture chamber 3, that is, the gas in the culture chamber 3 can enter the gas circulation pipeline 4 through the internal circulation air inlet 42. The circulation switching component 5 of this embodiment preferably includes a wind-cutting baffle 51 and a first rotating component 52. The wind-cutting baffle 51 is rotatably installed in the gas circulation pipeline 4 and can block the pipe section where the external circulation air inlet 41 is located or the pipe section where the internal circulation air inlet 42 is located. The first rotating component 52 is preferably a motor. This embodiment can drive the wind-cutting baffle 51 to rotate by utilizing the first rotating component 52 to make the wind-cutting baffle 51 block the pipe section where the external circulation air inlet 41 is located or the pipe section where the internal circulation air inlet 42 is located. Specifically, when the wind-cutting baffle 51 blocks the pipe section where the external circulation air inlet 41 is located, the wind-cutting baffle 51 can be turned to rotate. When the pipe section is blocked, the air outlet 43 is connected to the inner circulation air inlet 42; when the wind baffle 51 blocks the pipe section where the inner circulation air inlet 42 is located, the air outlet 43 is connected to the outer circulation air inlet 41. Therefore, the circulation switching component 5 of this embodiment can switch the air outlet 43 between the two states of being connected to the outer circulation air inlet 41 or being connected to the inner circulation air inlet 42. It should be understood that this embodiment can use the circulation switching component 5 to switch the air outlet 43 between the two states of being connected to the outer circulation air inlet 41 or being connected to the inner circulation air inlet 42 manually or automatically. The gas drive component 6 of this embodiment is preferably a fan, which is installed in the pipe section between the circulation switching component 5 and the gas outlet 43 in the gas circulation pipeline 4. The gas drive component 6 can drive the gas in the gas circulation pipeline 4 to flow toward the gas outlet 43. Specifically, when the circulation switching component 5 connects the gas outlet 43 with the external circulation inlet 41 and the gas drive component 6 drives the gas in the gas circulation pipeline 4 to flow toward the gas outlet 43, the external gas enters the gas circulation pipeline 4 from the external circulation inlet 41 and flows out from the gas outlet 43, that is, the cell culture incubator is in the external circulation state (refer to Figure 7), when the circulation switching component 5 connects the gas outlet 43 with the internal circulation inlet 42 and the gas driving component 6 drives the gas in the gas circulation pipeline 4 to flow toward the gas outlet 43, the gas in the culture chamber 3 enters the gas circulation pipeline 4 from the internal circulation inlet 42 and flows out from the gas outlet 43, that is, the cell culture incubator is in the internal circulation state (refer to Figure 8 ). It should be understood that since the gas circulation pipeline 4 of this embodiment has an external circulation air inlet 41, an internal circulation air inlet 42 and an air outlet 43, and this embodiment can switch the cell culture incubator between the internal circulation state and the external circulation state through the cooperation of the circulation switching component 5 and the gas drive component 6, this embodiment is equivalent to making the external circulation component and the internal circulation component share the same air duct. It should be understood that since the air pressure in the culture chamber 3 continues to rise when the cell culture incubator is in the external circulation state, in order to avoid the situation where the air pressure in the culture chamber 3 is too high and causes damage to the sample to be cultured or even a safety accident, this embodiment is provided with a pressure relief valve 7 on the culture chamber 3. The pressure relief valve 7 can discharge the gas in the culture chamber 3 out of the cell culture incubator when the air pressure in the culture chamber 3 is too high.

[0045] The present application provides a cell culture incubator that can switch between an internal circulation state and an external circulation state through the cooperation of a circulation switching component 5 and a gas drive component 6. Therefore, the present application is equivalent to allowing the external circulation component and the internal circulation component to share the same air duct, that is, the present application can reduce the number of air ducts required for each cell culture incubator from two to one, thereby effectively simplifying the structure of the cell culture incubator and reducing the production cost of the cell culture incubator. That is, the cell culture incubator of the present application has the advantages of simple structure and low production cost.

[0046] In some preferred embodiments, Figure 7-Figure 9As shown, the cell culture incubator also includes a swing assembly 8 and an air suction assembly 9. The swing assembly 8 is installed on the top wall of the culture chamber 3 and is hinged to the air outlet 43. The air suction assembly 9 is installed outside the culture chamber 3 and is located below the chamber door 2. The swing assembly 8 is used to adjust the air outlet direction of the gas circulation pipeline 4. When the chamber door 2 is opened, the air outlet 43 is connected to the external circulation air inlet 41, and the gas circulation pipeline 4 discharges air toward the air suction assembly 9 and the air suction assembly 9 is opened. Preferably, the oscillating assembly 8 of this embodiment includes a first oscillating wind guide plate 81, a second oscillating wind guide plate 82, a oscillating wind duct side pad 83, a oscillating wind guide plate connecting rod 84 and a second rotating assembly 85. The oscillating wind duct side pad 83 is made of a flexible material. One end of the first oscillating wind guide plate 81 and one end of the second oscillating wind guide plate 82 are both hinged to the air outlet 43. The two ends of the oscillating wind guide plate connecting rod 84 are respectively hinged to the other end of the first oscillating wind guide plate 81 and the other end of the second oscillating wind guide plate 82. The second rotating assembly 85 is used to drive the first oscillating wind guide plate 81 or the second oscillating wind guide plate 82 to swing. It is made of a flexible material (preferably soft rubber), that is, the shape of the swing duct side pad 83 can be changed, and when the first swing guide plate 81 or the second swing guide plate 82 swings, the orientation of the swing assembly 8 and the air outlet direction of the gas circulation pipeline 4 will change. Therefore, this embodiment can adjust the air outlet direction of the gas circulation pipeline 4 by controlling the second rotating assembly 85 to drive the first swing guide plate 81 or the second swing guide plate 82 to swing. It should be understood that this embodiment is equivalent to using the first swing guide plate 81, the second swing guide plate 82, the swing guide plate connecting rod 84 and the air outlet 43 to form a four-bar linkage. The suction component 9 of this embodiment preferably includes an outlet duct 91, a circulation fan 92 and an air inlet duct 93. The air inlet duct 93 is connected to the air inlet end of the circulation fan 92, and the air outlet duct 91 is connected to the air outlet end of the circulation fan 92. The gas sucked by the circulation fan 92 will be discharged from the cell culture box through the air outlet duct 91. When the box door 2 is opened, the air outlet 43 is connected to the external circulation air inlet 41, and the gas circulation pipeline 4 discharges air toward the suction component 9 (equivalent to the gas circulation pipeline 4 discharging air toward the outside of the culture chamber 3) and the suction component 9 is turned on, the gas flowing out of the air outlet 43 of the gas circulation pipeline 4 will enter the suction component 9 under the action of the suction component 9. Therefore, this embodiment can form an air curtain from top to bottom when the box door 2 is opened through the cooperation of the circulation switching component 5, the suction component 9 and the swing component 8. Since this embodiment can form an air curtain from top to bottom when the door 2 is opened through the cooperation of the circulation switching component 5, the suction component 9 and the swing wind component 8, the air curtain can effectively reduce the amount of external pollutants entering the culture chamber 3 during the opening of the door 2 and reduce the heat exchange and moisture exchange between the culture chamber 3 and the external environment, thereby effectively reducing the situation where external pollutants entering the culture chamber 3 contaminate the samples to be cultured and improving the temperature stability and humidity stability in the culture chamber 3.It should be understood that when the door 2 is closed, the gas circulation pipeline 4 discharges gas into the culture chamber 3. Preferably, when the door 2 is closed and the gas drive assembly 6 is operating, the oscillating assembly 8 of this embodiment continuously adjusts the gas discharge direction of the gas circulation pipeline 4 so that the gas flowing out of the gas circulation pipeline 4 can be more evenly distributed in the culture chamber 3.

[0047] In some preferred embodiments, the cell culture incubator further comprises a first sterilizing filter assembly 10, which is disposed within the external circulation air inlet 41. The first sterilizing filter assembly 10 of this embodiment is preferably an existing device. Since the first sterilizing filter assembly 10 of this embodiment is disposed within the external circulation air inlet 41, that is, this embodiment is capable of filtering and sterilizing the external air entering the gas circulation pipeline 4, this embodiment can effectively improve the cleanliness of the external air entering the gas circulation pipeline 4, thereby effectively avoiding the contamination of the sample to be cultured due to the external air entering the gas circulation pipeline 4 containing pollutants and / or bacteria, and the failure of the culture and proliferation of the sample to be cultured.

[0048] In some preferred embodiments, the cell culture incubator further comprises a second sterilizing filter assembly 11, which is disposed within the internal circulation air inlet 42. The second sterilizing filter assembly 11 of this embodiment is preferably an existing device. Since the second sterilizing filter assembly 11 of this embodiment is disposed within the internal circulation air inlet 42, that is, when the cell culture incubator is in the internal circulation state, this embodiment can filter and sterilize the gas within the culture chamber 3. Therefore, this embodiment can effectively improve the cleanliness of the gas within the culture chamber 3, thereby effectively reducing the contamination of the sample to be cultured due to the presence of pollutants and / or bacteria in the gas within the culture chamber 3, and thus reducing the possibility of culture and proliferation failure of the sample to be cultured.

[0049] In some preferred embodiments, the cell culture incubator further comprises an internal circulating water tank 12, a humidifying pad 13, an internal circulating water pipeline 14, and a first liquid drive assembly 15. The internal circulating water tank 12 is placed in the culture chamber 3, the humidifying pad 13 is placed in the internal circulating water tank 12 and its height is greater than the maximum liquid level of the internal circulating water tank 12, the internal circulating water pipeline 14 is located in the culture chamber 3, the internal circulating water pipeline 14 has a first water inlet 16 and a first water outlet 17, the first water inlet 16 is located in the internal circulating water tank 12 and its height is less than the minimum liquid level of the internal circulating water tank 12, the first water outlet 17 is located above the humidifying pad 13, and the first liquid drive assembly 15 is used to drive the unidirectional flow of liquid in the internal circulating water pipeline 14. The first liquid drive assembly 15 of this embodiment is preferably a water pump, which is arranged on the internal circulating water pipeline 14 and is used to drive the unidirectional flow of liquid in the internal circulating water pipeline 14. The humidifying wet curtain 13 of this embodiment can be made of coated corrugated paper, glass fiber or honeycomb paper material. Since the first water outlet 17 of this embodiment is located above the humidifying wet curtain 13, that is, this embodiment can use the first liquid driving component 15 to spray the water in the internal circulation water tank 12 onto the humidifying wet curtain 13, and the water sprayed on the humidifying wet curtain 13 can be quickly absorbed and diffused, and the water in the humidifying wet curtain 13 can be quickly evaporated under the action of gas circulation. Therefore, this embodiment can quickly and evenly humidify the culture chamber 3, thereby effectively improving the humidification efficiency and humidification uniformity of the cell culture incubator.

[0050] In some preferred embodiments, the internal circulation water pipeline 14 also has a second water outlet 18, which is located in the internal circulation water tank 12 and its height is less than the height of the humidification wet curtain 13. The cell culture incubator also includes a temperature control module 19, a first heat exchange component 20 and a water outlet switching component 21. The temperature control module 19 is connected to the internal circulation water pipeline 14 through the first heat exchange component 20. The temperature control module 19 is used to cool or heat the liquid in the internal circulation water pipeline 14 through the first heat exchange component 20. The water outlet switching component 21 is used to switch the first water inlet 16 between two states: being connected to the first water outlet 17 or being connected to the second water outlet 18. The water outlet switching component 21 of this embodiment is preferably a solenoid valve, and the first heat exchange component 20 of this embodiment is preferably a heat exchange plate. Since the temperature control module 19 of this embodiment can cool or heat the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14, and the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14 can exchange heat with the gas in the culture chamber 3, this embodiment can increase the temperature in the culture chamber 3 by using the temperature control module 19 to heat the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14 and reduce the temperature in the culture chamber 3 by using the temperature control module 19 to cool the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14. When the temperature control module 19 is used to cool the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14 and the first water inlet 16 and the second water outlet 18 are connected, the water vapor in the culture chamber 3 will condense on the surface of the inner circulating water pipe 14, that is, this embodiment can reduce the temperature and humidity in the culture chamber 3 by using the temperature control module 19 to cool the liquid in the inner circulating water pipe 14. It should be understood that the water outlet switching assembly 21 of this embodiment will connect the first water inlet 16 and the first water outlet 17 only when the humidity in the culture chamber 3 needs to be increased.

[0051] In some preferred embodiments, the culture chamber 3 located below the internal circulating water pipe 14 has a sloped surface 22 sloping downwardly away from the chamber door 2 and a condensed water outlet pipe 23, with the condensed water outlet pipe 23 connected to the lowest point of the sloped surface 22. Because the culture chamber 3 located below the internal circulating water pipe 14 in this embodiment has a sloped surface 22 sloping downwardly away from the chamber door 2 and a condensed water outlet pipe 23 connected to the lowest point of the sloped surface 22, this embodiment can promptly drain dripping condensed water out of the culture chamber 3 through the cooperation of the sloped surface 22 and the condensed water outlet pipe 23. Therefore, this embodiment can effectively prevent the condensed water dripping into the culture chamber 3 from breeding bacteria due to the inability of the dripping condensed water to be drained out of the culture chamber 3. Preferably, this embodiment utilizes a condensed water collection box 24 to collect the condensed water discharged from the culture chamber 3.

[0052] In some preferred embodiments, the temperature control module 19 is a semiconductor temperature control module, and the cell culture chamber also includes an external circulation water tank 25, an external circulation water pipeline 26, a second liquid drive component 27 and a second heat exchange component 28. The two working surfaces of the semiconductor temperature control module are respectively connected to the internal circulation water pipeline 14 through the first heat exchange component 20 and to the external circulation water pipeline 26 through the second heat exchange component 28. The external circulation water pipeline 26 has a second water inlet and a third water outlet, and the second water inlet and the third water outlet are both located in the external circulation water tank 25. The second liquid drive component 27 is arranged on the external circulation water pipeline 26, and the second liquid drive component 27 is used to drive the liquid in the external circulation water pipeline 26 to flow in one direction. The semiconductor temperature control module of this embodiment can be an existing semiconductor temperature control element. This semiconductor temperature control module has two working surfaces. Specifically, when the semiconductor temperature control module is in operation, one working surface generates heat and the other working surface generates cooling. Under the action of the Peltier effect, this embodiment can change the direction of the current to cause the working surface that originally generates cooling to generate heat and the working surface that originally generates heat to generate cooling. The second liquid drive component 27 of this embodiment is preferably a water pump, and the second heat exchange component 28 of this embodiment is preferably a heat exchange plate. The external circulation water tank 25 of this embodiment is preferably located outside the cell culture incubator, that is, the external environment can exchange heat with the water in the external circulation water tank 25. Since the two working surfaces of the semiconductor temperature control module of this embodiment are respectively connected to the inner circulating water pipeline 14 through the first heat exchange component 20 and to the outer circulating water pipeline 26 through the second heat exchange component 28, this embodiment is equivalent to using the heat or cold generated by one of the working surfaces of the semiconductor temperature control module to regulate the temperature and humidity in the culture chamber 3 and using the outer circulating water pipeline 26 to promptly take away the heat or cold generated by the other working surface of the semiconductor temperature control module, so that the semiconductor temperature control module can work stably, thereby effectively improving the temperature stability and humidity stability in the culture chamber 3.

[0053] In some preferred embodiments, the section of the inner water circulation pipeline 14 located within the first heat exchange assembly 20 is a serpentine pipeline. Because the section of the inner water circulation pipeline 14 located within the first heat exchange assembly 20 in this embodiment is a serpentine pipeline, this embodiment can effectively increase the contact area between the inner water circulation pipeline 14 and the first heat exchange assembly 20, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency between the temperature control module 19 and the inner water circulation pipeline 14. Preferably, the section of the outer water circulation pipeline 26 located within the second heat exchange assembly 28 in this embodiment is a serpentine pipeline.

[0054] In some preferred embodiments, the cell culture incubator further comprises a heating assembly 29 and a temperature sensor 30, both of which are disposed in a pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline 4 between the circulation switching assembly 5 and the gas outlet 43. The heating assembly 29 of this embodiment is preferably an electric heater capable of heating the gas within the gas circulation pipeline 4. The temperature sensor 30 of this embodiment is preferably disposed in a pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline 4 between the heating assembly 29 and the gas outlet 43. This embodiment is equivalent to using the temperature sensor 30 to measure the temperature of the gas outlet 43 of the gas circulation pipeline 4. Specifically, when the temperature within the culture chamber 3 is lower than a preset temperature, this embodiment utilizes the heating assembly 29 to heat the gas within the gas circulation pipeline 4 to more quickly reach the preset temperature. When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 30 is greater than or equal to the preset temperature, this embodiment controls the heating assembly 29 to stop heating, thereby preventing damage to the cultured sample due to excessively high gas temperature flowing out of the gas circulation pipeline 4.

[0055] In some preferred embodiments, a heat-insulating layer 31 is provided between the housing 1 and the culture chamber 3 and inside the door 2. This embodiment effectively reduces the amount of heat exchange between the culture chamber 3 and the external environment by providing the heat-insulating layer 31 between the housing 1 and the culture chamber 3 and inside the door 2.

[0056] From the above, it can be seen that the cell culture incubator provided by the present application can switch between the internal circulation state and the external circulation state through the cooperation of the circulation switching component 5 and the gas drive component. Therefore, the present application is equivalent to making the external circulation component and the internal circulation component share the same air duct, that is, the present application can reduce the number of air ducts required for each cell culture incubator from two to one, thereby effectively simplifying the structure of the cell culture incubator and reducing the production cost of the cell culture incubator.

[0057] In the embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are merely used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0058] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations of the present application are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A cell culture incubator, characterized in that: The cell culture box comprises: A box body, which is provided with a box door, and a culture cavity for placing samples to be cultured is provided in the box body; a gas circulation pipeline installed in the box, having an external circulation air inlet, an internal circulation air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the external circulation air inlet is connected to the outside, and the internal circulation air inlet and the air outlet are both connected to the culture chamber; a circulation switching assembly, mounted on the gas circulation pipeline, for switching the gas outlet between two states: one being connected to the external circulation gas inlet and the other being connected to the internal circulation gas inlet; a gas driving assembly installed in the pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline between the circulation switching assembly and the gas outlet, and used to drive the gas in the gas circulation pipeline to flow toward the gas outlet; The cell culture incubator also includes a swing assembly and an air suction assembly. The swing assembly is installed on the top wall of the culture chamber and is hinged to the air outlet. The air suction assembly is installed outside the culture chamber and is located below the chamber door. The swing assembly is used to adjust the air outlet direction of the gas circulation pipeline. When the chamber door is opened, the air outlet is connected to the external circulation air inlet, the gas circulation pipeline discharges air toward the air suction assembly, and the air suction assembly is opened.

2. The cell culture incubator according to claim 1, characterized in that The cell culture box further includes a first sterilization filter component, which is arranged in the external circulation air inlet.

3. The cell culture incubator according to claim 1, characterized in that The cell culture box further includes a second sterilization filter component, which is arranged in the internal circulation air inlet.

4. The cell culture incubator according to claim 1, wherein The cell culture incubator also includes an internal circulation water tank, a humidifying wet curtain, an internal circulation water pipeline and a first liquid drive component. The internal circulation water tank is placed in the culture chamber, the humidifying wet curtain is placed in the internal circulation water tank and its height is greater than the maximum liquid level height of the internal circulation water tank, the internal circulation water pipeline is located in the culture chamber, the internal circulation water pipeline has a first water inlet and a first water outlet, the first water inlet is located in the internal circulation water tank and its height is less than the minimum liquid level height of the internal circulation water tank, the first water outlet is located above the humidifying wet curtain, and the first liquid drive component is used to drive the liquid in the internal circulation water pipeline to flow in one direction.

5. The cell culture incubator according to claim 4, characterized in that The internal circulation water pipeline also has a second water outlet, which is located in the internal circulation water tank and its height is less than the height of the humidification wet curtain. The cell culture incubator also includes a temperature control module, a first heat exchange component and a water outlet switching component. The temperature control module is connected to the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component. The temperature control module is used to cool or heat the liquid in the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component. The water outlet switching component is used to switch the first water inlet between two states: being connected to the first water outlet or being connected to the second water outlet.

6. The cell culture incubator according to claim 5, characterized in that The culture cavity below the inner circulating water pipeline has an inclined surface that slopes downward away from the box door and a condensed water outlet pipe, and the condensed water outlet pipe is connected to the lowest point of the inclined surface.

7. The cell culture incubator according to claim 5, characterized in that The temperature control module is a semiconductor temperature control module. The cell culture incubator also includes an external circulation water tank, an external circulation water pipeline, a second liquid drive component and a second heat exchange component. The two working surfaces of the semiconductor temperature control module are respectively connected to the internal circulation water pipeline through the first heat exchange component and to the external circulation water pipeline through the second heat exchange component. The external circulation water pipeline has a second water inlet and a third water outlet. The second water inlet and the third water outlet are both located in the external circulation water tank. The second liquid drive component is arranged on the external circulation water pipeline. The second liquid drive component is used to drive the liquid in the external circulation water pipeline to flow in one direction.

8. The cell culture incubator according to claim 5, characterized in that The pipe section of the internal circulating water pipeline located inside the first heat exchange component is a serpentine pipeline.

9. The cell culture incubator according to claim 1, wherein The cell culture box further includes a heating component and a temperature sensor. The heating component and the temperature sensor are both arranged in a pipe section of the gas circulation pipeline between the circulation switching component and the gas outlet.

Images