Temperature control equipment for growth of plaque outside incubator

Abstract

The invention discloses temperature control equipment for growth of plaque outside an incubator. The temperature control equipment comprises a transparent imaging cavity, a uniform illumination assembly, a constant-temperature heating assembly and a temperature control module, the transparent imaging cavity is of a high-light-transmittance material structure with the periphery closed. The uniform illumination assembly comprises a plurality of low-scattering LED lamp strips arranged on the edge of the top in the transparent imaging cavity. The constant-temperature heating assembly is of a flexible sheet type heating structure and is arranged on the inner circumferential face of the transparent imaging cavity so as to provide a stable thermal field. The temperature control module is electrically connected with the constant-temperature heating assembly and used for monitoring the internal temperature in real time. Through the arrangement, the device can keep the constant culture temperature and realize high-quality imaging, so that the plaque is always in a proper temperature environment in the culture process, and illumination scattering and glare interference are reduced, so that a stable plaque image sequence with high comparability is quickly obtained, and the reliability and efficiency of dynamic growth analysis of the plaque are improved.

Description

A temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of temperature control equipment, specifically relating to a temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside an incubator. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of microbiology research and plaque analysis technology, researchers have placed higher demands on the dynamic information of plaque growth processes. Under traditional experimental conditions, culture dishes typically need to be placed in a constant-temperature incubator for cultivation. However, capturing images of plaques often requires removing the culture dishes, subjecting them to individual lighting and imaging, and then returning them to the incubation environment. Such operations not only introduce temperature fluctuations, interfering with the normal proliferation of plaques, but may also lead to unstable lighting conditions and large image variability, thus affecting the accurate tracking and analysis of subsequent scientific parameters such as plaque growth rate, morphological changes, and plaque activity.

[0003] While existing technologies include individual devices for heating petri dishes, providing lighting for experimental recording, or transparent cavities for microbial observation, these devices are mostly distributed and cannot simultaneously meet the dual requirements of "constant temperature incubation" and "high-quality imaging." Existing incubators, limited by their internal structure, typically lack high-transmittance observation windows and the uniform illumination design required for plaque imaging; meanwhile, existing imaging devices often cannot maintain the stable temperature environment needed for incubation. This disconnect between the two types of equipment makes real-time plaque tracking a complex and unstable process, unsuitable for current research needs involving long-term, continuous imaging and quantitative image analysis.

[0004] Furthermore, the image quality of phage plaques is highly dependent on the uniformity of illumination. Traditional external light sources or non-diffuse lighting are prone to problems such as scattered light, glare, and uneven shadows, resulting in blurred plaque boundaries and reduced contrast, which is detrimental to subsequent image processing algorithms for threshold segmentation, area measurement, and time-series analysis. These optical interferences are difficult to avoid in traditional experimental methods, further limiting the applicability of existing technologies in refined phage plaque research. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems of unstable plaque growth environment, uncontrollable imaging conditions, and difficulty in continuous tracking under traditional experimental conditions in plaque research and microbial dynamics analysis. It provides a temperature control device for plaque growth outside the incubator, capable of maintaining a constant culture temperature and achieving high-quality imaging. This ensures that plaques remain in a suitable temperature environment throughout the culture process. Furthermore, by using highly transparent materials and a uniform illumination structure, it reduces light scattering and glare interference, thereby accelerating the acquisition of stable and highly comparable plaque image sequences and improving the reliability and efficiency of plaque dynamic growth analysis.

[0006] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside an incubator includes a transparent imaging cavity, a uniform illumination component, a constant temperature heating component, and a temperature control module.

[0008] The transparent imaging cavity is a high-transmittance material structure that is closed on all sides, used to contain the culture dish and ensure uniform light transmission;

[0009] The uniform illumination component includes several low-scattering LED light strips disposed at the top edge of the transparent imaging cavity to reduce glare and improve image uniformity.

[0010] The constant temperature heating component adopts a flexible sheet heating structure and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent imaging cavity to provide a stable thermal field.

[0011] The temperature control module is electrically connected to the constant temperature heating component and is used to monitor the internal temperature of the transparent imaging cavity in real time and adjust the heating power to maintain the constant temperature environment required for plaque growth.

[0012] Furthermore, the light transmittance of the transparent imaging cavity is not less than 90%, which is used to ensure that it is not affected by external ambient light during the shooting process and to enable the low-scattering LED light strip light source to form a stable and uniform illumination field.

[0013] Furthermore, the uniform illumination component also includes several light diffusion plates, which are disposed at the top edge of the transparent imaging cavity. A light diffusion layer is disposed on the surface of the light diffusion plates, and several low-scattering LED light strips are disposed within the light diffusion plates, so that the phage plaque area has high contrast and no obvious shadows or halos during imaging.

[0014] Furthermore, the flexible sheet heating structure includes a flexible heating film, heat-insulating leather, and a temperature sensor. The flexible heating film and the temperature sensor are both electrically connected to the temperature control module. The flexible heating film is adhered to the inner circumferential surface of the transparent imaging cavity, the heat-insulating leather is disposed on the surface of the flexible heating film, and the temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the heat-insulating leather to improve heat conduction efficiency and ensure the uniformity of the temperature field of the transparent imaging cavity.

[0015] Furthermore, the temperature control module includes a microcontroller, and a power supply circuit, a heating drive circuit, and an LED strip drive module, all electrically connected to the microcontroller; the temperature sensor is electrically connected to the microcontroller, the flexible heating film is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the heating drive circuit, and the low-scattering LED strip is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the LED strip drive module.

[0016] Furthermore, the microcontroller is electrically connected to a display screen and control buttons. The display screen is used to display the real-time temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the control buttons are used to perform the start or stop operation of the constant temperature heating component.

[0017] A method for tracking phage plaque growth, employing the aforementioned temperature control device for phage plaque growth outside an incubator, includes the following steps:

[0018] S10: When the transparent imaging cavity is in a suitable environment for culturing phage plaques, place the culture dish of phage plaques inside the transparent imaging cavity;

[0019] S20: Start the temperature control module and constant temperature heating component. The temperature sensor senses the temperature inside the transparent imaging cavity in real time and transmits the temperature information to the temperature control module in real time. The temperature control module controls the flexible heating film to heat according to the received real-time temperature information, so as to provide a stable thermal field for the transparent imaging cavity.

[0020] S30: The uniform illumination component illuminates the petri dish area with low-scattering LED light strips, making the illumination of the petri dish area uniform;

[0021] S40: An external imaging device continuously or periodically captures images of phage plaques without interrupting the phage plaque culture process during the capture, in order to obtain a stable and highly comparable sequence of phage plaque growth images.

[0022] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] The temperature control device of the present invention for phage plaque growth outside an incubator utilizes a uniform illumination component within a transparent imaging cavity. Low-scattering LED strips are evenly distributed around the top of the transparent imaging cavity, allowing multiple low-scattering LED strips to illuminate the culture dish from multiple directions, thus achieving uniform illumination. Simultaneously, a light diffusion plate is placed on the surface of the low-scattering LED strips to reduce hot spots and glare, effectively improving image quality and providing stable, uniform, and flicker-free white light, thereby enhancing plaque edge contrast, uniformity, and image analyzability. Furthermore, by incorporating a constant-temperature heating component and a temperature control module, when the internal environment changes due to external disturbances, the temperature sensor detects changes and the temperature control module controls the constant-temperature heating component to heat the transparent imaging cavity, providing a stable thermal field and maintaining a suitable constant-temperature environment for phage cultivation. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. Transparent imaging cavity; 2. Uniform illumination component; 3. Constant temperature heating component; 4. Temperature control module. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Terms such as “upper,” “inner,” “middle,” “left,” “right,” and “one” used in this specification are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] A temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside an incubator, as shown in Figure 1, includes a transparent imaging cavity 1, a uniform illumination component 2, a constant temperature heating component 3, and a temperature control module 4.

[0029] The transparent imaging cavity 1 is a structure of highly transparent material that is closed on all sides. The transparent imaging cavity 1 is made of highly transparent material, such as acrylic sheet, glass or transparent polycarbonate, with a light transmittance of not less than 90%. It is used to contain the culture dish and ensure that the light passes through uniformly. At the same time, it ensures that the external ambient light does not interfere with the imaging process and enables the low-scattering LED light strip light source to form a stable and uniform illumination field.

[0030] The bottom surface of the transparent imaging cavity 1 is an openable or detachable structure, specifically a groove-shaped plate. Therefore, during use, the culture dish can be placed inside the groove-shaped plate first, and then the upper structure of the transparent imaging cavity 1 can be placed to facilitate the placement of the culture dish. The five plates around the transparent imaging cavity 1 and on the top are all fixed by clips or screws to form a stable and closed optical cavity.

[0031] The uniform illumination component 2 includes four sets of low-scattering LED light strips and light diffusion plates. Several light diffusion plates are set at the four edges of the inner top of the transparent imaging cavity 1. The four low-scattering LED light strips correspond to the four light diffusion plates. A light diffusion layer is provided on the surface of the light diffusion plate. The low-scattering LED light strips are set inside the light diffusion plate, so that the phage plaque area has high contrast and no obvious shadows or halos when imaging. At the same time, it is used to reduce glare and improve image uniformity.

[0032] The four head diffuser plates are set at the four edges of the top of the transparent imaging cavity 1 so that the four low-scattering LED light strips are arranged in a linear array to ensure the uniformity of illumination. At the same time, the light diffuser plates are used to weaken hot spots and reduce glare, which can effectively improve the imaging quality and provide stable, uniform, and flicker-free white light, thereby improving the contrast of phage plaque edges and the analyzability of the image.

[0033] The constant temperature heating component 3 adopts a flexible sheet heating structure and is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the transparent imaging cavity 1 to provide a stable thermal field. Specifically, the flexible sheet heating structure includes a flexible heating film, heat-insulating leather, and a temperature sensor. Both the flexible heating film and the temperature sensor are electrically connected to the temperature control module 4. The flexible heating film is adhesively bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the transparent imaging cavity 1, the heat-insulating leather is wrapped and fixed to the surface of the flexible heating film, and the temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the heat-insulating leather.

[0034] The flexible heating film is elongated and can wrap around the entire surface of the transparent imaging cavity 1 to improve heat conduction efficiency and ensure the uniformity of the temperature field within the cavity. Insulating leather reduces heat loss, stabilizing the internal temperature of the cavity. Temperature sensors can monitor and adjust the internal temperature of the transparent imaging cavity 1 in real time to maintain a constant temperature environment suitable for culturing plaques within the cavity.

[0035] The temperature control module 4 is electrically connected to the constant temperature heating component 3. It monitors the internal temperature of the transparent imaging cavity 1 in real time and adjusts the heating power to maintain the constant temperature environment required for plaque growth. The temperature control module 4 includes a microcontroller, and a power supply circuit, a heating drive circuit, an LED strip drive module, a display screen, and control buttons, all electrically connected to the microcontroller. The power supply circuit supplies power to the microcontroller or provides an external power source. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the microcontroller to sense the temperature inside the transparent imaging cavity 1 in real time and transmits the sensed real-time temperature information to the microcontroller, allowing the microcontroller to issue corresponding execution signals. The flexible heating film is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the heating drive circuit, allowing the microcontroller to control the heating power of the flexible heating film, thereby achieving a constant temperature control effect. The low-scattering LED strip is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the LED strip drive module, controlling the start or stop of the low-scattering LED strip. The display screen shows the real-time temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The user can press the control buttons to start or stop the constant temperature heating component 3.

[0036] Example 2

[0037] A method for tracking phage plaque growth, using the temperature control device described in Example 1 for phage plaque growth outside an incubator, includes the following steps:

[0038] S10: When the transparent imaging cavity 1 is in a suitable environment for culturing phage plaques, place the culture dish of the phage plaques inside the transparent imaging cavity 1 to culture the phage plaques.

[0039] S20: Start the temperature control module 4 and the constant temperature heating component 3. The temperature sensor senses the temperature inside the transparent imaging cavity 1 in real time and transmits the temperature information to the temperature control module 4 in real time. The temperature control module 4 controls the heating power of the flexible heating film according to the received real-time temperature information, so as to achieve a stable thermal field inside the transparent imaging cavity 1 through the flexible heating film and keep the internal temperature in a dynamically constant state.

[0040] S30: The uniform illumination component 2 emits light through the low-scattering LED light strip and then evenly illuminates the petri dish area through the light diffusion plate, making the illumination of the petri dish area uniform.

[0041] S40: An external imaging device continuously or periodically captures images of phage plaques without interrupting the phage plaque culture process during the capture, in order to obtain a stable and highly comparable sequence of phage plaque growth images.

[0042] Based on this, through the coordinated setting of steps S20 and S30, the transparent imaging cavity 1 can be kept in a constant and suitable temperature environment for phage plaque culture in real time. Furthermore, when the internal environment changes due to external disturbances, the temperature control module 4 can control the constant temperature heating component 3 to heat the transparent imaging cavity 1 based on the temperature sensor's sensing, providing a stable thermal field within the cavity and maintaining a suitable constant temperature environment for phage culture. Simultaneously, the low-scattering LED light strips of this invention are uniformly arranged around the top of the transparent imaging cavity 1, allowing multiple low-scattering LED light strips to irradiate the culture dish from multiple directions, thus achieving uniform illumination. Additionally, a light diffusion plate is placed on the surface of the low-scattering LED light strips to reduce hot spots and glare, effectively improving image quality and providing stable, uniform, and flicker-free white light, thereby improving plaque edge contrast, uniformity, and image analyzability.

[0043] The embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. Based on the above description of the present invention, and using common technical knowledge and conventional means in the field, the present invention can be modified, replaced or combined in various other forms without departing from the basic technical idea of ​​the present invention, and all such modifications, replacements or combinations fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside an incubator, characterized in that, The system includes a transparent imaging cavity, a uniform illumination component, a constant-temperature heating component, and a temperature control module. The transparent imaging cavity is a highly transparent material structure with four closed sides, used to accommodate the culture dish and ensure uniform light transmission. The uniform illumination component includes several low-scattering LED light strips disposed on the top edge of the transparent imaging cavity to reduce glare and improve image uniformity. The constant-temperature heating component adopts a flexible sheet heating structure and is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the transparent imaging cavity to provide a stable thermal field. The temperature control module is electrically connected to the constant-temperature heating component and is used to monitor the internal temperature of the transparent imaging cavity in real time and adjust the heating power to maintain the constant temperature environment required for plaque growth.

2. The temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent imaging cavity has a light transmittance of no less than 90%, which is used to ensure that it is not affected by external ambient light during the shooting process and to make the low-scattering LED light strip light source form a stable and uniform illumination field.

3. The temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The uniform illumination component also includes several light diffusion plates, which are disposed at the top edge of the transparent imaging cavity. A light diffusion layer is disposed on the surface of the light diffusion plates, and several low-scattering LED light strips are disposed inside the light diffusion plates, so that the phage plaque area has high contrast and no obvious shadows or halos during imaging.

4. The temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible sheet heating structure includes a flexible heating film, heat-insulating leather, and a temperature sensor. The flexible heating film and the temperature sensor are both electrically connected to the temperature control module. The flexible heating film is adhered to the inner circumferential surface of the transparent imaging cavity, the heat-insulating leather is disposed on the surface of the flexible heating film, and the temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the heat-insulating leather to improve heat conduction efficiency and ensure the uniformity of the temperature field of the transparent imaging cavity.

5. The temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The temperature control module includes a microcontroller, and a power supply circuit, a heating drive circuit, and an LED strip drive module, all electrically connected to the microcontroller. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the microcontroller, the flexible heating film is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the heating drive circuit, and the low-scattering LED strip is electrically connected to the microcontroller through the LED strip drive module.

6. The temperature control device for the growth of phage plaques outside the incubator as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The microcontroller is electrically connected to a display screen and control buttons. The display screen is used to display the real-time temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the control buttons are used to start or stop the constant temperature heating component.

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