A probiotic inoculation device

Abstract

The application discloses a probiotic inoculation device, and relates to the technical field of microbial culture, comprising a seed liquid culture bottle, wherein a culture liquid injection assembly is arranged on the seed liquid culture bottle; the culture liquid injection assembly comprises a shell arranged outside the seed liquid culture bottle and a base threadedly connected with the bottom of the shell; an upper cover is threadedly connected with the shell; the lower surface of the seed liquid culture bottle is provided with a discharge port; a plurality of modular flame assemblies are arranged below the base; ceramic fiber cloth is wound in the modular flame assemblies and alcohol capable of infiltrating the ceramic fiber cloth is stored in the modular flame assemblies; the ceramic fiber cloth can allow the culture medium container port to be continuously wrapped by a stable flame to form a closed and sterile barrier; the alcohol is completely sealed in the liquid storage bin and is guided by the ceramic fiber cloth only, without any possibility of dripping and splashing, and does not contact the probiotic consumables, thereby avoiding that the traditional inoculation ring is directly exposed outside by burning and is easy to cause a safety hazard.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of microbial culture technology, specifically to a probiotic inoculation device. Background Technology

[0002] Probiotics are a class of live microorganisms that are beneficial to the host and are widely used in many fields such as bioengineering, agriculture, food processing and medical health. Their cultivation and inoculation process has extremely high requirements for the sterile environment. The standardization of aseptic operation directly determines the activity, purity and subsequent application effect of probiotics. Therefore, aseptic protection during the inoculation process is one of the core keys of probiotic inoculation technology.

[0003] Currently, probiotic inoculation involves pouring probiotic seed culture into a culture medium container (containing probiotic culture solution) to introduce the seed culture into the probiotic culture solution, thus achieving probiotic inoculation. Existing inoculation devices generally employ a traditional flame inoculation ring sterilization method to achieve aseptic treatment of the inoculation area. This flame inoculation ring is a metal wire with its tip bent into a small loop. The loop is immersed in alcohol, ignited, and then placed directly at the inoculation port of the culture medium container. The flame from the ignited alcohol sterilizes the inoculation port and surrounding area, precisely transferring the activated probiotic seed culture to the culture medium container, thereby avoiding contamination and ensuring the aseptic nature of the inoculation process.

[0004] However, during the burning of alcohol by staff, alcohol may drip, causing burns to the staff's skin or igniting nearby flammable materials. In addition, after vaccination, the burning inoculation loop needs to be removed, but during the transfer, the inoculation loop is exposed to the flame, and alcohol can easily drip onto the outside, further exacerbating the safety hazard. This operation requires the operator to manually immerse the loop in alcohol, ignite it, and wait for it to burn and sterilize. Each step of the vaccination process requires manual intervention, making the operation cumbersome and time-consuming. Especially in batch vaccination operations, the frequent placement, immersion in alcohol, ignition, and handling of the inoculation loop will significantly reduce the vaccination efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, in view of this, the present invention provides a probiotic inoculation device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a probiotic inoculation device to solve the problems mentioned in the background section.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A probiotic inoculation device includes a seed culture bottle, a culture injection assembly on the seed culture bottle, the culture injection assembly including a shell fitted outside the seed culture bottle and a base threaded to the bottom of the shell, a top cover threaded to the shell, a discharge port on the lower surface of the seed culture bottle, a piston with a rod slidably connected inside the seed culture bottle, and multiple modular flame assemblies below the base. Each modular flame assembly includes a reservoir for storing alcohol, on which a ceramic fiber cloth is provided. Slots are provided at both ends of the reservoir, and a spool is inserted into both slots. The ceramic fiber cloth is wound on the spool. The bottom of the reservoir is open and a cap is fixedly connected to the opening. The upper surface of the cap near the outer end fits against the bottom of the reservoir, and a gap is left between the upper surface of the cap near the inner end and the bottom of the reservoir, through which the ceramic fiber cloth protrudes.

[0008] Furthermore, the culture liquid injection assembly also includes a hole opened on the top cover, a piston with a rod including a piston disc and a rod body, the rod body being inserted into the hole, a spring being fixedly connected to the bottom of the inner cavity of the base, a circular plate being fixedly connected to the upper end of the spring, and an internal threaded hole being opened in the middle of the circular plate for the outlet of the seed liquid culture bottle to pass through, and an external threaded cap being internally threaded to the internal threaded hole.

[0009] Furthermore, a hollow turntable is rotatably connected to the bottom of the external threaded cover, and multiple telescopic components are rotatably connected to the bottom of the hollow turntable. The telescopic components include a fixed sleeve and a sliding plate. The sliding plate is slidably connected to the fixed sleeve, and multiple insertion holes are opened on the sliding plate. A T-shaped push rod is threadedly connected to the rod of the piston with rod, and the T-shaped push rod extends upward to the outside of the upper cover.

[0010] Furthermore, an inclined plate is rotatably connected inside the cover frame via a rotating shaft, and a torsion spring is provided at the connection between the cover frame and the inclined plate via the rotating shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, two plugs are symmetrically fixedly connected to one end of the liquid storage tank, and a plug plate is fixedly connected to the middle position of the other end. Threaded holes are opened in the middle of both the plugs and the plug plate, and locking pins are threadedly connected to the plugs.

[0012] Furthermore, lifting rods are symmetrically fixedly connected to the upper surfaces of the liquid storage tank near both ends, and extension rods are threaded onto the lifting rods.

[0013] Furthermore, a plug is fixedly connected to the extension rod, and the plug can be inserted into the socket.

[0014] Furthermore, a ring of sterile rubber is provided inside the hole.

[0015] The probiotic inoculation device provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects: Ceramic fiber cloth allows the opening of the culture medium container to be continuously enveloped by a stable flame, forming a sealed sterile barrier. The alcohol is sealed in the storage tank throughout the process, and the liquid is guided only through the ceramic fiber cloth. There is no possibility of alcohol dripping or splashing, and it will not come into contact with probiotic consumables. This avoids the direct exposure of the traditional inoculation loop to the outside, which can easily cause safety hazards.

[0016] Both the outer shell and the base are made of stainless steel, which provides all-round rigid protection for the seed culture bottle, preventing the bottle from breaking due to collisions during operation. It also prevents the bottles from bumping and breaking when they are shaken by the shaker incubator. In addition, it can shield the probiotics in the seed culture bottle from light, preventing them from being exposed to light during handling, transportation and inoculation, which would affect the survival rate of the probiotics.

[0017] When it is necessary to replace a section of the ceramic fiber cloth that has been used, pull the inclined plate downwards again to stop compressing the ceramic fiber cloth. Then, pull the ceramic fiber cloth to expose the unused ceramic fiber cloth in the liquid storage tank. Cut off the used ceramic fiber cloth to achieve the purpose of replacing the ceramic fiber cloth.

[0018] By using a modular storage tank, different sizes can be assembled according to the diameter of the culture medium container opening, making it compatible with culture medium container openings of different diameters for combustion sterilization, thus improving the adaptability of this device for inoculation.

[0019] If the mouth of the culture medium container is at a certain height, the extension rod can be rotated to slide upwards a certain distance on the lifting rod, thus extending the extension rod upwards to accommodate bottle mouths of different heights. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention viewed from below; Figure 3 This is an exploded three-dimensional schematic diagram of the seed culture bottle, outer shell, and other components of the present invention from a first perspective. Figure 4 This is an exploded three-dimensional schematic diagram of the seed culture bottle, outer shell, and other components of the present invention from a second perspective. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the outer shell and seed culture bottle of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the modular flame assembly of the present invention from a first perspective; Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of the modular flame assembly of the present invention from a second perspective; Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the modular flame assembly of the present invention from a first perspective; Figure 9 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the modular flame assembly of the present invention from a second perspective; Figure 10 Photograph 1 shows the actual product of the present invention; Figure 11 Photograph 2 shows the actual product of the present invention.

[0021] In the picture: 201. Base; 202. Outer shell; 203. Top cover; 204. Hole; 205. Piston with rod; 206. Seed culture flask; 207. Spring; 208. Circular plate; 209. Internal threaded hole; 210. External threaded cap; 211. Hollow turntable; 212. Telescopic component; 213. Insertion hole; 214. T-shaped push rod; 301. Liquid reservoir; 302. Slot; 303. Reel; 304. Ceramic fiber cloth; 305. Cap holder; 306. Inclined plate; 307. Nozzle; 308. Insert plate; 309. Locking pin; 310. Lifting rod; 311. Extension rod; 312. Insert post. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention: Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 A probiotic inoculation device includes a seed culture bottle 206, on which a culture dispensing assembly is provided. The culture dispensing assembly includes a housing 202 fitted over the seed culture bottle 206, and a base 201 threadedly connected to the bottom of the housing 202. A top cover 203 is threadedly connected to the housing 202, and a sealing gasket is provided on the lower surface of the top cover 203. A discharge port for discharging material is provided on the lower surface of the seed culture bottle 206. A piston with a rod 205 for discharging probiotic seed culture into the seed culture bottle 206 is slidably connected inside the seed culture bottle 206. Multiple modular flame assemblies are provided below the base 201.

[0023] Please see Figures 1 to 5The culture injection assembly also includes a hole 204 formed in the upper cover 203. A sterile rubber ring is provided inside the hole 204. The piston 205 with rod includes a piston disc and a rod. The piston disc fits tightly against the inner wall of the seed culture bottle 206, and the rod is fixed to the top surface of the piston disc and can be inserted into the hole 204. A spring 207 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the inner cavity of the base 201. A circular plate 208 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the spring 207. The center of the circular plate 208 has an internally threaded hole 209 through which the outlet of the seed culture bottle 206 can pass. An externally threaded cap 210 is internally threaded to the internally threaded hole 209. By connecting the externally threaded cap 210 to the internally threaded hole 209, the outlet of the seed culture bottle 206 can be blocked. A hollow turntable 211 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the external threaded cover 210. Multiple telescopic components 212 are rotatably connected to the bottom of the hollow turntable 211. Each telescopic component 212 includes a fixed sleeve and a sliding plate. The sliding plate is slidably connected within the fixed sleeve and has multiple insertion holes 213. A T-shaped push rod 214 is threadedly connected to the rod of the rod piston 205, and the T-shaped push rod 214 extends upwards to the outside of the upper cover 203.

[0024] Please see Figures 6 to 9 Each modular flame assembly includes a liquid storage chamber 301 for storing alcohol, and a ceramic fiber cloth 304 for inoculation and disinfection by combustion flame is provided on the liquid storage chamber 301.

[0025] Please see Figures 6 to 9The modular flame assembly also includes two slots 302 at both ends of the liquid storage tank 301. A spool 303 is inserted into both slots 302 and is rotatable. Ceramic fiber cloth 304 is wound around the outer surface of the spool 303. The bottom of the liquid storage tank 301 is open, and a capping frame 305 is bolted to the opening. The upper surface of the capping frame 305 near the outer side fits against the bottom of the liquid storage tank 301, while a gap exists between the upper surface of the capping frame 305 near the inner side and the bottom of the liquid storage tank 301. This gap allows the ceramic fiber cloth 304 to pass through, and a sealing gasket is provided on the inner wall of the gap to prevent alcohol leakage and increase resistance to the movement of the ceramic fiber cloth 304. An inclined plate 306 is rotatably connected to the capping frame 305 via a pivot, and a torsion spring is provided at the pivot connection between the capping frame 305 and the inclined plate 306. Ceramic fiber cloth 304 passes through the gap between the cap frame 305 and the liquid storage tank 301 and is wrapped around and attached to the outer surface of the liquid storage tank 301, with the inclined plate 306 pressing against the ceramic fiber cloth 304. Two plugs 307 are symmetrically fixedly connected to one end of the liquid storage tank 301, and a plug plate 308 is fixedly connected to the middle position of the other end. Threaded holes are opened in the middle of both plugs 307 and plug plate 308, and locking pins 309 are threadedly connected to the plugs 307. Lifting rods 310 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the upper surfaces of both ends of the liquid storage tank 301. Extension rods 311 are threadedly connected to the lifting rods 310, and insertion pins 312 are fixedly connected to the extension rods 311. Insertion pins 312 can be inserted into the insertion holes 213.

[0026] The following is the complete working process and working principle of the above embodiments: First, the seed culture bottle 206 of this device can be used alone to store probiotic seed culture. At this time, the outer shell 202, base 201, and top cover 203 are not installed on the outside of the seed culture bottle 206. The piston with rod 205 is located at the bottom of the inner cavity of the seed culture bottle 206. Then, align the outlet of the seed culture bottle 206 with the probiotic seed culture, and then hold the T-shaped push rod 214 to drive the piston plate of the piston with rod 205 upward, which will draw the probiotic seed culture into the seed culture bottle 206. Then, put the outer shell 202 on the outside of the seed culture bottle 206, and then rotate and screw the base 201 and top cover 203 into the outer shell in sequence. On plate 202, the external threaded cap 210 is screwed into the internal threaded hole 209 in the middle of the circular plate 208. The external threaded cap 210 effectively seals the outlet at the bottom of the seed culture bottle 206, preventing external dust and bacteria from entering the seed culture bottle 206. Both the outer shell 202 and the base 201 are made of stainless steel, which can provide all-round rigid protection for the seed culture bottle 206, preventing the bottle from breaking due to collisions during operation, and also preventing the bottles from bumping and breaking when the shaker incubator vibrates. In addition, it can also shield the probiotics in the seed culture bottle 206 from light, preventing them from being exposed to light during handling, transportation and inoculation, which would affect the survival rate of the probiotics.

[0027] To install the ceramic fiber cloth 304, first invert the liquid storage tank 301 so that the cap frame 305 is on top. Remove the cap frame 305 from the liquid storage tank 301 by unscrewing the bolts. Hold the roller 303 and pull it upwards from the liquid storage tank 301. Then, wind the ceramic fiber cloth 304 onto the roller 303. Next, re-insert the roller 303 between the two slots 302, allowing one end of the ceramic fiber cloth 304 to extend beyond the liquid storage tank 301. Pour alcohol into the liquid storage tank 301 to soak the ceramic fiber cloth 304. Then, reinstall the cap frame 305 onto the liquid storage tank 301, pressing it against one end of the ceramic fiber cloth 304. For subsequent use, pull the ceramic fiber cloth 304 to allow it to pass through the gap between the cap frame 305 and the liquid storage tank 301, and then wind it around the liquid storage tank. Pull the outer surface of 301 around and manually rotate the upper end of the inclined plate 306 downwards, causing the torsion springs at both ends to contract synchronously. At this time, the ceramic fiber cloth 304 can pass through the gap between the inclined plate 306 and the cover frame 305. Then loosen the inclined plate 306. Under the reset action of the torsion spring, the inclined plate 306 will abut against the ceramic fiber cloth 304, which will clamp the ceramic fiber cloth 304 and prevent the ceramic fiber cloth 304 from being accidentally pulled out. Only when it is necessary to replace this exposed section of the used ceramic fiber cloth 304, pull the inclined plate 306 downwards again to stop squeezing the ceramic fiber cloth 304, and then pull the ceramic fiber cloth 304 to expose the unused ceramic fiber cloth 304 in the liquid storage tank 301. Then cut the used ceramic fiber cloth 304 so that the unused ceramic fiber cloth 304 can be pulled out.

[0028] It should be noted that before screwing the top cover 203 in, the T-shaped push rod 214 needs to be unscrewed from the rod of the piston 205. Then, the top cover 203 can be screwed onto the outer casing 202. (See reference...) Figure 5 As shown, during the process of screwing the top cover 203 into the outer shell 202, the top cover 203 will come into contact with the upper surface of the seed culture bottle 206. At this time, the operator can feel the resistance and does not need to screw the top cover 203 in any further. The lower surface of the top cover 203 is provided with a sealing gasket, which can fit against the upper surface of the seed culture bottle 206 to seal the top of the seed culture bottle 206. At this time, the rod of the piston 205 can be gradually inserted into the hole 204 of the top cover 203. Since the bottom of the seed culture bottle 206 has been blocked by the external threaded cap 210, the piston 205 cannot move down. Screwing the top cover 203 will allow the rod of the piston 205 to be inserted into the hole 204 in the middle, thus locking the position of the top cover 203 and the piston 205.

[0029] During inoculation, multiple liquid storage chambers 301 are spliced ​​together according to the diameter of the culture medium container opening. The splicing method is to align the spout 307 of one of two adjacent liquid storage chambers 301 with the insert plate 308 of the other liquid storage chamber 301, so that the insert plate 308 is inserted into the spout 307 until the threaded holes on the spout 307 and the insert plate 308 are aligned. Then, a locking pin 309 is rotated and screwed into the threaded holes of the spout 307 and the insert plate 308 to connect the two liquid storage chambers 301 together. This process is repeated to connect multiple liquid storage chambers 301 to the required size. Finally, the spouts 307 and insert plates 308 of the first and last liquid storage chambers 301 are connected by the locking pin 309 to merge multiple liquid storage chambers 301 into a closed loop, thus adapting to the opening of the culture medium container. First, unscrew the external threaded cap 210 from the outlet of the seed culture bottle 206. At this time, since the position of the piston 205 with rod remains stationary, similar to the injection needle, the probiotic seed culture inside the seed culture bottle 206 will not drip. Then, slide and extend the sliding plate on the telescopic component 212 at the bottom of the base 201. Alternatively, you can adjust the position of a single telescopic component 212 by holding one of the telescopic components 212 and rotating it on the hollow turntable 211, or you can rotate the hollow turntable 211 itself to adjust the position of all the telescopic components 212. This allows the insertion hole 213 on the sliding plate of the telescopic component 212 to align with the insertion post 312 on the extension rod 311. After all the sliding plates of the multiple telescopic components 212 have been adjusted, the base 201 can be pressed down until the insertion hole 213 on the sliding plate of the telescopic component 212 is inserted into the insertion post 312, so that the upper surface of the telescopic component 212 and the extension rod 311 are in contact, and the seed culture bottle 206 is connected to the multiple liquid storage tanks 301 into a whole.

[0030] Then, the ceramic fiber cloth 304 surrounding the multiple liquid storage chambers 301 is ignited in sequence. At this time, the burning flame can be directed at the mouth of the culture medium container for combustion sterilization, and the upward burning flame can also sterilize the base 201 and the outlet of the exposed seed culture bottle 206. During this process, the ceramic fiber cloth 304 can continuously wrap the mouth of the culture medium container with a stable flame to form a closed sterile barrier, and the alcohol is sealed inside the liquid storage chamber 301 throughout the process. The alcohol is only guided through the ceramic fiber cloth 304, and there is no possibility of alcohol dripping or splashing. It will not come into contact with probiotic consumables, avoiding the safety hazards caused by the direct exposure of the traditional inoculation loop to the outside.

[0031] Furthermore, by using the modular storage tank 301, it can be assembled into the required size according to the diameter of the culture medium container opening, which can be adapted to culture medium container openings of different sizes, thus improving the adaptability of this device for inoculation.

[0032] Furthermore, if the mouth of the culture medium container has a certain height, the length of the extension rod 311 needs to be adjusted accordingly to ensure that the liquid storage chamber 301 below the extension rod 311 can fully extend into the mouth. The extension rod 311 can be extended upwards by rotating it and sliding it a certain distance on the lifting rod 310, thus adapting to mouths of different heights.

[0033] After sterilization, the top cover 203 can be rotated again. The top cover 203 will rotate while pushing the seed culture bottle 206 downward and pressing the circular plate 208 attached to the bottom of the seed culture bottle 206 downward and compressing the spring 207. This causes the outlet of the seed culture bottle 206 to move downward and closer to the mouth of the culture medium container. Then, the T-shaped push rod 214 is inserted into the hole 204 of the piston with rod 205. After that, the T-shaped push rod 214 is manually pressed to push the piston with rod 205 downward, so that the probiotic seed culture inside the seed culture bottle 206 can be injected into the culture medium container. The culture medium container contains probiotic culture medium. This completes the introduction of the probiotic seed culture into the probiotic culture medium, thus completing the inoculation step.

[0034] Finally, to extinguish the burning ceramic fiber cotton cloths 304, simply place a large lid over the seed culture bottle 206 and the multiple liquid storage chambers 301 to isolate oxygen and extinguish the fire. When cleaning the seed culture bottle 206, simply unscrew the top cover 203 to remove it from the upper surface of the bottle. The spring 207 will then push the seed culture bottle 206 upwards within the outer casing 202, allowing staff to easily remove it for cleaning.

[0035] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A probiotic inoculation device, comprising a seed culture flask (206), characterized in that: The seed culture bottle (206) is provided with a culture injection assembly, which includes a shell (202) fitted outside the seed culture bottle (206) and a base (201) threaded to the bottom of the shell (202). A top cover (203) is threaded onto the shell (202). A discharge port is provided on the lower surface of the seed culture bottle (206). A piston with a rod (205) is slidably connected inside the seed culture bottle (206). Multiple modular flame assemblies are provided below the base (201). Each modular flame assembly includes a storage tank (301) for storing alcohol. A ceramic fiber cloth (304) is provided on the storage tank (301). Slots (302) are provided at both ends of the storage tank (301). A roller (303) is inserted into both slots (302). The ceramic fiber cloth (304) is wound on the roller (303). The bottom of the storage tank (301) is open and a capping frame (305) is fixedly connected to the opening. The upper surface of the capping frame (305) near the outer side is in contact with the bottom of the storage tank (301). A gap is left between the upper surface of the capping frame (305) near the inner side and the bottom of the storage tank (301). The ceramic fiber cloth (304) passes through the gap.

2. The probiotic inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The culture liquid injection assembly also includes a hole (204) on the top cover (203), a piston (205) with a rod including a piston disc and a rod body, the rod body being inserted into the hole (204), a spring (207) being fixedly connected to the bottom of the inner cavity of the base (201), a circular plate (208) being fixedly connected to the upper end of the spring (207), and an internal threaded hole (209) being opened in the middle of the circular plate (208) for the outlet of the seed liquid culture bottle (206) to pass through, and an external threaded cap (210) being internally threaded to the internal threaded hole (209).

3. The probiotic inoculation device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the external threaded cover (210) is rotatably connected to a hollow turntable (211), and the bottom of the hollow turntable (211) is rotatably connected to multiple telescopic components (212). The telescopic component (212) includes a fixed sleeve and a sliding plate. The sliding plate is slidably connected to the fixed sleeve. Multiple insertion holes (213) are provided on the sliding plate. A T-shaped push rod (214) is threadedly connected to the rod of the rod piston (205), and the T-shaped push rod (214) extends upward to the outside of the upper cover (203).

4. The probiotic inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover frame (305) is rotatably connected to the inclined plate (306) via a rotating shaft, and a torsion spring is provided at the connection between the cover frame (305) and the inclined plate (306) at the rotating shaft.

5. The probiotic inoculation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two plugs (307) are symmetrically fixedly connected to one end of the liquid storage tank (301), and a plug plate (308) is fixedly connected to the middle position of the other end. Threaded holes are opened in the middle of both the plugs (307) and the plug plate (308), and a locking pin (309) is threadedly connected to the plug (307).

6. The probiotic inoculation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The liquid storage tank (301) has symmetrically fixed lifting rods (310) on the upper surface near both ends, and extension rods (311) are threaded onto the lifting rods (310).

7. A probiotic inoculation device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The extension rod (311) is fixedly connected to a plug post (312), which can be plugged into the socket (213).

8. A probiotic inoculation device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A ring of sterile rubber is provided inside the hole (204).

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