A disposable bead inoculator adapted to a pipettor

Abstract

This utility model discloses a disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette, comprising an mounting post, a fixing mechanism, and a bead-retrieving mechanism. The fixing mechanism is located at the bottom of the mounting post, and the bead-retrieving mechanism is located at the bottom of the fixing mechanism. The mounting post is provided with a slot, an anti-slip inner liner, a main fixing groove, a nozzle root limiting groove, several raised adhesive strips, and several micro-raised adhesive strips. The fixing mechanism includes a connecting rod, a nozzle limiting groove, a suction tube, a plugging pad, and a ring groove. The bead-retrieving mechanism includes a retrieval ring, a clamping groove, a guide bone, and a retrieval net. This solution significantly improves the stability when retrieving ceramic beads, simplifies the bead-retrieving process, allows for immediate insertion and disposal, and saves time and effort.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sampling technology for ceramic bead strains of bacteria and fungi, specifically a disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette. Background Technology

[0002] The ceramic bead culture preservation method is a commonly used method for preserving microbial cultures. Currently, the main tools for picking up ceramic beads are inoculation loops or inoculation needles. The method of using an inoculation loop is to use the loop to lift the ceramic bead and slowly remove it, then inoculate it into a liquid or solid culture medium. The method of using an inoculation needle is to insert the needle into the pore of the ceramic bead and then inoculate it into the culture medium for the revival of the microbial culture.

[0003] In existing methods for preserving microbial cultures using ceramic beads, some beads have holes that are too small to be inserted properly when using an inoculation needle, or the beads may become stuck on the needle and unable to fall off. Using an inoculation loop makes it difficult to retrieve the beads, and they are prone to falling onto the lab bench and causing contamination. Furthermore, disposable inoculation needles and loops are not individually packaged, which increases the risk of contamination, while individually packaged ones are time-consuming to handle. While pipette tips are conveniently located in a tip holder, they cannot retrieve ceramic beads. Therefore, current tools for preserving microbial cultures using ceramic beads are inconvenient for this purpose.

[0004] Therefore, a solution is needed. Utility Model Content

[0005] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to pipettes, thereby solving the problems mentioned in the background section.

[0007] (II) Technical Solution

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0009] A disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette, characterized in that it includes a mounting post, a fixing mechanism, and a bead-retrieving mechanism, wherein the fixing mechanism is disposed at the bottom of the mounting post, and the bead-retrieving mechanism is disposed at the bottom of the fixing mechanism;

[0010] The mounting post is provided with a slot, an anti-slip inner liner, a main fixing groove, a nozzle root limiting groove, several raised adhesive pieces, and several micro raised adhesive pieces. The slot has a cylindrical structure with a conical bottom and extends vertically through the mounting post. The anti-slip inner liner is located inside the slot and is at the same height as the slot. The main fixing groove and the nozzle root limiting groove are vertically connected and located inside the anti-slip inner liner. The main fixing groove has a cylindrical structure with a conical bottom. The nozzle root limiting groove has a cylindrical structure and its circumference is smaller than the circumference of the bottom of the main fixing groove. Several raised adhesive pieces are evenly distributed on the inner wall of the main fixing groove in a spherical structure. Several micro raised adhesive pieces are evenly distributed on the surface of each raised adhesive piece in a hexagonal structure. The anti-slip inner liner, raised adhesive pieces, and micro raised adhesive pieces are integrally formed.

[0011] Preferably, the fixing mechanism includes a connecting rod, a nozzle limiting groove, a suction cylinder, a plugging pad, and an annular groove. The connecting rod is located at the bottom of the mounting column. The nozzle limiting groove is located in the upper part of the inside of the connecting rod and opens upward. The suction cylinder is located at the bottom of the nozzle limiting groove. The plugging pad is located at the bottom of the suction cylinder. The annular groove is horizontally located at the bottom of the connecting rod.

[0012] Preferably, the connecting rod has a conical structure, the nozzle limiting groove has a cylindrical structure, the suction cylinder has a hollow cylindrical structure, and the plugging gasket has a spherical structure and is integrally formed with the suction cylinder.

[0013] Preferably, the bead-retrieving mechanism includes a scooping ring, a clamping groove, guide ribs, and a scooping net. The scooping ring is disposed at the bottom of the connecting rod and located on the ring groove. The clamping groove is annular and disposed on the inner wall of the scooping ring. The guide ribs are evenly disposed on the back side of the scooping ring. The scooping net is disposed on the clamping groove and located inside the scooping ring.

[0014] Preferably, the guide ribs have a right-angled arc structure, there are four guide ribs that are distributed perpendicularly to each other in pairs, and the four guide ribs together form a cross-shaped structure. The scooping net has a hollow hemispherical structure. The mounting post, connecting rod, scooping ring and guide ribs are integrally formed, and the edge of the scooping net and the scooping ring are integrally formed.

[0015] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0016] This invention provides a disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette. It has the following advantages:

[0017] 1. The mounting column, connecting rod, scooping ring, guide strip and scooping net of this solution are integrated into one piece, which is very convenient to disassemble and assemble. All of them are sterilized products and are made of polystyrene.

[0018] 2. The pipette can be fixed inside the device via the main fixing groove, the tip root limiting groove, and the tip limiting groove. Its tip is inserted inside the tip tube and sealed by a plug, ensuring a stable fixation. Pressing the pipette allows for quick and easy detachment of the disposable ceramic bead inoculator. Furthermore, the mounting column is compatible with pipettes with capacities ranging from 20μl to 200μl and a universal 200μl tip box. The guide frame with a retrieval net guides the ceramic beads, ensuring they remain at the lowest point of the net when retrieved and lifted, preventing them from falling. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting column structure of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fixing mechanism of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the bead-retrieving mechanism of this utility model.

[0023] In the diagram: 1- Mounting post; 2- Fixing mechanism; 3- Bead retrieval mechanism; 4- Slot; 5- Anti-slip inner liner; 6- Main fixing groove; 7- Nozzle root limiting groove; 8- Several raised adhesives; 9- Several micro raised adhesives; 10- Connecting rod; 11- Nozzle limiting groove; 12- Suction nozzle; 13- Sealing pad; 14- Ring groove; 15- Retrieving ring; 16- Clamping groove; 17- Guide bone strip; 18- Retrieving net. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0025] Example 1:

[0026] Please see Figure 1-4 The present invention provides a technical solution to achieve this: it includes an installation column 1, a fixing mechanism 2 and a bead-retrieving mechanism 3, wherein the fixing mechanism 2 is disposed at the bottom of the installation column 1 and the bead-retrieving mechanism 3 is disposed at the bottom of the fixing mechanism 2.

[0027] The core component, mounting post 1, is equipped with a slot 4, an anti-slip inner liner 5, a main fixing groove 6, a nozzle root limiting groove 7, several raised adhesive strips 8, and several micro raised adhesive strips 9. The slot 4 has a cylindrical structure with a conical bottom and runs vertically through mounting post 1. The anti-slip inner liner 5 is located inside the slot 4 and is at the same height as the slot 4. The main fixing groove 6 and the nozzle root limiting groove 7 are vertically connected and located inside the anti-slip inner liner 5. The main fixing groove 6 has a cylindrical structure with a conical bottom. The nozzle root limiting groove 7 has a cylindrical structure and the circumference of the limiting groove 7 is smaller than the circumference of the bottom of the main fixing groove 6. Several raised adhesive strips 8 are spherically distributed evenly on the inner wall of the main fixing groove 6. Several micro raised adhesive strips 9 are hexagonally distributed evenly on the surface of each raised adhesive strip 8. The anti-slip inner liner 5, raised adhesive strips 8, and micro raised adhesive strips 9 are integrally formed.

[0028] Analysis of the above: The pipette tip is inserted through the main fixing groove 6 and the tip root limiting groove 7 until the tip root is against the bottom of the limiting groove 7. The raised adhesive 8 secures the tip root, and the micro-raised adhesive 9 further slightly increases the stability. However, the force exerted by the raised adhesive 8 when securing the tip root is not very strong, making insertion and removal convenient and not affecting stability. Furthermore, the mounting post 1 is compatible with pipettes with volume ranges from 20μl to 200μl and universal 200μl tip boxes.

[0029] Example 2:

[0030] Please see Figure 1-4 The present invention provides a technical solution to achieve this: the fixing mechanism 2 includes a connecting rod 10, a nozzle limiting groove 11, a suction cylinder 12, a plugging pad 13, and an annular groove 14. The connecting rod 10 is located at the bottom of the mounting column 1. The nozzle limiting groove 11 is located in the upper part of the inside of the connecting rod 10 and opens upward. The suction cylinder 12 is located at the bottom of the nozzle limiting groove 11. The plugging pad 13 is located at the bottom of the suction cylinder 12. The annular groove 14 is horizontally located at the bottom of the connecting rod 10.

[0031] The connecting rod 10 has a conical structure, the nozzle limiting groove 11 has a cylindrical structure, the suction cylinder 12 has a hollow cylindrical structure, and the plugging gasket 13 has a spherical structure and is integrally formed with the suction cylinder 12.

[0032] Analysis of the above content: During the insertion of the nozzle, after passing through the nozzle root limiting groove 7, the nozzle body extends downward along the nozzle limiting groove 11 until the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle tube 12. The nozzle tube 12 will cover the nozzle, and the plugging pad 13 will block the nozzle opening, further increasing the stability of the disposable ceramic bead inoculator during installation. Moreover, when the disposable ceramic bead inoculator is used up, it can be discarded simply by pressing the pipette. The principle is that when the pipette is pressed, the air inside it is pressurized and quickly pushes the plugging pad 13, thereby generating an airflow burst. The nozzle tube 12 expands due to its own elasticity, and thus pushes out the disposable ceramic bead inoculator through the reaction force, thereby causing the nozzle root to be quickly released from the fixation of the raised adhesive 8. Note: The anti-slip inner liner 5, raised rubber 8, micro raised rubber 9, suction nozzle 12 and sealing pad 13 are all made of medical-grade liquid silicone rubber (LSR), which is non-toxic and odorless and meets the safety standards of biological laboratories; it is resistant to low temperature (-60℃~250℃), chemical corrosion (such as alcohols, weak acids and alkalis), and can withstand high-pressure sterilization.

[0033] Example 3:

[0034] Please see Figure 1-4 The present invention provides a technical solution to achieve this: the bead-retrieving mechanism 3 includes a scooping ring 15, a clamping groove 16, a guide rib 17, and a scooping net 18. The scooping ring 15 is disposed at the bottom of the connecting rod 10 and located on the ring groove 14. The clamping groove 16 is arranged in an annular structure on the inner wall of the scooping ring 15. The guide rib 17 is evenly disposed on the back side of the scooping ring 15. The scooping net 18 is disposed on the clamping groove 16 and located inside the scooping ring 15.

[0035] The guide ribs 17 have a right-angled arc structure. There are four guide ribs 17, which are distributed perpendicularly to each other in pairs, and the four guide ribs 17 together form a cross-shaped structure. The net 18 has a hollow hemispherical structure. The mounting column 1, connecting rod 10, net ring 15 and guide ribs 17 are integrally formed. The edge of the net 18 and the net ring 15 are integrally formed.

[0036] Analysis of the above: After installing the disposable ceramic bead inoculator, insert the scoop net 18 into the ceramic bead cryopreservation tube, remove the ceramic beads, and the ceramic beads will be guided by the guide ribs 17 on the scoop net 18 to move towards the bottom of the scoop net 18 and rest there, without falling or getting stuck, greatly improving the stability when removing the ceramic beads. Then, inoculate the ceramic beads onto liquid culture medium, or flip the inoculator onto a solid plate culture medium so that the groove of the inoculator ring faces down, and then drag the ceramic beads to perform four-zone streaking on the plate. Because it is designed as a disposable ceramic bead inoculator, the integrated design of the mounting column 1, connecting rod 10, scoop ring 15, guide ribs 17 and scoop net 18 makes it easier to disassemble, use and discard, and all of them are made of sterilizable polystyrene.

[0037] To further demonstrate the novelty and feasibility of this scheme, the following data is provided:

[0038] Comparison Data Table

[0039]

[0040] Data Description

[0041] 1. Increased success rate of bead retrieval (core advantage)

[0042] Traditional tools have drawbacks: when using an inoculation loop to pick up a bead, the ceramic bead is not fixed and has a high probability of falling off during the lifting process; the inoculation needle is limited by the diameter of the ceramic bead hole, and insertion failure or ceramic bead jamming occurs frequently.

[0043] Improvements to this solution:

[0044] a. The scooping net (hollow hemispherical structure) is combined with cross-shaped guide strips so that the ceramic beads automatically slide to the lowest point of the scooping net when they are scooped out, preventing them from falling.

[0045] b. The edge of the net and the scooping ring are integrally formed, resulting in a stable structure and eliminating the risk of beads getting stuck.

[0046] Data support shows that the success rate of bead retrieval has increased from less than 70% with traditional tools to over 95%, with significant advantages, especially in scenarios involving small-diameter ceramic beads (such as 0.3mm).

[0047] 2. Reduced operation time (efficiency optimization)

[0048] The drawbacks of traditional tools are that the inoculation loop requires manual lifting of the ceramic bead, which demands a high degree of precision; and the inoculation needle needs to be aligned with the hole in the ceramic bead, requiring multiple attempts to insert.

[0049] Improvements to this solution:

[0050] a. The mounting post engages quickly with the pipette via a main fixing groove, raised adhesive, and other structures, with an insertion time of ≤2 seconds.

[0051] b. Pressing the pipette will cause the inoculator to detach via a burst of air, eliminating the need for manual disassembly.

[0052] Data support: Single-step operation time has been reduced from more than 10 seconds to 5-8 seconds, and standardized operating procedures adapted to pipettes have greatly improved efficiency.

[0053] 3. Reduced pollution rate (improved safety)

[0054] Traditional tool drawbacks: Non-individually packaged inoculation needles / loops are easily contaminated, while individually packaged needles / loops are time-consuming to remove and pose a high risk of exposure after opening.

[0055] Improvements to this solution:

[0056] a. The entire product is made of polystyrene, individually packaged after sterilization, and disposable immediately after packaging.

[0057] b. The sealing gasket is integrally molded with the nozzle cylinder to seal the nozzle opening and prevent external contamination during operation.

[0058] Data support: The contamination rate has decreased from over 10% to below 5%, meeting the aseptic operation standards for biological laboratories.

[0059] 4. Expanded compatibility (compatibility advantage)

[0060] Traditional tool limitations: Inoculation needles are only compatible with large-diameter ceramic beads, and pipette tips cannot pick up the beads.

[0061] Improvements to this solution:

[0062] a. The mounting column is compatible with pipettes with a range of 20μl to 200μl and a universal 200μl tip box, making it suitable for mainstream equipment on the market.

[0063] b. The net structure is not limited by the diameter of the ceramic beads, and it replaces the insertion method for bead retrieval by physically lifting the beads.

[0064] Data support: The lower limit of applicable ceramic bead pore size has been reduced from 0.5mm to 0.3mm, covering more scenarios for microbial preservation.

[0065] Summarize

[0066] This solution, through structural innovation (net + guide frame, rapid fixation mechanism) and material optimization (medical-grade silicone rubber, sterilized polystyrene), comprehensively surpasses traditional tools in terms of bead retrieval stability, operational efficiency, and safety. Comparative data directly verifies its technical effectiveness of "significantly improving retrieval stability, saving time and effort, and allowing for disposable application," making it particularly suitable for high-throughput microbial culture operations.

[0067] The above data are all quantitative values ​​obtained during testing and application, which can intuitively verify the technical advantages of this solution's disposable ceramic bead inoculator, which is compatible with pipettes, in terms of significantly improving retrieval stability, saving time and effort, and being disposable after loading.

[0068] The components of this utility model are: 1-mounting post; 2-fixing mechanism; 3-bead retrieval mechanism; 4-slot; 5-anti-slip inner liner; 6-main fixing groove; 7-nozzle root limiting groove; 8-several raised adhesives; 9-several micro raised adhesives; 10-connecting rod; 11-nozzle limiting groove; 12-suction nozzle cylinder; 13-sealing pad; 14-ring groove; 15-retrieval ring; 16-clamping groove; 17-guide rib; 18-retrieval net. These components are all general standard parts or parts known to those skilled in the art. Their structure and principle can be learned by those skilled in the art through technical manuals or conventional experimental methods. It is understood that the problems solved by this utility model are as follows: In existing methods for preserving ceramic beads, some ceramic beads have holes that are too small, making it impossible for the inoculation needle to insert, or the ceramic beads may get stuck on the inoculation needle and not fall off; when using an inoculation loop, the ceramic beads are difficult to retrieve and are easily dropped onto the lab bench during operation, causing contamination; at the same time, the non-individual packaging of disposable inoculation needles and loops easily leads to contamination, while individually packaged ones are time-consuming to handle; while it is convenient to retrieve pipette tips using a pipette tip box, the pipette tip cannot retrieve ceramic beads. Therefore, the existing tools for retrieving ceramic beads are inconvenient for operation. This utility model significantly improves the stability of ceramic bead retrieval, simplifies the process, allows for immediate disposal, and saves time and effort.

[0069] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this utility model is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of this utility model. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects. The scope of this utility model is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and thus all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this utility model. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0070] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette, characterized in that: It includes a mounting post (1), a fixing mechanism (2), and a bead-retrieving mechanism (3). The fixing mechanism (2) is located at the bottom of the mounting post (1), and the bead-retrieving mechanism (3) is located at the bottom of the fixing mechanism (2). The mounting post (1) is provided with a slot (4), an anti-slip inner liner (5), a main fixing groove (6), a nozzle root limiting groove (7), several raised adhesive strips (8), and several micro raised adhesive strips (9). The slot (4) has a cylindrical structure and a conical structure at the bottom. The slot (4) runs vertically through the mounting post (1). The anti-slip inner liner (5) is located inside the slot (4) and is at the same height as the slot (4). The main fixing groove (6) and the nozzle root limiting groove (7) are vertically connected and located in the anti-slip inner liner. Inside (5), the main fixing groove (6) has a cylindrical structure and a conical structure at the bottom. The nozzle root limiting groove (7) has a cylindrical structure and the circumference of the limiting groove (7) is smaller than the circumference of the bottom of the main fixing groove (6). A number of raised adhesives (8) have a spherical structure and are evenly distributed on the inner wall of the main fixing groove (6). A number of micro raised adhesives (9) have a hexagonal structure and are evenly distributed on the surface of each raised adhesive (8). The anti-slip inner liner (5), raised adhesives (8) and micro raised adhesives (9) are integrally formed.

2. The disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing mechanism (2) includes a connecting rod (10), a nozzle limiting groove (11), a suction cylinder (12), a plugging pad (13), and an annular groove (14). The connecting rod (10) is located at the bottom of the mounting post (1). The nozzle limiting groove (11) is located in the upper part of the inside of the connecting rod (10) and opens upward. The suction cylinder (12) is located at the bottom of the nozzle limiting groove (11). The plugging pad (13) is located at the bottom of the suction cylinder (12). The annular groove (14) is horizontally located at the bottom of the connecting rod (10).

3. A disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting rod (10) has a conical structure, the nozzle limiting groove (11) has a cylindrical structure, the suction cylinder (12) has a hollow cylindrical structure, and the plug gasket (13) has a spherical structure and is integrally formed with the suction cylinder (12).

4. A disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bead-retrieving mechanism (3) includes a scooping ring (15), a clamping groove (16), a guide rib (17), and a scooping net (18). The scooping ring (15) is located at the bottom of the connecting rod (10) and on the ring groove (14). The clamping groove (16) is arranged in a ring structure on the inner wall of the scooping ring (15). The guide rib (17) is evenly arranged on the back of the scooping ring (15). The scooping net (18) is arranged on the clamping groove (16) and located inside the scooping ring (15).

5. A disposable ceramic bead inoculator adapted to a pipette according to claim 4, characterized in that: The guide ribs (17) have a right-angled arc structure. There are four guide ribs (17) that are distributed perpendicularly to each other in pairs and together form a cross-shaped structure. The scooping net (18) has a hollow hemispherical structure. The mounting post (1), connecting rod (10), scooping ring (15) and guide ribs (17) are integrally formed. The edge of the scooping net (18) and the scooping ring (15) are integrally formed.

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