A device for observing cercariae of Schistosoma

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of observation devices, specifically an observation device for schistosome cercariae. Addressing the problem that existing methods of observing hosts such as snails in culture cups using observation mirrors result in inactive cercariae due to the static state of the culture cups, leading to prolonged observation time, this invention proposes the following solution: A culture box is included, equipped with a controller. Support legs are fixedly connected to the four corners of the bottom of the culture box. An observation seat is mounted on the top of the culture box, with multiple observation holes, each containing an observation mirror. A placement plate is bolted to the inside of the culture box, with multiple placement holes corresponding to the observation mirrors. A culture cup is held in place within each placement hole. This invention vibrates the culture cups, making the cercariae more active and preventing them from clustering and overlapping, which would hinder observation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of observation device technology, and in particular to an observation device for schistosome cercariae. Background Technology

[0002] In the diagnosis and research of schistosomiasis, the observation of cercariae is a crucial technique. Cercariae are a stage in the development of schistosomes and are the main link in the infection process. Therefore, efficient observation equipment is essential for counting and classifying cercariae in schistosome snails.

[0003] Given the current state of technology, current cercariae observation devices vary in their design. For example, patent CN222129091 U discloses a schistosomiasis detection miracidia hatching observation device. This device observes the hosts such as snails in the culture cup through an observation mirror. However, during observation, the culture cup is stationary, which makes the cercariae less active and increases the observation time.

[0004] In summary, addressing the problems encountered in observing schistosome cercariae, designing an efficient, stable, and easy-to-operate observation device is of great significance for improving the efficiency of schistosomiasis research and diagnosis. While existing observation equipment has improved the accuracy and efficiency of observation to some extent, there is still room for improvement. Therefore, a new schistosome cercariae observation device was designed and developed. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing an observation device for schistosome cercariae.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] An observation device for schistosome cercariae includes an incubation box with a controller. Support legs are fixedly connected to the four corners of the bottom of the incubation box. An observation seat is fitted onto the top of the incubation box, and the observation seat has multiple observation holes, each containing an observation mirror. A placement plate is bolted to the inside of the incubation box, and the placement plate has multiple placement holes corresponding to the observation mirrors. Culture cups are fitted into the placement holes. A heating lamp and a temperature sensor are provided inside the incubation box. Ventilation holes are located on both sides of the incubation box, and filters are fixedly connected to the ventilation holes.

[0008] The striking mechanism is installed on the incubator to strike the placement plate to generate vibration;

[0009] A covering mechanism is installed on the incubator to cover the culture cups and prevent the host from escaping.

[0010] In one possible design, the striking mechanism includes an electric push rod, a movable plate, and multiple striking columns. The electric push rod is fixedly connected to the bottom of the incubator, and its output end extends into the incubator and is fixedly connected to the bottom of the movable plate. The multiple striking columns are fixedly connected to the top of the movable plate, and each of the multiple striking columns has a striking ball fixedly connected to its top.

[0011] In one possible design, the covering mechanism includes a movable rod, a connecting plate, and multiple filter plates. One end of the movable rod passes through the rear side of the incubator and extends into the incubator. One end of the movable rod is fixedly connected to the rear side of the connecting plate. The multiple filter plates are all fixedly connected to the connecting plate. The multiple filter plates are slidably and sealingly connected to the top of multiple incubation cups. A fastening nut is threaded onto the movable rod.

[0012] In one possible design, grooves are provided on both inner walls of the incubator, and the two sides of the connecting plate slide within the two grooves respectively.

[0013] In one possible design, telescopic rods are fixedly connected to both sides of the bottom of the incubator, and the moving ends of the two telescopic rods are fixedly connected to the bottom of the moving plate.

[0014] In one possible design, locking pins are fixedly connected to the four corners of the bottom of the observation seat, and the top of the incubator has a slot that matches the locking pins, and the locking pins are engaged with the slots.

[0015] In this application, multiple culture cups are first placed in their corresponding placement holes. Then, different proportions of liquid, insect eggs, and intermediate hosts (such as Oncomelania snails) are added to the culture cups. Next, the observation seat is connected to the culture box, and then the moving rod is pushed, causing the connecting plate to move the filter plate, thereby covering the culture cups and preventing the Oncomelania snails and cercariae from escaping.

[0016] The controller turns on the heating lamps, and with the assistance of the temperature sensor, the temperature inside the incubation chamber is controlled between [temperature range missing]. The controller also controls the electric push rod to move the moving plate longitudinally back and forth, which causes multiple tapping columns to repeatedly tap the placement plate, generating vibration. This accelerates hatching and enhances the activity of the cercariae. The eggs in the incubation cup are observed and tested every [time range missing] hours through an observation microscope, and the corresponding data is recorded.

[0017] In this invention, an electric push rod is used to repeatedly strike the placement plate with a striking column, causing the culture cup to vibrate. This makes the cercariae more active and easier to observe.

[0018] In this invention, by covering the culture cup, the host and cercariae are effectively prevented from escaping, thus increasing safety. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of an observation device for schistosome cercariae proposed in this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the incubator of the observation device for schistosome cercariae proposed in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a rear-view structural diagram of an observation device for schistosome cercariae proposed in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the separation structure of the observation seat and the incubation box of the observation device for schistosome cercariae proposed in this utility model.

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Incubator; 2. Observation seat; 3. Observation mirror; 4. Placement plate; 5. Culture cup; 6. Heating lamp; 7. Ventilation hole; 8. Electric push rod; 9. Moving plate; 10. Striking column; 11. Telescopic rod; 12. Moving rod; 13. Connecting plate; 14. Filter plate; 15. Slide groove; 16. Locking pin; 17. Locking groove; 18. Fastening nut; 19. Filter screen. 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 of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0025] Example 1

[0026] Reference Figure 1-4 An observation device, used in the field of observation equipment, includes an incubator 1, whose bottom four corners are fitted with legs by welding or bolting to ensure the stability of the device. The top of the incubator 1 is designed with a snap-fit ​​structure, and the observation seat 2 is snapped into place by snap-fit ​​pins 16 fixed at the four bottom corners and pre-set slots 17 on the top of the incubator 1, ensuring the stable installation of the observation seat 2 and facilitating subsequent disassembly and cleaning. The observation seat 2 is integrally formed from an acrylic plate with a light transmittance of ≥92%, and has observation holes with an aperture adapted to a universal microscope eyepiece. Each observation hole is fitted with a detachable observation lens 3, which uses double-sided coating technology and supports 10x-40x continuous zoom to meet different observation needs. The top edge of the observation seat 2 is engraved with angle scales for easy and quick adjustment of the observation direction.

[0027] The placement plate 4 is fixed to the middle of the incubator 1 with bolts, and the placement hole on it is precisely aligned with the observation hole. The incubation cup 5 is made of transparent polycarbonate, with a 50mL capacity mark engraved on the cup wall and a grid-like anti-slip texture on the bottom. Together with the silicone retaining ring embedded in the placement hole, it forms a three-level positioning structure to ensure that the cup does not shift during vibration.

[0028] The incubation chamber 1 is also equipped with heating lamps 6 and a temperature sensor. The heating lamps 6 provide the temperature required for incubation, while the temperature sensor monitors the temperature inside the chamber in real time and controls the temperature precisely between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius through the controller, providing the best environment for cercariae to hatch.

[0029] Heating lamp 6 uses a 24V / 150W far-infrared quartz heating tube with a nano-hydrophobic coating to prevent condensation. The temperature sensor is a PT100 platinum resistance thermometer with an accuracy of ±0.1℃, which works in conjunction with a PID controller to achieve precise temperature control of 26-30℃ ±0.5℃.

[0030] The striking mechanism is located at the bottom of the incubator 1 and includes an electric push rod 8, a moving plate 9, and multiple striking posts 10. The electric push rod 8 is fixed to the bottom of the incubator 1 by bolts, and its output end extends into the incubator and is connected to the bottom of the moving plate 9, enabling the longitudinal movement of the moving plate 9. Multiple striking posts 10 are welded to the top of the moving plate 9, and each striking post 10 has a striking ball fixed to its top for striking the placement plate 4 to generate vibration.

[0031] The electric actuator 8 is driven by a stepper motor with a rated thrust of 120N and is rigidly connected to the moving plate 9 via a coupling. The moving plate 9 is made of aerospace-grade aluminum and has a hard anodized surface. The end of the striking column 10 is fitted with a polyurethane buffer head to achieve non-rigid contact.

[0032] The covering mechanism is located at the rear of the incubator 1 and includes a moving rod 12, a connecting plate 13, multiple filter plates 14, and a fastening nut 18 threadedly connected to the moving rod 12. One end of the moving rod 12 passes through the rear of the incubator 1 and extends into the incubator, connecting to the rear of the connecting plate 13 by welding or bolting. The multiple filter plates 14 are welded to the connecting plate 13 as a single unit, and the size of the filter plates 14 matches the top opening of the culture cup 5, enabling a sealed sliding connection. Sliding grooves 15 are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the incubator 1, allowing the connecting plate 13 to slide within the sliding grooves 15, ensuring smooth movement of the filter plates 14. Pushing the moving rod 12 moves the connecting plate 13 and the filter plates 14, covering the top of the culture cup 5 to prevent the escape of snails and cercariae. After the movement is complete, the fastening nut 18 can be tightened to limit the movement of the moving rod 12.

[0033] The moving rod 12 is a stainless steel optical shaft with a hard chrome plated surface. One end is connected to the connecting plate 13 via a spherical bearing. The connecting plate 13 is made of 304 stainless steel laser-cut and has guide shafts on both sides, forming a precision sliding pair with the linear bearing in the slide groove 15. The filter plate 14 is a stainless steel sintered mesh with a pore size smaller than the volume of the cercariae. The edges are covered with silicone sealing strips to form a dynamic seal with the culture cup 5.

[0034] This application is for the observation of schistosome cercariae, but can also be used in other fields where this application applies.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] refer to Figure 1-4 An improvement on Example 1: A device for observing schistosome cercariae.

[0037] The incubator 1 has ventilation holes 7 on both sides, and filters 19 are installed on the ventilation holes 7 to ensure air circulation and prevent external pollutants from entering.

[0038] To enhance the stability of the moving plate 9, telescopic rods 11 are also installed on both sides of the bottom of the incubator 1. The moving end of the telescopic rod 11 is connected to the bottom of the moving plate 9 to ensure the stability of the tapping process. The telescopic rod 11 consists of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder that slides inside the outer cylinder.

[0039] However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the working principles and wiring methods of the controller, heating lamp 6, temperature sensor and electric push rod 8 are commonplace and belong to conventional means or common knowledge, so they will not be described in detail here. Those skilled in the art can make any selections according to their needs or convenience. Among them, the heating lamp 6 and the temperature sensor are the same as those in the patent with announcement number: CN 222129091 U, so their principles and structures will not be described in detail here.

[0040] The accompanying drawings in this application are for illustrative purposes only. The dimensions and shapes of the components shown are not actual limitations but are merely schematic representations. In actual implementation, the components can be reasonably configured and adjusted according to specific needs and actual conditions.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, but the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present utility model, based on the technical solution and the inventive concept of the present utility model, should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An observation device for schistosome cercariae, comprising an incubation box (1), wherein the incubation box (1) is equipped with a controller, and support legs are fixedly connected to the four corners of the bottom of the incubation box (1), and an observation seat (2) is fitted onto the top of the incubation box (1), wherein the observation seat (2) has multiple observation holes, and each of the multiple observation holes is equipped with an observation mirror (3), characterized in that, The incubator (1) is fixedly connected to a placement plate (4) by bolts. The placement plate (4) has multiple placement holes, which correspond to multiple observation mirrors (3). A culture cup (5) is installed in the placement hole. The incubator (1) is equipped with a heating lamp (6) and a temperature sensor. Ventilation holes (7) are opened on both sides of the incubator (1). A filter screen (19) is fixedly connected to the ventilation hole (7). A striking mechanism is installed on the incubator (1) to strike the placement plate (4) to generate vibration; A covering mechanism is installed on the incubator (1) to cover the culture cup (5) and prevent the host inside the cup from escaping.

2. A device for observing schistosome cercariae according to claim 1, characterized in that The striking mechanism includes an electric push rod (8), a moving plate (9), and multiple striking columns (10). The electric push rod (8) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the incubator (1). The output end of the electric push rod (8) extends into the incubator (1) and is fixedly connected to the bottom of the moving plate (9). Multiple striking columns (10) are fixedly connected to the top of the moving plate (9), and each of the multiple striking columns (10) has a striking ball fixedly connected to its top.

3. The device for observing cercariae of blood flukes according to claim 1, wherein The covering mechanism includes a moving rod (12), a connecting plate (13), and multiple filter plates (14). One end of the moving rod (12) passes through the rear side of the incubator (1) and extends into the incubator (1). One end of the moving rod (12) is fixedly connected to the rear side of the connecting plate (13). Multiple filter plates (14) are fixedly connected to the connecting plate (13). Multiple filter plates (14) are sealed and slidably connected to the top of multiple incubation cups (5). A fastening nut (18) is threaded onto the moving rod (12).

4. A device for observing schistosome cercariae according to claim 3, characterised in that The two inner walls of the incubator (1) are provided with sliding grooves (15), and the two sides of the connecting plate (13) slide in the two sliding grooves (15) respectively.

5. The device for observing cercariae of blood flukes according to claim 2, wherein The bottom sides of the incubator (1) are fixedly connected with telescopic rods (11), and the moving ends of the two telescopic rods (11) are fixedly connected to the bottom of the moving plate (9).

6. The device for observing cercariae of schistosoma according to claim 1, wherein The observation seat (2) has four fixed pins (16) at the bottom corners. The top of the incubator (1) has a slot (17) that matches the pin (16). The pin (16) and the slot (17) are engaged.

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