Culture device and method for sterilizing the culture device

Abstract

This culturing device has: a casing having a culturing chamber; a water vapor supply device having a liquid-receiving part for receiving water, a heater for heating the liquid-receiving part and generating water vapor, and a water vapor supply pipe for guiding the water vapor to the culturing chamber; a liquid supply device having liquid piping configured so as to enable a water storage part or a sterilization liquid storage part to be selectively attached thereto, and a liquid feed pump, the liquid supply device supplying, with the driving of the liquid feed pump, water stored in the water storage part or a sterilization liquid stored in the sterilization liquid storage part to the liquid-receiving part; and a control device. The control device controls the heater and the liquid feed pump so as to perform: a cooling process for channeling the water in the water storage part through the liquid piping and the liquid-receiving part and discharging the water from the water vapor supply pipe; and a sterilization process of channeling, after the cooling process, the sterilization liquid in the sterilization liquid storage part through the liquid piping and the liquid-receiving part and discharging the sterilization liquid from the water vapor supply pipe.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a culture device and a method for sterilizing a culture device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a culture device (incubator) for culturing cultures of cells, microorganisms, etc. has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] A drawer section is provided below the culture chamber in the culture device described in Patent Document 1. The drawer section is provided with a heater, a tube pump, and a water storage section as a configuration for humidifying the culture chamber. Water stored in the water storage section is dripped onto the heater at predetermined intervals by the tube pump. The water dripped onto the heater is heated by the heater and turns into steam. This steam is introduced into the culture chamber via the tube section, thereby humidifying the culture chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-78437 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a configuration in which the culture chamber is humidified using steam, as in the culture apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the tubes and tubing of the tube pump become contaminated.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a culture apparatus that can appropriately sterilize flow paths for steam and water used for steam generation, and a method for sterilizing a culture apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The culture device according to the present disclosure comprises: a housing having a culture chamber; a steam supply device having a liquid receiving portion for receiving water, a heater for heating the liquid receiving portion to generate steam, and a steam supply pipe for introducing the steam into the culture chamber; a liquid supply device having a liquid pipe configured to be able to selectively attach a water storage section or a sterilizing liquid storage section, and a liquid feed pump, which supplies the water stored in the water storage section or the sterilizing liquid stored in the sterilizing liquid storage section to the liquid receiving section as the liquid feed pump is driven; a control device; The control device a cooling process in which the water in the water storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiver without heating the liquid receiver; After the cooling process, the heater and the liquid transfer pump are controlled to perform a sterilization process in which the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing liquid storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe via the liquid piping and the liquid receiver.

[0008] The method for sterilizing a culture device according to the present disclosure includes: a housing having a culture chamber; a steam supply device having a liquid receiving portion for receiving water, a heater for heating the liquid receiving portion to generate steam, and a steam supply pipe for introducing the steam into the culture chamber; A method for sterilizing a culture device comprising: a liquid supply device having a liquid pipe configured to be able to selectively attach a water storage section or a sterilizing liquid storage section, and a liquid feed pump, which supplies water stored in the water storage section or the sterilizing liquid stored in the sterilizing liquid storage section to a liquid receiving section as the liquid feed pump is driven, The culture device is a cooling process in which the liquid receiving section and the steam supply pipe are cooled by discharging the water in the water storage section from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiving section without heating the liquid receiving section; After the cooling process, the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing liquid storage section is discharged from the steam supply pipe via the liquid piping and the liquid receiving section, thereby performing a sterilizing process to sterilize the liquid piping, the liquid receiving section, and the steam supply pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the culture device and the method for sterilizing a culture device of the present disclosure, the flow paths for steam and water for generating steam can be appropriately sterilized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross section of the culture device as viewed from the right side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the culture device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the connection state between the water tank, the liquid supply device, and the steam supply device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between the dispenser, the liquid supply device, and the vapor supply device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the sterilization operation. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of the cooling process in the sterilization operation. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the sterilization process in the sterilization operation. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram of the replacement process in the sterilization operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0012] <Configuration of the culture device> First, the configuration of the culture device will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of the inside of the culture device as seen from the right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the culture device. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the connection state between the water tank, the liquid supply device, and the steam supply device. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the connection state between the dispenser, the liquid supply device, and the steam supply device. In the following, the front side is the side facing the user of the culture device, and the rear side is the opposite side of the front side. Also, the right side is the right side as seen from the user facing the culture device, and the left side is the opposite side of the right side. The upper side is the upper side when the culture device is placed on a horizontal surface, and the lower side is the opposite side of the upper side.

[0013] First, the schematic internal configuration of the culture device 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The culture device 1 comprises a box-shaped housing 10. Inside the housing 10, a culture chamber 20 is formed in which a culture of cells, microorganisms, or the like is cultured. The culture chamber 20 is configured so that at least one shelf (not shown) can be detachably installed at a predetermined position in the vertical direction. The housing 10 comprises an inner box 11, an outer box 12, an outer door 13, and an inner door 14.

[0014] The inner box 11 is formed in a box shape with a culture chamber 20 inside. An opening 21 of the culture chamber 20 is formed on the front surface of the inner box 11. The outer box 12 is formed in a box shape. The outer box 12 is arranged so as to cover the parts of the inner box 11 other than the opening 21. A heat insulating material 15 is arranged between the inner box 11 and the outer box 12.

[0015] The outer door 13 and the inner door 14 open and close the opening 21. A gasket P is arranged on the outer edge of the outer door 13. An operation unit 50 is arranged on the outer surface of the outer door 13. The operation unit 50 receives instructions to start, stop, and sterilize the culture device 1, as well as input of various setting values for the culture chamber 20. The various setting values for the culture chamber 20 include the set temperature, set humidity, set O2 gas concentration, and set CO2 gas concentration. The operation unit 50 has a display unit that displays the status of the culture device 1.

[0016] A heating unit 30 that heats the culture chamber 20 is disposed in the housing 10. The heating unit 30 includes a top heater 31 disposed on the upper side of the inner box 11, a bottom heater 32 disposed on the lower side of the inner box 11, a back heater 33 disposed on the rear side of the inner box 11, side heaters (not shown) disposed on the left and right sides of the inner box 11, and an outer door heater 34 disposed on the outer door 13.

[0017] A duct 22 is disposed in the culture chamber 20. The duct 22 is formed on the rear surface of the inner box 11 so as to extend vertically. A gas passage K is formed inside the duct 22. A circulation fan 23 is disposed in the gas passage K. By operating the circulation fan 23, air in the culture chamber 20 is sucked in through an intake port 22a formed at the top of the duct 22, and this air is blown out into the culture chamber 20 from an outlet 22b provided at the bottom of the duct 22. This causes forced circulation of air as indicated by the thick arrows.

[0018] An indoor temperature sensor 24 and gas supply devices 25a, 25b are disposed within duct 22. The indoor temperature sensor 24 detects the temperature of the culture chamber 20. The indoor temperature sensor 24 is disposed near the air inlet 22a and detects the temperature of the air drawn in through the air inlet 22a. The gas supply devices 25a, 25b supply adjustment gases (e.g., CO2 gas, O2 gas, and N2 (nitrogen) gas) to the culture chamber 20 to adjust the O2 gas concentration and CO2 gas concentration in the culture chamber 20.

[0019] A humidifying tray D for storing a humidifying liquid (specifically, water) is installed between the lower part of the duct 22 and the bottom surface of the inner box 11. The water stored in the humidifying tray D is sterilized by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays from a UV-LED (not shown). A humidity sensor (not shown) for detecting the humidity in the culture chamber 20 is arranged on the outside of the duct 22.

[0020] The back and bottom of the outer box 12 of the housing 10 are covered with a cover 16. The space between the back of the outer box 12 and the cover 16 forms a machine room M in which various devices are arranged. An electrical box 16a is provided in the machine room M. A control device 40 is housed in the electrical box 16a.

[0021] The culture device 1 further includes an outside air temperature sensor 17 and a steam supply device 18. The outside air temperature sensor 17 detects the temperature around the culture device 1. The steam supply device 18 supplies steam to the culture chamber 20. The steam supply device 18 includes a steam generation unit 18a and a steam supply pipe 18b.

[0022] The steam generating unit 18a is disposed in the electrical equipment box 16a. The steam supply pipe 18b supplies the steam generated by the steam generating unit 18a to the culture chamber 20.

[0023] Next, the configuration seen from the outside of the culture device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. A tank storage section 60 is provided on the left side surface of the outer box 12 of the housing 10. The tank storage section 60 is configured so that a drawer 61 can be pulled out and put in in the front-rear direction.

[0024] Next, a specific configuration for humidifying the culture chamber 20 or sterilizing steam and water for generating steam will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Note that Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the connection state of each component, but do not accurately show the vertical, front-rear, or left-right positional relationships of each component. As shown in Figure 3, a water tank 26, a steam supply device 18, a liquid supply device 27, and a humidification tray D are used to humidify the culture chamber 20.

[0025] Water tank 26 is an example of a water storage portion of the present disclosure that stores water W. Water tank 26 is housed in drawer 61 in a state where it is fixed inside drawer 61.

[0026] The vapor generating section 18a of the vapor supplying device 18 includes a liquid receiving section 18c, a lid 18d, and a heater 18e.

[0027] Liquid receiver 18c is formed in a block shape from a heat-conductive material. Liquid receiver 18c has a downwardly recessed portion 18c1. Steam supply pipe 18b is inserted into the front portion of liquid receiver 18c. Steam supply pipe 18b is inserted so that its interior communicates with the interior of recessed portion 18c1 and its opening exposed to recessed portion 18c1 is positioned above the bottom surface of recessed portion 18c1. Lid 18d closes the top surface of liquid receiver 18c.

[0028] Heater 18e is disposed near recess 18c1 in liquid receptacle 18c. Heater 18e is electrically connected to control device 40. Under the control of control device 40, heater 18e heats and evaporates water supplied to recess 18c1 of liquid receptacle 18c, thereby generating steam. This steam is introduced into culture chamber 20 via steam supply pipe 18b, thereby humidifying culture chamber 20.

[0029] The liquid supply device 27 includes a liquid tube 27a and a tube pump 27b.

[0030] Liquid tube 27a is the liquid piping of the present disclosure and is made of resin or rubber. A portion of liquid tube 27a is located within tube pump 27b. One end of liquid tube 27a is attached to lid 18d of liquid receiving portion 18c so that the interior of liquid tube 27a is in communication with the interior of recess 18c1 of liquid receiving portion 18c. As shown in FIG. 3, the other end of liquid tube 27a is provided with tube connection port 27c for guiding water W in water tank 26 to liquid receiving portion 18c. Cap connection port 26b is provided in cap 26a of water tank 26. An upper portion of cap connection port 26b is configured to be able to connect tube connection port 27c. Tank tube 26c is attached to a lower portion of cap connection port 26b. A portion of tank tube 26c is located in water W.

[0031] 4, tube connection port 27c of liquid tube 27a is configured so that discharge portion 28a of dispenser 28 can be inserted therein in order to guide ethanol E in dispenser 28 to liquid receiving portion 18c. In other words, liquid tube 27a is configured so that either water tank 26 or dispenser 28 can be selectively attached thereto.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, tube connection port 27c is configured as a male luer lock connector, and cap connection port 26b and dispenser discharge portion 28a are configured as female luer lock connectors. By using connectors of the same standard for tube connection port 27c, cap connection port 26b, and discharge portion 28a and by making the female shapes of cap connection port 26b and discharge portion 28a the same, liquid tube 27a is configured to be able to selectively attach water tank 26 or dispenser 28. Note that the shapes of tube connection port 27c, cap connection port 26b, and discharge portion 28a may be reversed in terms of male and female. This has the advantage of being connectable to a general-purpose dispenser having a luer shape, such as a general syringe.

[0033] Tube pump 27b is an example of a liquid feed pump of the present disclosure. Tube pump 27b is electrically connected to control device 40. Under the control of control device 40, tube pump 27b rotates a rotor (not shown) that crushes a portion of liquid tube 27a, thereby supplying water W in water tank 26 or ethanol E in dispenser 28 to liquid receiving portion 18c. Tube pump 27b is configured to adjust the amount of water W supplied to liquid receiving portion 18c per unit time by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the rotor.

[0034] Dispenser 28 is an example of a sterilizing liquid storage unit of the present disclosure. Ethanol E stored in dispenser 28 is an example of a sterilizing liquid of the present disclosure. Dispenser 28 is sized to fit inside drawer 61 in place of water tank 26. Dispenser 28 includes syringe 28b having discharge port 28a and piston 28c that reciprocates inside syringe 28b. Syringe 28b is marked with a scale (not shown) indicating the amount of ethanol E in syringe 28b. By using dispenser 28 with the scale marked in this manner, a user can fill dispenser 28 with the minimum amount of ethanol E to be used. Furthermore, if too much ethanol E is used, the ethanol vapor concentration in culture chamber 20 may exceed the explosive concentration if all of the used ethanol E evaporates. Therefore, to prevent excessive use of ethanol E due to user error, it is desirable that dispenser 28 have a capacity of 10 ml or less. Furthermore, when supplying ethanol E from dispenser 28 to liquid receiving portion 18c, tube pump 27b retracts piston 28c while delivering ethanol E. In other words, if dispenser 28 has a large capacity and piston 28c is large, piston 28c may be difficult to retract, which may slow the delivery of ethanol E. Therefore, it is desirable that dispenser 28 have a capacity of 20 ml or less.

[0035] <Operation of the culture device> Next, the operation of the culture device 1 will be described.

[0036] <Cultivation operation> First, the culture operation for culturing a culture will be described as an operation of the culture device 1. Before starting the culture operation, the user places the humidifying tray D in the culture chamber 20 and places, for example, a petri dish containing the culture on a shelf. When the user inputs information to start the culture operation into the operation unit 50, the control device 40 controls the circulation fan 23, the gas supply devices 25a, 25b, and the heating unit 30 so that the inside of the housing 10 (culture chamber 20) has a gas concentration and temperature suitable for culturing the culture. When the bottom heater 32 generates heat, the water stored in the humidifying tray D evaporates, and the culture chamber 20 is humidified so that the humidity in the culture chamber 20 reaches a target value.

[0037] During the culture operation, the control device 40 selects either normal humidification control or rapid humidification control based on information input by the user to the operation unit 50, and humidifies the culture chamber 20 so that the humidity detected by the humidity sensor reaches a target value. Normal humidification control is a control that humidifies the culture chamber 20 by evaporating the water in the humidification tray D using heat generated by the bottom heater 32 without operating the steam supply device 18. Rapid humidification control is a control that evaporates the water in the humidification tray D using heat generated by the bottom heater 32 and humidifies the culture chamber 20 by operating the steam supply device 18, and can humidify the culture chamber 20 more quickly than normal humidification control.

[0038] In rapid humidification control, the control device 40 drives the heater 18e of the steam supply device 18 to heat the liquid receptacle 18c, and drives the tube pump 27b of the liquid supply device 27 to supply the water W in the water tank 26 to the liquid receptacle 18c. At this time, the control device 40 intermittently drives the tube pump 27b so as to drip the water W into the liquid receptacle 18c at predetermined intervals. Steam is generated from the liquid receptacle 18c into which the water W has been dripped, and the steam is introduced into the culture chamber 20, thereby humidifying the culture chamber 20.

[0039] When the user inputs information to the operation unit 50 indicating that the culture operation is to be terminated, the control unit 40 stops the circulation blower 23, the gas supply units 25a, 25b, and the heating unit 30, and stops the steam supply unit 18 if it is operating.

[0040] <Sterilization operation> Next, the sterilization operation of the culture apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, and 6C. The sterilization operation is performed to sterilize the liquid tube 27a, the liquid receiver 18c, and the steam supply pipe 18b, that is, to sterilize the flow paths of the steam and the water used for steam generation. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the sterilization operation. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of the cooling process in the sterilization operation. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the sterilization process in the sterilization operation. FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram of the replacement process in the sterilization operation.

[0041] When the user inputs information to the operation unit 50 indicating that a sterilization operation is to be started while the culture operation is not being performed, the control device 40 displays setup instructions on the operation unit 50. The setup instructions include, for example, an instruction to position the humidifying tray D below the steam supply pipe 18b and an instruction to check the water level in the water tank 26. Since water W and ethanol E are discharged into the humidifying tray D during the sterilization operation, it is preferable that the user empty the humidifying tray D based on the setup instructions. After performing the tasks based on the setup instructions, the user presses the setup complete button displayed on the operation unit 50. The setup instructions may also display an instruction to evacuate the culture (not shown) from the culture chamber 20. This prevents the user from forgetting to evacuate the culture and prevents the culture from unintentionally dying.

[0042] When the control device 40 detects operation of the setup complete button, it starts the cooling process (step S1), as shown in Fig. 5. In the cooling process, the control device 40 drives the tube pump 27b to supply water W from the water tank 26 to the liquid receptacle 18c. At this time, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b so as to continuously supply water W to the liquid receptacle 18c. In other words, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b so that the amount of water W supplied to the liquid receptacle 18c per unit time is greater than when rapid humidification control is performed. By controlling the amount of water in this way, the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c can be reduced quickly.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6A , the water W supplied to the liquid receptacle 18c accumulates in the recess 18c1 and is eventually discharged into the humidifying tray D via the steam supply pipe 18b. The control device 40 may display the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c on the operation unit 50 during the cooling process. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the cooling process, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b to terminate the supply of water W to the liquid receptacle 18c, thereby terminating the cooling process. The control device 40 may terminate the cooling process based on a user's operation of the operation unit 50, or may terminate the cooling process when it detects that the temperatures of the liquid receptacle 18c and the steam supply pipe 18b have fallen below a first predetermined temperature. The first predetermined temperature is preferably 100°C or below, at which the supplied water W no longer boils in the liquid receptacle 18c. This cooling process cools the liquid receptacle 18c and the steam supply pipe 18b, which have become hot during the incubation operation. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the steam supply device 18 is equipped with an evaporation unit temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c, and continues to supply water W to the liquid receptacle 18c until the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c drops to 60°C or below. In other words, the supply of water W to the liquid receptacle 18c is stopped after it is confirmed that the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c has dropped sufficiently. As a result, even if a situation occurs in which cooling is insufficient, such as a shortage of water W in the water tank 26, the process does not proceed to the next step, and the ethanol E is not exposed to high temperatures, allowing for a safe sterilization operation.

[0044] Next, the control device 40 causes the operation unit 50 to display a first liquid exchange instruction to exchange the water tank 26 for the dispenser 28. When exchanging the water tank 26 for the dispenser 28, the user pulls out the drawer 61, then removes the tube connection port 27c of the liquid tube 27a from the cap connection port 26b of the water tank 26, and removes the water tank 26 from the drawer 61. The user then inserts the discharge portion 28a of the dispenser 28, which is filled with a set amount of ethanol E, into the tube connection port 27c of the liquid tube 27a. When the user releases the dispenser 28, the dispenser 28 is no longer fixed in the drawer 61 and is suspended from the liquid tube 27a. The user pushes the drawer 61 to place it together with the dispenser 28 into the tank storage unit 60. After performing the operation based on the first liquid exchange instruction, the user presses the first liquid exchange completion button displayed on the operation unit 50.

[0045] When the control device 40 detects the operation of the first liquid exchange completion button, it starts the sterilization process (step S2) as shown in Fig. 5. In the sterilization process, the control device 40 drives the tube pump 27b to supply the ethanol E in the dispenser 28 to the liquid receptacle 18c. At this time, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b so as to continuously supply the ethanol E to the liquid receptacle 18c, similar to the cooling process.

[0046] 6B, the ethanol E supplied to the liquid receptacle 18c accumulates in the recess 18c1 and is eventually discharged into the humidifying tray D via the steam supply pipe 18b. When the ethanol E in the dispenser 28 is gone, the control device 40 stops the tube pump 27b and ends the sterilization process. Note that the control device 40 may end the sterilization process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the sterilization process, while ethanol E remains in the dispenser 28, or may end the sterilization process based on the user's operation of the operation unit 50. By this sterilization process, the liquid tube 27a, the liquid receptacle 18c, and the steam supply pipe 18b are sterilized with the ethanol E.

[0047] Next, the control device 40 causes the operation unit 50 to display a second liquid change instruction to change the dispenser 28 for the water tank 26. After pulling out the drawer 61, the user removes the discharge portion 28a of the dispenser 28 from the tube connection port 27c of the liquid tube 27a and stores the water tank 26 containing water W in the drawer 61. The user then inserts the tube connection port 27c of the liquid tube 27a into the cap connection port 26b of the water tank 26 and pushes the drawer 61 into the tank storage unit 60. After performing the work based on the second liquid change instruction, the user presses the second liquid change completion button displayed on the operation unit 50.

[0048] When the control device 40 detects the operation of the second liquid exchange completion button, it starts the replacement process (step S3) as shown in Fig. 5. In the replacement process, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b to continuously supply water W to the liquid receiver 18c, similar to the cooling process.

[0049] 6C, the water W supplied to the liquid receptacle 18c accumulates in the recess 18c1 and is eventually discharged into the humidifying tray D via the steam supply pipe 18b. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the replacement process, the control device 40 controls the tube pump 27b to stop the supply of water W to the liquid receptacle 18c, thereby ending the replacement process. Note that the control device 40 may end the replacement process based on the user's operation of the operation unit 50. Through this replacement process, the ethanol E adhering to the liquid tube 27a, the liquid receptacle 18c, and the steam supply pipe 18b is replaced with water W.

[0050] Next, the control device 40 starts the evaporation process (step S4), as shown in FIG. 5 . During the evaporation process, the control device 40 controls the heater 18e of the steam supply device 18 to heat the liquid receptacle 18c. The control device 40 stops the heater 18e and terminates the evaporation process after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the evaporation process, or when the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c reaches or exceeds a second predetermined temperature. The second predetermined temperature is preferably 100°C or higher, at which point the water W in the liquid receptacle 18c reliably evaporates. Through this evaporation process, the water W in the heated liquid receptacle 18c evaporates and is discharged into the incubation chamber 20 via the steam supply pipe 18b. Furthermore, the water W adhering to the steam supply pipe 18b also evaporates and is discharged into the incubation chamber 20. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the evaporation process is continued while maintaining the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c at 100°C or higher for at least one minute. In other words, the evaporation process is terminated after confirming that the water W in the liquid receptacle 18c has reliably evaporated. This prevents the water W, which may contain ethanol E remaining in the liquid receiver 18c, from evaporating when the culture operation is started, and thus prevents the culture from being affected.

[0051] Next, the control device 40 displays a screen indicating the end of the sterilization operation on the operation unit 50. The user discards the liquid (water W and ethanol E) in the humidifying tray D and returns it to the culture chamber 20.

[0052] As described above, the control device 40 performs a sterilization process using ethanol E after lowering the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c through a cooling process using water W. Therefore, even when a sterilization operation is performed immediately after a culture operation, sterilization of the flow paths of steam and water for steam generation can be safely performed by supplying ethanol E to the liquid receptacle 18c at a low temperature. Furthermore, because the temperature of the liquid receptacle 18c is forcibly lowered through the cooling process, sterilization can be performed in a shorter time than when the sterilization process is performed after leaving the liquid receptacle 18c to cool down. Therefore, sterilization of the flow paths of steam and water for steam generation can be performed appropriately.

[0053] Furthermore, after the sterilization process, the control device 40 performs a replacement process to replace the ethanol E adhering to the liquid tube 27a, the liquid receiver 18c, and the steam supply pipe 18b with water W. This prevents the culture operation from being performed with components of ethanol E remaining in the steam and water flow paths for steam generation, allowing the culture to be properly cultured. Furthermore, the culture operation can be started quickly without having to wait until the ethanol E naturally volatilizes.

[0054] Furthermore, after the substitution process, the control device 40 performs an evaporation process to evaporate the water W adhering to the liquid receptacle 18c and the steam supply pipe 18b. Therefore, the culture operation can be started without leaving the water W used in the sterilization operation in the liquid receptacle 18c and the steam supply pipe 18b. Furthermore, the culture operation can be started quickly without having to wait until the water W adhering to the liquid receptacle 18c and the steam supply pipe 18b has dried naturally.

[0055] [Modification of the embodiment] It goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The above embodiments and the modifications shown below can be combined in any way within the applicable range.

[0056] For example, evaporation treatment may not be performed, in which case it is preferable to wait until liquid receptacle 18c and vapor supply pipe 18b are naturally dried before starting the culture operation. Also, substitution treatment and evaporation treatment may not be performed, in which case it is preferable to wait until ethanol E adhering to liquid tube 27a, liquid receptacle 18c, and vapor supply pipe 18b is naturally evaporated before starting the culture operation.

[0057] The amount of water W supplied per unit time to the liquid receiver 18c during the replacement process may be the same as that during the rapid humidification control.

[0058] Although the tube pump 27b is exemplified as the liquid feed pump, any pump capable of feeding liquid, such as a diaphragm type, a piston type, or a plunger type, may be used. A configuration other than the dispenser 28, such as a tank having the same shape as the water tank 26, may be used as the sterilizing liquid storage unit, and a configuration other than the water tank 26, such as a dispenser, may be used as the water storage unit.

[0059] Although ethanol E is exemplified as the sterilizing liquid, a liquid having a sterilizing effect such as IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) may also be used.

[0060] The disclosures of the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-67630, filed on April 15, 2022, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0061] The present disclosure can be applied to a culture device and a method for sterilizing a culture device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 Culture device 10. Cabinet 11 Inner box 12 outer box 13 Outer door 14 Inner door 15. Insulation 16 Cover 16a Electrical box 17 Outside air temperature sensor 18 Steam supply device 18a Steam generation section 18b Steam supply pipe 18c Liquid receiving section 18c1 recess 18d lid 18e heater 20 Culture room 21 Aperture 22 Duct 22a Intake port 22b Air outlet 23 Circulation blower 24 Indoor temperature sensor 25a, 25b Gas supply device 26 Water Tank 26a Cap 26b Cap connection port 27 Liquid supply device 27a Liquid tube 27b Tube pump 27c Tube connection port 28 Dispenser 28a Discharge part 28b syringe 28c piston 30 Heating section 31 Top heater 32 Bottom heater 33 Rear heater 34 Exterior door heater 40 Control device 50 Control section 60 Tank storage area 61 Drawer D Humidifying dish Ethanol K gas passage M Machine room P packing W water

Claims

1. a housing having a culture chamber; a steam supply device having a liquid receiving portion for receiving water, a heater for heating the liquid receiving portion to generate steam, and a steam supply pipe for introducing steam into the culture chamber; a liquid supply device having a liquid pipe configured to be able to selectively attach a water storage section or a sterilizing liquid storage section, and a liquid feed pump, which supplies the water stored in the water storage section or the sterilizing liquid stored in the sterilizing liquid storage section to the liquid receiving section as the liquid feed pump is driven; a control device; The control device a cooling process in which the water in the water storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiver without heating the liquid receiver; and controlling the heater and the liquid feed pump so as to perform a sterilization process in which the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing liquid storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiving unit after the cooling process. Culture device.

2. The control device controlling the liquid feed pump so as to perform a replacement process in which the water in the water storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe via the liquid piping and the liquid receiving unit after the sterilization process; The culture device according to claim 1 .

3. The control device controlling the liquid transfer pump so that the amount of water supplied per unit time to the liquid receiving section during the replacement process is greater than the amount of water supplied per unit time during the humidification of the culture chamber with steam; The culture device according to claim 2 .

4. The control device controlling the heater so as to perform an evaporation process for heating the liquid receiving portion after the substitution process; The culture device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. a housing having a culture chamber; a steam supply device having a liquid receiving portion for receiving water, a heater for heating the liquid receiving portion to generate steam, and a steam supply pipe for introducing steam into the culture chamber; A method for sterilizing a culture device comprising: a liquid supply device having a liquid pipe configured to be able to selectively attach a water storage section or a sterilizing liquid storage section, and a liquid feed pump, the liquid supply device supplying water stored in the water storage section or the sterilizing liquid stored in the sterilizing liquid storage section to the liquid receiving section as the liquid feed pump is driven, The culture device is a cooling process for cooling the liquid receiving portion and the steam supply pipe by discharging the water in the water storage portion from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiving portion without heating the liquid receiving portion; After the cooling process, a sterilization process is performed in which the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing liquid storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe through the liquid piping and the liquid receiving unit, thereby sterilizing the liquid piping, the liquid receiving unit, and the steam supply pipe. Method for sterilizing culture equipment.

6. The culture device is After the sterilization treatment, the water in the water storage unit is discharged from the steam supply pipe via the liquid pipe and the liquid receiving unit, thereby performing a replacement treatment to replace the sterilizing liquid attached to the liquid pipe, the liquid receiving unit, and the steam supply pipe with water. The method for sterilizing a culture device according to claim 5.

7. The culture device is After the substitution process, an evaporation process is performed by heating the liquid receiving section to evaporate water adhering to the liquid receiving section and the steam supply pipe. The method for sterilizing a culture device according to claim 6.

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