Cooled Probe Sampling Biological Matter from Culture Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sampling biological matter from culture media, such as agar in Petri dishes, are inefficient and prone to contamination, and fail to handle diverse microorganism forms and consistencies, leading to suboptimal analysis results due to incomplete or heterogeneous sample deposition.
Innovation Solution
A method using a probe with a cooled, sterilizable terminal end that forms a layer of ice to adhere and separate biological samples, allowing for precise sampling and deposition without direct contact, and a device with Peltier elements for temperature control and reusable terminal ends for efficient sampling and deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-use tools such as oeses, sticks, tubes or cones are used for sampling, then the sampling process is simple and fast, but they cannot certainly and efficiently sample all types of microorganisms due to varying forms, sizes, consistencies, structures or appearances
Solution Approach 1:
The probe terminal end temperature is changed to cryogenic levels to freeze the biological matter, enabling efficient adhesion of diverse microorganisms regardless of their form, size, consistency, structure or appearance. This parameter change allows the same probe to effectively sample all types of microorganisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable probe with cryogenic terminal end serves as a universal sampling tool that can handle all types of microorganisms (bacteria, moulds, yeasts) with varying characteristics, replacing the need for multiple specialized single-use tools while maintaining sampling efficiency.
2Reliability
If single-use consumables are used for sampling, then contamination risk is reduced, but the cost of use increases and productivity decreases due to frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system of repeatedly replacing single-use consumables is replaced by a thermal field-based system using cryogenic temperatures to achieve adhesion and sampling, enabling the reusable probe to maintain reliability while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the probe after single use, the probe is recovered and reused by simply replacing or sterilizing the terminal end, thereby maintaining contamination prevention while significantly improving productivity and reducing costs.
3Productivity
If pressure is applied to sample biological matter, then sampling efficiency improves, but the culture medium under the colony may be sampled which vitiates analysis results
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature parameter is changed to cryogenic levels, creating strong adhesion forces that enable efficient sampling with minimal pressure, thereby preventing the culture medium from being sampled while maintaining high sampling efficiency.
4Productivity
If reusable probes are used instead of single-use tools, then cost is reduced and productivity improves, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is designed to be reused by discarding or sterilizing only the terminal end portion that contacts the sample, while recovering and retaining the main probe body, thus maintaining sterility while improving productivity and reducing costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient sampling of various microorganisms regardless of form or consistency, reduces contamination risk, and improves analysis quality by ensuring homogeneous sample deposition, increasing productivity and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
cooling means for frosting the terminal end
Implementation Method 2
device with Peltier elements for temperature control
Data Source
AI summary
The aim of the present invention is a method of sampling all or part of a sample (11) of biological matter (7), which is crude, enriched or cultured through contact with a culture medium (8), such as agar, for example in a Petri dish, using a probe (3) equipped with a terminal end (4), said sampling method comprising the steps of cooling the terminal end (4) of the probe (3), sticking all or part of the sample (11) of biological matter (7) to be sampled through contact, or by applying a pressure exerted by the terminal end (4) onto the sample (11) of biological matter (7), and sampling of all or part of the sample (11) of biological matter (7) so as to separate the sample (11) of biological matter (7) from the culture medium (8), a method of depositing into a container (9) or onto an analysis plate (14) all or part of a sample (11) of biological matter (7) stuck onto a frosted terminal end (4) of a probe, said depositing method including a step of separating the terminal end (4) of the probe (3) from all or part of the sample (11) of biological matter (7), as well as a device (2), a kit and an apparatus (1) implementing these methods.