Deep-Sea Single Colony Separation Under Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating and culturing marine microorganisms in deep-sea environments are inefficient, particularly for barophilic bacteria, as they require normal pressure conditions that are not representative of their natural habitat, leading to low successful culture rates and limited understanding of these microorganisms.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that includes a central control system, separation operation incubator, environmental parameter detection unit, pressure control unit, temperature control unit, liquid injection unit, and sampling unit, allowing for the separation and culture of single colonies under pressure-holding conditions that mimic the deep-sea environment, ensuring consistent pressure and temperature for optimal microbial growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If marine microorganisms are separated under normal pressure after pressure release, then separation operation is simple, but barophilic bacteria cannot be separated and successful culture rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining pressure as a critical parameter throughout the separation and culture process. The pressure-controlled slide rail system allows the sampling probe to operate at deep-sea pressure conditions, preventing barophilic bacteria from dying due to pressure release. This parameter maintenance resolves the contradiction by prioritizing successful culture rate while keeping the operation automated and controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical separation operations with an automated robotic system featuring a sampling probe that moves along a slide rail under pressure. This mechanical substitution enables precise control of the separation process while maintaining pressure conditions, thereby improving successful culture rate without significantly increasing operational complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If enrichment culture is performed for a long term to obtain special target bacteria, then target bacteria with high abundance are obtained, but time consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing separation under pressure conditions that preserve barophilic bacteria viability from the outset. Instead of requiring long-term enrichment culture to accumulate sufficient target bacteria, the system separates viable barophilic bacteria directly in their native pressure environment, then transfers them to culture media. This preliminary preservation of viability dramatically reduces the time required to obtain sufficient abundance of target bacteria.
3Adaptability or versatility
If deep-sea motor assembly is rotated to open end cover for enrichment culture, then microorganisms can be enriched in completely open state, but separation and culture of single colony is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the culture cabin into distinct functional zones: an enrichment culture area where the end cover can be opened for bulk enrichment, and a separation operation area with a pressure-controlled slide rail for precise single-colony separation. The sampling probe can move between these zones, allowing the system to perform both enrichment culture and single-colony separation without compromising either function.
4Reliability
If pressure-holding conditions are maintained for single colony separation, then barophilic bacteria can be separated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the pressure-controlled slide rail and sampling probe system to serve multiple functions: it enables single-colony separation, maintains pressure during operation, and facilitates transfer of separated colonies to culture media. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby managing device complexity while achieving reliable barophilic bacteria separation.
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
This approach effectively improves the cultivability of marine microorganisms, enabling the successful selection and culture of target bacteria under in-situ high pressure conditions, meeting the requirements for subsequent culture and functional identification.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure control unit is connected to the separation operation incubator to ensure that the pressure in the separation operation incubator is consistent with a growth and culture environment of microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
The temperature control unit is connected to the separation operation incubator to ensure that the temperature in the separation operation incubator is consistent with a growth and culture environment of microorganisms
Implementation Method 3
The sampling unit is used for carrying out pressure-holding sampling on microorganisms
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a device for separating a single colony in a deep-sea in-situ environment. The device includes a separation operation incubator, a liquid injection unit, a sampling unit, and a sampling probe device. The present invention further provides a method for separating a single colony in a deep-sea in-situ environment. The method includes: under the condition of maintaining the pressure and temperature in the separation operation incubator consistent with those of a culture environment of deep-sea microorganisms, injecting a microbial bacterial liquid into the separation operation incubator through the liquid injection unit; carrying out dipping and streaking operations by the sampling probe device; then, carrying out separation and culture; and at last, selecting a single colony by the sampling unit to realize separation of a single colony.