Dehydrated Culture Medium with Isolating Layer for Microbial Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating microorganisms from contaminated samples on rehydratable culture media are inefficient, particularly for high initial microbial concentrations, as they require multiple dilutions, leading to time consumption and risk of losing target pathogens, and are not compatible with mechanical isolation or counting.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a bottom impermeable layer, a dehydrated nutrient layer, an isolating layer permeable to nutrients but retaining bacteria, and a protective top layer, allowing rehydration and simultaneous microbial isolation without the need for bonding between layers, enabling efficient growth and separation of microorganisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple dilutions are performed to reduce microbial population, then colony separation is improved, but time consumption increases and target pathogens may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The culture medium is prepared in a dehydrated state with an isolating layer already in place before inoculation. This preliminary preparation allows direct plating of undiluted samples, eliminating the need for time-consuming dilution steps while maintaining effective colony separation through the pre-positioned isolating layer
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple dilutions are performed, then colony confluence is reduced, but risk of losing target pathogens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The isolating layer is pre-positioned on the dehydrated culture medium before sample application. This allows direct plating of undiluted clinical samples, maintaining 100% pathogen retention while achieving colony separation through the isolating layer's physical barrier function
Solution Approach 2:
The isolating layer acts as an intermediary between the sample and culture medium, allowing nutrients to pass through while physically separating emerging colonies. This mediator enables direct plating without dilution, ensuring no target pathogens are lost during preparation
3Productivity
If mechanical isolation methods are used, then productivity is improved, but compatibility with traditional gelled media is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The isolating layer is made of porous material that allows nutrient diffusion while providing physical support for mechanical isolation operations. This porous structure enables compatibility with both traditional gelled media and modern dehydrated media, allowing automated mechanical isolation methods to function effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines dehydrated culture medium with an isolating layer to create a composite substrate that supports both mechanical isolation operations and microbial growth. This composite structure provides the versatility needed for both automated and manual isolation methods across different media types
4Manufacturing precision
If traditional spreading techniques are used on gelled media, then colony isolation is achieved, but reagent consumption and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dehydrated culture medium with isolating layer is prepared in advance in a compact format, eliminating the need for large volumes of liquid agar. This preliminary preparation reduces reagent consumption and waste while maintaining effective colony isolation through the isolating layer
Solution Approach 2:
The dehydrated culture medium with integrally attached isolating layer functions as a disposable unit that eliminates the need for separate isolating layers and extensive cleaning. This single-use approach reduces overall reagent consumption and waste management requirements
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 method allows for the isolation of microorganisms from heavily contaminated samples without prior dilution, reducing waste and reagent consumption, while ensuring accurate counting and maintaining microbial survival and growth, even on non-gelled media.
Implementation Method 1
an isolating layer permeable to the elements comprised in the nutrient layer, able to retain the bacteria on its surface
Implementation Method 2
at least one step of rehydration of the culture medium with a predetermined volume of liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Method for isolating microorganism from a sample likely contaminated by microorganism, including: (a) device for isolating microorganisms including a bottom waterproof layer, a nutritional layer, which is placed on the bottom layer and includes a dehydrated culture medium, an isolation layer which is pervious to elements included in the nutritional layer and is capable of retaining the bacteria on the surface and covering all or part of the nutritional layer, and a top protective layer; (b) depositing a volume of the sample on the isolation layer; (c) isolating the microorganisms by impoverishing or layering the sample using an isolating device; (d) incubating the device for an amount of time at a temperature to enable growth of microorganisms, method including at least one step of rehydrating the culture medium using a volume of liquid before or with step b) and/or c) and/or d), before or simultaneously with step b) and/or c).