Disposable Cartridge for Automated Microbiological Streaking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual inoculation and streaking of microbiological samples on solid growth culture media is laborious, prone to errors, and has seen limited success in automation in commercial laboratory environments.

Innovation Solution

A cartridge system for holding and dispensing streaking applicators to an automated streaking apparatus, featuring a case with a dispensing end and an elongate slot, an applicator support member for longitudinal movement, and a biasing member to urge applicators into the dispensing position, facilitating efficient and accurate inoculation and streaking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual inoculation and streaking is performed by skilled laboratory technicians, then the procedure can be completed with existing simple tools, but the work is laborious, tedious, prone to error and inaccuracies, and cannot be automated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of inoculation and streakingVSAvoidability to automate the process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a disposable cartridge system containing pre-loaded streaking applicators. Each cartridge is a single-use component that eliminates the need for manual cleaning and sterilization of reusable tools, thereby reducing human error while enabling automation. The cartridge is discarded after one use, ensuring consistent performance without requiring complex automated cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the inoculation and streaking process into separate functional components: a disposable cartridge holding multiple applicators, and a reusable automated streaking apparatus. This segmentation allows the complex automated apparatus to remain simple and reusable, while the disposable cartridge handles the variable consumable elements, making automation feasible and reliable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If automated streaking apparatus is developed, then productivity and accuracy can be improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughput of inoculation and streakingVSAvoidcomplexity of automated apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By making the cartridge disposable, the system eliminates the need for complex automated cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance mechanisms. The simplicity of the disposable cartridge allows the automated apparatus to remain relatively simple in structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high productivity through rapid cartridge replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge is pre-loaded with multiple sterile applicators before use. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for the automated apparatus to perform complex operations like loading, sterilizing, or preparing applicators during the streaking process, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If reusable streaking tools are used in automated apparatus, then the initial device complexity is reduced, but the tools require cleaning and sterilization between uses which complicates the overall system and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of streaking toolVSAvoidthroughput due to cleaning and sterilization requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces reusable streaking tools with disposable cartridges containing multiple pre-sterilized applicators. This eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization cycles between uses, thereby increasing productivity without significantly increasing device complexity. The cartridge itself is simple in design but eliminates the need for complex post-use processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of recovering and re-sterilizing streaking tools, the system discards the entire cartridge after use and replaces it with a fresh one. This approach simplifies the overall system by eliminating recovery and sterilization infrastructure, thereby increasing productivity while keeping device complexity low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS9939357B2System for the connection of a loaded cartridge to a cartridge holder

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 AUTOBIO DIAGNOSTICS CO LTD

AI summary

A cartridge for holding and dispensing streaking applicators for an automated streaking apparatus having a cartridge holder, the cartridge including:a case with a dispensing end, a longitudinal axis and an elongate slot generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the dispensing end including an applicator dispensing position where one applicator can be at least partially accessible from outside the case; andan applicator support member constrained within the case for longitudinal movement therein and being able to carry a stack of applicators;the elongate slot being capable of operatively receiving a biasing member when the cartridge is in the cartridge holder to urge the support member towards the dispensing end and an applicator into the dispensing position.