Elastic Gas Supply Clamp for Shaker Flask Incubation
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas supply systems for shaker flasks in incubators are susceptible to changes in the incubator's gas atmosphere and humidity, which can affect the culture conditions, especially when the incubator is opened, leading to unintended changes in oxygen concentration and humidity levels.
Innovation Solution
A detachable gas supply clamp with elastic clamping jaws and a recessed web design that allows independent gas supply to each shaker flask, connected to a gas mixing station with adjustable humidity through a wash bottle, ensuring a controlled gas atmosphere and humidity level within the flask, regardless of the incubator's conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If gas supply is shared through the incubator atmosphere, then device complexity is reduced, but gas composition control and humidity stability deteriorate when the incubator is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply system is segmented into individual independent units for each shaker flask. Each flask receives gas through its own dedicated clamp with separate inlet and outlet connections, allowing independent control of gas composition and humidity for each flask without affecting others when the incubator is opened.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas wash bottle is introduced as an intermediary component between the gas source and each shaker flask. The wash bottle humidifies the gas before it enters the flask, providing precise humidity control independent of the incubator atmosphere. The clamp structure acts as an intermediary that seals around the flask neck to create an isolated gas environment.
2Ease of operation
If the incubator atmosphere is used for gas supply, then ease of operation is improved, but humidity control and gas composition stability worsen during incubator opening
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply is segmented into individual controllable units at each flask level. Each clamp can be independently connected to gas lines and controlled separately, allowing precise maintenance of gas composition and humidity for each flask even when the incubator is opened for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables independent adjustment of gas composition parameters (oxygen, carbon dioxide concentrations) and humidity levels for each shaker flask through individual clamps and wash bottles, allowing parameter optimization without being constrained by the overall incubator atmosphere.
3Reliability
If individual gas supply clamps are used for each shaker flask, then gas composition control and humidity stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each gas supply clamp is designed with localized elastic clamping jaws that adapt to the specific dimensions of the shaker flask neck. The clamping force and sealing surface are optimized locally at each connection point, providing reliable sealing and gas-tight connections without requiring complex standardized fittings for all flasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp incorporates elastic clamping jaws that can dynamically adapt to slight variations in flask neck dimensions. The elastic material allows the clamp to maintain consistent sealing pressure while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, reducing the need for precision machining and complex adjustment mechanisms.
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 solution maintains consistent culture conditions by allowing independent gas supply to each shaker flask, preventing external influences on gas composition and humidity, which is particularly beneficial for cultures requiring specific low oxygen environments, and extends the life of the incubator by reducing humidity levels.
Implementation Method 1
a gas supply clamp which is connected detachably to the closure cap and has at least two elastic clamping jaws and a web connecting the clamping jaws to one another, with the clamping jaws exerting a clamping force on the side wall of the closure cap
Implementation Method 2
The gas or gas mixture introduced from the gas mixing station is forced by means of an immersed tube to bubble through a liquid in the gas wash bottle before it leaves the vessel again and is introduced via the inlet into the recess in the gas supply clamp
Data Source
AI summary
A gas supply device for operation in an incubator allowing treatment of a culture within a shaker flask with gas independently of the composition and humidity of the gas atmosphere within the incubator individually supplies each shaker flask of the incubator with gas using a gas supply clamp detachably connected to the closure cap of each flask. The gas supply clamp has at least two elastic clamping jaws and a web connecting the clamping jaws to one another. The clamping jaws exert a clamping force on the side wall of the closure cap. The clamp is held in place by the elastic clamping jaws. Above a sterile filter in the closure cap, an individual gas atmosphere for treatment of the culture in the shaker flask is produced in a recess of the web above a gas passage in the closure cap.