Magnetic Specimen Table Isolation in Sterilizable Incubation Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional constant-temperature devices with automatic conveyance mechanisms face challenges in performing hydrogen peroxide sterilization due to corrosion issues with metal structures and the presence of lubricants, which can harbor bacteria, leading to contamination during subsequent cultures.
Innovation Solution
A constant-temperature device design featuring a thermostatic chamber with a closed space and a rotating magnetic field generation system, utilizing a bearing with a rotating shaft at the rotation center and ring-shaped seal packings to isolate the bearing from the corrosive hydrogen peroxide atmosphere, allowing for the use of corrosion-resistant materials and preventing bacterial growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional metal structures and lubricants are used in the thermostatic chamber, then the automatic conveyance mechanism can operate smoothly, but the structures corrode during hydrogen peroxide sterilization and lubricants harbor bacteria causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearing from the hydrogen peroxide atmosphere by providing a through-hole in the chamber wall and installing the bearing in the through-hole, so that the bearing is located outside the thermostatic chamber while still supporting the rotating shaft that extends into the chamber. This extraction eliminates the corrosion and bacterial contamination problems associated with conventional metal structures and lubricants exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating shaft serves as an intermediary element that extends from outside the thermostatic chamber through the wall into the chamber interior. The shaft transmits rotational motion from the bearing (located outside the chamber) to the specimen table (inside the chamber), allowing the mechanism to operate smoothly without exposing metal structures or lubricants to the corrosive hydrogen peroxide environment.
2Reliability
If dry heat sterilization is used to maintain sterility, then bacteria are killed effectively, but the sterilization process takes several hours causing extended downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the chamber to be sterilized quickly with hydrogen peroxide vapor without requiring removal of the specimen table or disruption of the culturing operation. The magnetic conveyance mechanism and bearing design allow the chamber to maintain its sealed environment during sterilization, enabling rapid in-place sterilization that does not interfere with the self-service nature of continuous culturing operations.
3Device complexity
If motors or electronic members are placed inside the thermostatic chamber, then the automatic conveyance mechanism can be simplified, but these components are damaged by high temperature and high humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional motor-driven mechanical transmission system with a magnetic field-based conveyance mechanism. Electromagnetic actuators are positioned outside the thermostatic chamber, and they generate magnetic fields that interact with magnetic members attached to the specimen table. This substitution eliminates motors and electronic members from the high-temperature, high-humidity environment inside the chamber while maintaining automatic conveyance functionality.
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 design enables stable operation and efficient sterilization with hydrogen peroxide, reducing downtime and maintaining a sterile environment, thereby enhancing culture results and production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating magnetic field generation means for rotating a rotating shaft in a vertical axis direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of driven magnets placed on the specimen table are magnetically coupled with a plurality of driving magnets located on positions corresponding to the driven magnets outside the thermostatic chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a constant-temperature device which comprises conveyance mechanism and which can operate stably over a long period of time even when installed in an atmosphere of a sterilization gas having strong oxidative properties, such as hydrogen peroxide gas, or a high temperature environment during dry-heat sterilization operations. A drive unit for a rotatably operated specimen table (10) on which a specimen is placed, in an incubation chamber, is arranged outside of the incubation chamber, and the drive-force from the drive unit is transmitted by means of magnetic coupling. Furthermore, ring-shaped seal packing (22), in which a lip (24) is formed, is arranged above and below a base plate (13) provided to the specimen plate (10), and a seal plate (23) is arranged along the entire perimeter of the base plate (13) at the portion which makes contact with the lip (24), thus a bearing (17) and/or a drive portion are isolated from high-temperature atmospheres and in-chamber atmospheres having strong oxidative properties, preventing damage due to high temperatures or sterilization gas.