Ready-to-use Nutrient Medium with Gellan Gum
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The preparation of traditional nutrient media for microbiological detection is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requires specialized equipment and expertise, leading to potential suboptimal quality and false results due to preparation errors or contamination.
Innovation Solution
A ready-to-use liquid nutrient medium composed of yeast extract, peptone, mono- and disaccharides, minerals, and a stable gelling agent like gellan, which is autoclaved or ultra-high temperature treated, maintaining stability and flowability, allowing for easy storage and use without the need for extensive preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional nutrient media are prepared by the user from dry components, then the medium can be customized, but the preparation process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The nutrient medium is pre-prepared and packaged by the manufacturer before delivery to the user. The medium is autoclaved and stabilized in advance, so the user only needs to open the package and use it directly without performing any preparation steps, thereby eliminating preparation time and effort
Solution Approach 2:
The nutrient medium is provided as a single-use, pre-packaged liquid medium in a sterile container. After use, the entire container is discarded, eliminating the need for cleaning, sterilization, or storage of preparation equipment, thus reducing both time and labor requirements
2Reliability
If the nutrient medium requires specialized equipment and expertise for preparation, then the quality can be controlled, but the complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
All quality control steps including pH adjustment, autoclaving, and sterilization are performed by the manufacturer before packaging. The medium is pre-tested for stability and sterility, ensuring reliable results without requiring the user to have specialized equipment or expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-packaged nutrient medium comes ready-to-use with all necessary quality assurances already built in. The user simply needs to open the package and use the medium, and any contamination or quality issues are already addressed through the manufacturer's controlled preparation process
3Stability of the object's composition
If the nutrient medium is pasteurized instead of autoclaved, then the gelling agent remains stable, but the shelf life is limited to a short period
Solution Approach 1:
The gelling agent concentration is optimized to a specific range (0.01-0.5% by weight) that allows the medium to withstand autoclaving at 121°C for 5 minutes while maintaining its gel-forming properties. This parameter optimization enables both sterilization and long-term storage stability
Solution Approach 2:
The nutrient medium is autoclaved by the manufacturer before packaging, performing the sterilization action in advance. This ensures the medium is both sterile and stable for long-term storage, as the autoclaving process is completed before the product reaches the user
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional gelling agents like caragen are used, then the medium can be prepared easily, but they do not survive autoclaving and lose gel-forming properties
Solution Approach 1:
The gelling agent is selected and concentrated within a specific range (0.01-0.5% by weight) that enables the medium to survive autoclaving while maintaining gel-forming properties. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between ease of preparation and stability after autoclaving
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite system combining specific nutrients (yeast extract, peptone, sugars, minerals) with a heat-stable gelling agent that can withstand autoclaving. This composite formulation ensures both ease of preparation and long-term stability after sterilization
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
The solution provides a stable, easy-to-use nutrient medium that can be stored for extended periods, ensuring accurate microbiological detection with minimal equipment requirements and reducing the risk of contamination, enabling efficient differentiation between contaminated and uncontaminated samples.
Implementation Method 1
the nutrient medium contains one or more stable gel formers, which are present in an amount that results in the nutrient medium having a flowable consistency. The gelling agent must be stable enough for the product to withstand autoclaving
Implementation Method 2
the gelling agent must be stable enough for the product to withstand autoclaving, i.e. heating to a temperature of 121 °C for a minimum holding time of 5 minutes
Implementation Method 3
the product can be stored for a period of more than six months when stored at room temperature when it has been autoclaved or, alternatively, ultra-high temperature treated
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a nutrient medium, containing 10 to 20 parts by weight of yeast extract, 15 to 30 parts by weight of peptone, 35 to 75 parts by weight of monosaccharides and disaccharides, up to 3 parts by weight of mineral substances, 0.02 to 1 parts by weight of gellan gum, and water.