Petri Dish Vibration Inoculation Reduces Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inoculating agar culture media in Petri dishes are prone to contamination due to prolonged opening, which can introduce external microorganisms and release sample microorganisms into the environment, and existing solutions either complicate the Petri dish design or increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A process involving depositing a liquid sample on the lid of a Petri dish and then vibrating it to spray the sample onto the agar culture medium, using a septum, through hole, or cavity to minimize contamination risks while maintaining the simplicity of the Petri dish design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manual or automated inoculation methods are used, then the inoculation process can be completed, but prolonged opening of the Petri dish leads to contamination risks from external microorganisms and release of sample microorganisms into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the Petri dish lid to atomize the liquid sample deposited on it, causing the sample to be sprayed onto the culture medium below. This vibration-based atomization enables inoculation without prolonged dish opening, thereby reducing contamination risks while maintaining procedural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the Petri dish lid as an intermediary carrier for the liquid sample. The sample is first deposited on the lid, which then acts as a platform for vibration-induced atomization and subsequent spraying onto the culture medium, enabling contamination-free inoculation
2Reliability
If existing solutions like spray nozzles or septums are integrated into the Petri dish lid, then contamination risks are reduced, but the Petri dish design becomes more complex and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the Petri dish lid's existing structural properties to serve the dual function of sample deposition and vibration transmission. The lid itself, without additional complex components, becomes the vehicle for both sample holding and mechanical vibration application, maintaining design simplicity while achieving contamination reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the liquid sample from bulk liquid to aerosol droplets through vibration-induced atomization. This parameter change in the sample's physical state enables effective inoculation without requiring complex spray mechanisms, preserving the simplicity of the Petri dish design
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 effectively reduces contamination risks and maintains the simplicity of the Petri dish, achieving a random distribution of microorganisms similar to traditional inoculation techniques without excessive complexity or cost, ensuring accurate microbial analysis.
Implementation Method 1
vibrating the Petri dish at a frequency between 800 and 4500 hertz (Hz) so as to spray the sample, initially placed on the cover, onto the agar culture medium
Data Source
Figure 1A~2A
Figure 2B~2D
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for inoculating at least one agar culture medium, contained in a Petri dish, with at least one sample likely to contain microorganisms, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one agar culture medium contained in a Petri dish; b) providing the sample likely to contain microorganisms in liquid form; c) performing at least one deposition of the liquid sample onto the lid of the Petri dish such that said liquid sample can be transferred from the lid to the agar culture medium; and d) spraying the liquid sample, initially deposited on the cover, onto the agar culture medium by vibrating the Petri dish.