Microbial Detection Device with Tilted Internal Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microbiological control devices for liquids face challenges in operational environments, such as industrial and spatial settings, due to the need for vacuum operation and inability to recycle liquids, leading to potential false negatives and increased manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with a tilted internal surface and fluid output port design that allows for efficient fluid passage and distribution, preventing stagnation and nutrient layer dilution, while maintaining microorganisms on the filter for accurate detection and incubation without the need for vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the liquid remains in the device after filtration, then the device structure is simple, but the liquid can leach the pad, dilute the nutritive environment and generate false negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid from the closed internal space after filtration by providing an output port that leads to the external environment. This allows the liquid to be removed from the device, preventing it from leaching the nutritional pad and diluting the nutritive environment, thereby eliminating false negatives while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the discarding principle by enabling the liquid to be discarded from the device after filtration through the output port. This prevents the harmful effect of liquid remaining in the device, which would otherwise dilute the nutritive environment and cause false negative results.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device is open to recover the filtration means, then the filtration means can be transferred to a cultivation device, but the technique is difficult to implement in operational environments and industrial settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filtration function and cultivation function into a single integrated device. The nutritional layer is positioned adjacent to the filtration means within the same closed internal space, allowing microorganisms filtered on the membrane to be directly incubated on the nutritional layer without transferring the filtration means to a separate cultivation device. This simplifies operation while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions within a single unit: it filters microorganisms from liquid through the filtration means and simultaneously provides a cultivation environment through the nutritional layer. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate filtration and cultivation devices, making the technique easy to implement in operational and industrial environments.
3Reliability
If the liquid is rapidly passed through the device, then false negatives are reduced, but the forces required for liquid passage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow direction from horizontal to vertical by orienting the input and output ports at opposite ends of the closed internal space. This vertical arrangement allows liquid to pass through the filtration means under gravity, reducing the forces required while still achieving rapid passage that prevents false negatives.
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 device ensures rapid and homogeneous distribution of microorganisms on the filter, reducing the risk of false negatives and simplifying operations, allowing for effective detection of contaminants like E. coli and Enteroccocus bacteria without the need for complex infrastructure or vacuum operation.
Implementation Method 1
said internal surface being tilted or curved and converged on the fluid input port... said surface being tilted and converging towards the fluid output port
Implementation Method 2
at least a filtration organ, arranged in the internal volume... a means of microbiological filtration, for example a filter membrane, is arranged in the closed internal space and separates... a first compartment of a second compartment
Implementation Method 3
at least a nutritional layer including a composition of a microbiological culture medium
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for determining the presence of a contamination of microorganisms in a fluid, said device (1) comprising a casing (2) comprising an inner volume, a cover (3) closing the casing, a fluid inlet port (11), at least one filtration member (4), at least one nutritive layer (5) comprising a composition of a microbiological growth medium, characterized in that the device comprises a fluid outlet port (12) and in that the cover (3) comprises an inner surface within the inner volume that extends radially around the fluid inlet port (11) up to a peripheral edge of the cover, the inner surface being inclined and converging toward the fluid inlet port (11) and in that the bottom of the casing (2) comprises a surface extending radially around the fluid outlet port (12) up to the lateral wall of the casing, the inner surface being inclined and converging toward the fluid outlet port (12).