[0001] The disclosure of the present patent application relates to microbial culturing, and particularly to an apparatus for inoculating agar plates with microorganisms. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a novel method and an apparatus for spreading microbial cultures on a petri dish. The procedure has utility in evenly spreading the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] The isolation of individual colonies of micro-organisms (and in particular bacteria) is an important procedure in many microbiological laboratories. Traditionally, this isolation of bacteria has been performed manually by skilled laboratory technicians who first dispense a microbiological sample onto the surface of a solid growth culture medium, such as agar in a Petri dish (which will hereafter simply be referred to as a “medium” in an “agar plate” or simply in a “plate”), followed by the use of a hand-tool to spread the sample across the surface of the medium (called “streaking”).

[0003] The hand-tool typically includes a terminal loop to make multiple streaks of increasing dilution of the inoculum across the medium. The streaks of increasing dilution tend to provide, generally towards the tail of the streaks, a number of single cells that allow for the growth of isolated microbiological colonies after incubation. These isolated colonies may then be analysed for colony morphology, and may undergo staining and other procedures which are necessary for determining, for example, the genus, the species and the strain of the previously unidentified organism.

[0004] Such inoculation and streaking is highly repetitious and in many pathology diagnostic microbiology laboratories is usually conducted in very high volumes, such as in volumes as high as 1,000 to 15,000 plates per day. It is tedious and laborious work that therefore is prone to error and inaccuracies. It is quite obviously work that would lend itself to either partial or full automation.

[0005] The literature is replete with suggestions for how best to automate these laboratory functions, yet very few of these suggestions have ever actually found success in a commercial laboratory environment. It therefore appears that the successful enablement of suitable laboratory apparatus has to date, for most, proved elusive.

[0006] A spreader is a commonly used tool in microbiology to manually spread microbial cultures on a petri dish. Microbial culture spreaders are available in many shapes and can be made of glass, plastic, metal, or any inert material, allowing samples to be evenly distributed on petri dishes. To evenly distribute the microbial cultures spreader is expected to swirl around the petri plates to spread the culture in a regulated motion gently without damaging the soft growth media on the petri dish. Since the process involves manual handling, the microbial cultures are often not evenly distributed, or growth media is damaged due to uneven pressure applied.

[0007] Method of use of spreader can significantly affect the counting of microbes by the plating, which leads to variable results. Significant reduction in microbial cell count has been reported during spread plating due to the physical impact of the spreader on the solid microbial media, andthis causes injury to microbial cells. Even bacterial spores have been reported vulnerable to injury during spread-plating due to physical impaction.

[0008] Have the spreading technique that some patented technologies disclose at present.

[0009] EPA0242114A2 describes a method and apparatus for streaking a microbial culture over a culture medium surface. Series of dilutions were used as were previously used as per manual practice but with consistency, safety, and accuracy, which is not manually achieved. Support of the petri dish was oscillated and the sequentially spreading head was also moved during such oscillation to provide automatic streaking.

[0010] GB2391017A discloses a spreader that consists of an elongated member forming a handle having at one end thereof a relatively shorter member forming a head wherein at least part of the head crosses the longitudinal axis of the handle.

[0011] US 2010/0330654 A1 describes a method and apparatus to spread microbial samples. A magnetic field gradient was applied to allow for magnetically controlled motion. The sample was streaked onto the microbial growth media containing petri dish to isolate micro-organisms. As the movement is not mechanically restrained in any manner thus it without the risk of damaging the surface of the microbial plant growth medium in petri dish.

[0012] EP1720971B1 relates to a liquid sample streaker, and more particularly to a streaking brush for streaking samples on the surface of a solid growth medium for obtaining single microbial colonies, for example, from clinical specimens taken for medical diagnostic purposes, and to a method of streaking a liquid sample using the brush, and an apparatus for automated streaking of samples to obtain single colonies.

[0013] CN1918280B discloses a streaker device for streaking a microbial inoculum for single colonies on the surface of a solid growth medium. The streaking device has a row of spaced apart contact surfaces for contact with the surface of the solid growth medium. The spaced apart contact surfaces are resiliently flexibly supported by a common support member so as to accommodate variations in depth of growth medium. The spaced apart contact surfaces may be provided on lowermost part of axially curved portions of plastics straps that are angled backwardly. It is found that formation of a single band can give separation into single colonies. Also provided is an automatic streaking apparatus.

[0014] US Patent 10,857,534 describes a spreader with a handle and tool portions. The spreader can move and spread microbial samples more efficiently.

[0015] Further, Method of use of spreader can significantly affect the counting of microbes by the plating, which leads to variable results. The non-recovery and varying proportions of viable bacteria during spread-plating is governed by the extent of spreader usage and proposal for an alternate spotting-spreading approach to maximize the CFU.

[0016] Thus, the task of the present invention is to provide a a novel method and an apparatus for spreading microbial cultures on a petri dish. The procedure has utility in evenly spreading the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0001] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that is further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

[0002] The present invention relates in a general way to a novel method and an apparatus for spreading microbial cultures on a petri dish. The procedure has utility in evenly spreading the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner.

[0003] The invention is an apparatus for streaking microbial culture for single colonies on the surface of a solid growth medium for uniformly distributing the microbial inoculum without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner comprising plurality of rods (2, 3, 4), wherein said rod 1 is connected with handle and said rod 2, said rod 3 which is connected by rod 2 through said joint (9) for uniformly distributing the microbial inoculums and said rod 2, which is a telescopic rod used to adjust the vertical height of said rod 3, characterized in that; handle (1) for gripping by the hand of the user during the use of the tool, wherein said handle is movable manually, a bearing (5) for keeping the movement of the rod 1 stabilized and uniform, wherein said bearing ensures the movement of rod 3 to evenly spreads the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes, without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner, a tri-leg support (7) for providing further stability to the movement of the rod 3, a locking device (10) with fastening screw stopper for adjusting the vertical height with fastening screw (portion 10),

[0004] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:
[0001] The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available techniques and processes.

[0002] Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus for streaking microbial culture for single colonies on the surface of a solid growth medium for uniformly distributing the microbial inoculum without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner.

[0003] Another object of the present invention is to develop a novel method and an apparatus for spreading microbial cultures on petri dishes.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to develop an apparatus of spreading microbial cultures that may be useful for manipulating a microbial sample in a laboratory or other controlled environment, including the interior of Petri dish containing soft microbial growth media.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to develop a rapid and minimal manipulation of the Petri dish and spreader tool increases the speed of spreading samples without damaging the surface of the microbial growth media.

[0006] How the foregoing objects are achieved will be clear from the following brief description. In this context, it is clarified that the description provided is non-limiting and is only by way of explanation. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the foregoing description proceeds, taken together with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic isometric view of a novel apparatus for evenly spreading the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes, without damaging the agar surface, in a reproducible manner, according to the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view of one embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an illustrative embodiment;

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0001] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0002] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

[0003] Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0004] The terms "comprise", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

[0005] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[0006] The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.

[0007] The terms “having”, “comprising”, “including”, and variations thereof signify the presence of a component.

[0008] In this invention, the apparatus comprises multiple rigid links, which are referred to as rod 1, rod 2, and rod 3, portion 2, portion 3, and portion 4, respectively. Joints connect all these rigid links, and there is no relative motion between them. After connecting all these rigid links with each other, it will become one system that consists of rod 1 portion 2, rod 2 portions 3 and rod 3 portions 4. The rotational motion to this system is provided with the help of a handle portion 1. For the better stability of the whole system, a tri-leg support portion 7 along with bearing portion 5, which is used to keep our system stable. Bearing portion 5 is used to support the rotating system as the axle and holds it at the correct position concerning tri-leg support. It will also provide smooth movement even with significantly less effort. In addition, to increase the stability, silicon rubber portion 11 is provided to support as a cushion below the legs of the tri-leg support and it will minimize the overall system’s vibration. To adjust the vertical height of rod 2 portion 3 as per requirement, a locking device with a fastening screw stopper portion 10.

Table 1 List of parts of apparatus:

[0001] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a novel method and an apparatus for spreading microbial cultures on petri dishes have been described, embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described.

[0002] In various aspects, the disclosure relates to embodiments of an apparatus of spreading microbial cultures that may be useful for manipulating a microbial sample in a laboratory or other controlled environment, including the interior of Petri dish containing soft microbial growth media.

[0003] The apparatus for spreading microbial cultures, as depicted in FIG. 1 may include a handle portion 1 for gripping by the hand of the user during the use of the tool and which may be moved manually by the extension rod 1 portion 2. Extension rod 2 moves rod 3 portion 4. There is a joint between rod 1 and 2 and between 2 and 3 portion 8 and portion 9, respectively. Rod 2 portion 3 may be used to adjust the vertical height. The smooth movement of the rods 1-3 is due to bearing portion 5. This ensures smooth movement of the spreader on petri dish portion 6on stable tri-leg support portion 7.

[0004] The rotational motion depicted in FIG. 2 may be by hand or other manipulation methods in a clockwise or anti-clockwise manner. The joint between rod 1 and 2 are adjustable. After rod 3 touches the microbial growth media has a locking mechanism portion 10 to adjust the vertical height by a fastening screw stopper as per our requirement.

[0005] The sample manipulation tool 1 may be at least partially integrally formed with the handle portion, although some tools may have separable elements from the handle portion. The tool portion may be elongated with rod 1, which may be connected to the joint portion 8 between rod 1 tool portion 2 and 2tool portion 3.

[0006] In still other embodiments, although not necessarily, the handle tool 1 portion 1 is used to manipulate a sample, which may not be limited to manual manipulation by rotational motion in a clockwise manner as per FIG. 2, but it may also be anti-clockwise.

[0007] In some embodiments, typically, although not necessarily, the handle tool 1 portion 1 is used to manipulate a sample, attached to a mechanical device for causing rapid rotational motion, for even distribution of microbial or other cell cultures in a Petri dish without causing damage to the dish containing soft microbial growth media.

[0008] In other embodiments, rapid and minimal manipulation of the Petri dish and spreader tool increases the speed of spreading samples without damaging the surface of the microbial growth media.

[0009] In another aspect, optionally, tool portion 4 of rod 3 of the sample spreading tool may have some other shape like rectangular, increasing the area of contact between rod 3 portion 4 and microbial or other cell cultures.

[0010] In the foregoing description and appended claims, the speed and efficiency of the distribution of microbial or other cell cultures in a Petri dish without causing damage to the dish containing soft microbial growth media are also significantly increased.

[0011] Each of the tools described may be formed out of a suitable material that may be sterilized before and after use, and the tool may be disposed of after a single-use.
[0012] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps disclosed in the text and/or the drawing figures may be altered in a variety of ways that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the disclosed embodiments and implementations, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

[0013] Therefore, the foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. In various aspects, the disclosure relates to embodiments of a sample microbial culture spreader, which may be useful for manipulating a sample in a laboratory or other controlled environment and has utility in evenly spreading the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes, without damaging the agar surface, in a reproducible manner, as well as other useful actions.

[0014] Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention described under with examples illustrates some preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention. It is not desired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may resort to that fall within the scope of the claims. However, the particularity of the following description of the invention is not limited to the description; scope and spirit will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0015] While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I/ WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus for streaking microbial culture for single colonies on the surface of a solid growth medium for uniformly distributing the microbial inoculum without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner comprising plurality of rods (2, 3, 4), wherein said rod 1 is connected with handle and said rod 2, said rod 3 which is connected by rod 2 through said joint (9) for uniformly distributing the microbial inoculums and said rod 2, which is a telescopic rod used to adjust the vertical height of said rod 3, characterized in that;
- Handle (1) for gripping by the hand of the user during the use of the tool, wherein said handle is movable manually,
- a bearing (5) for keeping the movement of the rod 1 stabilized and uniform, wherein said bearing ensures the movement of rod 3 to evenly spreads the microbial culture on a soft microbiological growth containing petri dishes, without damaging the agar surface in a reproducible manner,
- A tri-leg support (7) for providing further stability to the movement of the rod 3,
- A locking device (10) with fastening screw stopper for adjusting the vertical height with fastening screw,
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said rod 3 is a sample spreading tool.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said rod 3 may have shape like rectangular for increasing the area of contact between rod 3 and microbial or other cell cultures.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the said rod 3 manipulates a sample manually by rotational motion in a clockwise or anti-clockwise manner.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the bottom of tri-leg support is fitted silicon rubber (11) for increasing their stability with negligible vibrations.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the speed and efficiency of the distribution of microbial or other cell cultures in a Petri dish without causing damage to the dish containing soft microbial growth media are significantly increased.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the sample spreading tool is made up of suitable material that may be sterilized before and after use, and the tool may be disposed of after a single-use.