Blood culture apparatus

Claim 2

A heated test tube holding apparatus for maintaining the tubes at a substantially constant temperature while tubes and contents are in transit between bedside and hospital laboratory comprising in combination: an insulated container; a second container within said insulated container; a test tube receiving body within said second container having spaced test tube holding cells; a quantity of fusible material selected from the normal saturated hydrocarbon series that are higher homologs of methane and having a melting point at the desired temperature of operation, and the said material within said second container and in contact with a major portion of the length of the said tube holding cells; a resistance wire heating element wound upon the outer surface of said second container adapted, when connected to a power source, to supply heat for melting the said fusible material; an indicator lamp in parallel with the heating element adapted to indicate the energized condiTion of the heating element; and a thermostatic current interrupting switch in good heat conductive relationship with the said fusible material adapted to shut off power to the heating element as soon as the temperature of the fusible material exceeds its melting point, whereby, upon disconnection from the power source, heat stored as latent heat of fusion within the fusible material may be used to maintain the temperature of the test tubes and contents at the melting temperature of the fusible material for an extended period during transport as it changes from the liquid to the solid state.

Claim 3

The article of claim 1 wherein the fusible material comprises a mixture of the higher homologs of methane selected and compounded to have a melting point intermediate of those available in the single pure substances.

Claim 4

A heated test tube holding apparatus for maintaining the tubes and contents at substantially constant temperature for extended periods of time comprising in combination: an insulated container; a second container within said insulated container; a test tube receiving body within said second container having spaced test tube holding cells; a quantity of fusible material selected from the normal saturated hydrocarbon series that are higher homologs of methane and having a melting point at the desired temperature of operation, and the said material within the said second container and in contact with a major portion of the length of the said tube holding cells; a resistance wire heating element wound upon the outer surface of said second container adapted, when connected to a power source, to supply heat for melting the said fusible material; an indicator lamp in parallel with the heating element adapted to indicate the energized condition of the heating element; and a thermostatic current interrupting switch within said second container and immersed in the said fusible material adapted to shut off power as soon as the fusible material reaches its melting temperature; together with cyclical time controlled switching means initiated by the said thermostatic device adapted to first supply energy to the heating element for a period sufficient to permit storage of the major portion of the latent heat of fusion of the fusible material, and second, to interrupt the supply of energy for a further period sufficient to permit the fusible material to supply heat losses of the apparatus from a major portion of the latent heat thus stored, and further adapted to repeat these two operations in a continuous cyclical manner whereby the treatment chamber will remain at substantially constant temperature for any desired period.

Claim 5

A heated test tube holding apparatus for maintaining the tubes and contents at substantially constant temperature for extended periods of time comprising in combination: an insulated container; a second container within said insulated container; a test tube receiving body within said second container having spaced test tube holding cells; a quantity of fusible material selected from the normal saturated hydrocarbon series that are higher homologs of methane and having a melting point at the desired temperature of operation, and the said material within the said second container and in contact with a major portion of the length of the said tube holding cells; a resistance wire heating element wound upon the outer surface of said second container adapted, when connected to a power source, to supply heat for melting the said fusible material; an indicator lamp in parallel with the heating element adapted to indicate the energized condition of the heating element; and a thermostatic current interrupting switch within said second container and immersed in the said fusible material adapted to shut off power as soon as the fusible material reaches its melting temperature; together with cyclical time controlled switching means initiated by the said thermostatic device adapted to first supply energy to the heating element for a period sufficient to permit storage of the major portion of the latent heat of fusion of the fusible material, and second, to interrupt the supply of energy for a further period sufficient to permit the fusible material to supply heat losses of the apparatus from a major portion of the latent heat thus stored, and further adapted to repeat these two operations in a continuous cyclical manner whereby the treatment chamber will remain at substantially constant temperature for any desired period.

Claim 6

The article of claim 3 wherein the fusible material comprises a mixture of the higher homologs of methane selected and compounded to have a melting point intermediate of those available in the single pure substances.