Automatic petri dish streaking methods and apparatus
Abstract
Abstract A CAPTIVE SPHERICAL BALL INITIALLY SUSPENDED IN THE COVER OF A PETRI DISH SERVES AS A SPREADER FOR STREAKING AND ISOLATING BACTERIA FROM A SAMPLE. AFTER INOCULUM IS PLACED ON THE AGAR CULTURE MEDIUM AT ONE POINT IN THE PETRI DISH THE BALL IS RELEASED AND DROPPED INTO THE INOCULUM. AS THE DISH ADVANCES ACROSS A STREAKING STATION, AN UNDERLYING MAGNET RECIPROCATES, ROLLING THE BALL THROUGH THE INOCULUM ANDTHEN ALONG A PREDETERMINED ZIG-ZAG PATH ACROSS THE AGAR IN THE MOVING PETRI DISH, DEPOSITING MICROORGANISMS ACROSS THE CULTURE MEDIUM. THIS SYSTEM QUICKLY AND AUTOMATICALLY SPREADS OR "STREAKS" THE BACTERIA SAMPLE OVER THE CULTURE MEDIUM IN THE PETRI DISH WITHOUT REQUIRING HUMAN EXPOSURE OR CONTACT WITH THE BACTERIA SAMPLE. WHEN STREAKING IS COMPLETED, THE BALL IS RECAPTURED TO AVOID DISTURBING THE STREAKED SAMPLE.
Inventors
- 👤 G Stussman
- 👤 K Larsson
- 👤 J Smeaton
Bibliographic Details
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