Bacteriological transfer loop

Claim 2

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to free ends spaced further from one another than the portions of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; means in said base opposite said fingers for removably securing an elongated rod to said base whereby said rod may serve as a manipulating handle for said loop; said rod having an enlargement formed at one end thereof and said means comprising a keyhole type slot in said base adapted to receive said one end of said rod and a recess formed in the base behind the slot to receive said enlargement when the rod is inserted in the slot whereby rotation of the rod in said slot will cause the base to be positively secured to said one end of the rod.

Claim 3

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to free ends spaced further from one another than the portion of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; at least one of said fingers having a generally circular loop of predetermined dimensions formed at one end thereof for applying a calibrated amount of a bacteriological specimen to a growth medium.

Claim 4

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to free ends spaced further from one another than the portion of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; at least one of said fingers having a generally circular loop of predetermined dimensions formed at one end thereof for applying a calibrated amount of a bacteriological specimen to a growth medium.

Claim 5

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers rigidly secured to said base in spaced relation to each other, and extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to straight free working end portions spaced further from one another than the portions of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking and said base being a generally hollow cylinder; said fingers comprising resilient members received in said cyclinder; and said cylinder including means for pushing said fingers outwardly of said cylinder and means for spreading said fingers, as they are urged out of the cylinder, into said diverging relation with respect to one another.

Claim 6

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers rigidly secured to said base in spaced relation to each other, and extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to straight free working end portions spaced further from one another than the portions of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking and said base being a generally hollow cylinder; said fingers comprising resilient members received in said cyclinder; and said cylinder including means for pushing said fingers outwardly of said cylinder and means for spreading said fingers, as they are urged out of the cylinder, into said diverging relation with respect to one another.

Claim 7

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient fingers rigidly secured to said base in spaced relation to each other, and extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to straight free working end portions spaced further from one another than the portions of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking; and a hollow container having one open end through which said fingers are received, said container cooperating with said base to enclose said fingers prior to use of the loop, and means for sealing said container to said base in a substantially vapor tight seal to prevent contamination of the fingers prior to use.

Claim 8

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising a base and a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient fingers rigidly secured to said base in spaced relation to each other, and extending generally in a common axial direction from said base and diverging from one another to straight free working end portions spaced further from one another than the portions of the fingers adjacent said base, whereby said fingers are adapted to be used successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking; and a hollow container having one open end through which said fingers are received, said container cooperating with said base to enclose said fingers prior to use of the loop, and means for sealing said container to said base in a substantially vapor tight seal to prevent contamination of the fingers prior to use.

Claim 9

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising, in combination, a base having first and second opposite end portions and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers secured to said base in spaced relation to each other and extending in a common generally axial direction from said first end portion of the base; said fingers being formed of a resilient material and diverging outwardly from one another along their length in a direction away from said base to straight free working end portions; and a hollow container for said fingers having an open end portion through which said fingers are received; said container cooperating with said base to enclose said fingers prior to use of the loop, said resilient fingers diverging to their maximum extent upon removal of said container from about said fingers whereby said fingers are available for use successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking.

Claim 10

A disposable bacteriological transfer and inoculating loop comprising, in combination, a base having first and second opposite end portions and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers secured to said base in spaced relation to each other and extending in a common generally axial direction from said first end portion of the base; said fingers being formed of a resilient material and diverging outwardly from one another along their length in a direction away from said base to straight free working end portions; and a hollow container for said fingers having an open end portion through which said fingers are received; said container cooperating with said base to enclose said fingers prior to use of the loop, said resilient fingers diverging to their maximum extent upon removal of said container from about said fingers whereby said fingers are available for use successively to plate or streak a bacteriological specimen on a growth medium; said free working end portions of the fingers having rounded ends to avoid damaging the growth medium during streaking.

Claim 11

The device as defined in claim 5 including means for forming a removable substantially vapor tight seal between said base and said container whereby said fingers can be maintained in a sterilized condition in the container prior to use in a streaking operation.

Claim 12

The device as defined in claim 6 including means in said base opposite said fingers for removably securing an elongated rod to said base whereby said rod may serve as a manipulating handle for said loop.

Claim 13

The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said fingers are formed of a resilient material.