US4038148A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anaerobic environmental system for bacteria culture testing
Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
•
Filing: 1975-12-22
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A package for storing, incubating or transporting an anaerobic culture comprising a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability, a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas, a culture retaining container in the bag, and a catalyst in the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generating apparatus, and oxygen in the bag. The bag may also contain a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change. Hydrogen is the preferred reducing gas which is generated, alone or in conjunction with carbon dioxide.
Inventors
- 👤 Lowell Donald Miller
- 👤 Melvin Wayne Hounsell
- 👤 Ernest Elliott Spinner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:44
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/30; C12M41/34; C12M29/00; C12M45/00; C12M45/22; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/801; Y10S435/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A package for storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a culture retaining receptacle in the bag; and a catalyst in the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generating apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; said gas generating apparatus comprising a container having an opening, a reducing gas generating solid material in the container, an ampoule containing a liquid which is reactive with the solid material to produce a reducing gas catalytically reactive with oxygen at room temperature, said ampoule being openable from outside the container to free the liquid to contact the solid material, and means in the container which prevents liquid from flowing from the container after the ampoule is opened but which permits flow of reducing gas generated in the container out of the opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A package for storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a culture retaining receptacle in the bag; and a catalyst in the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generating apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; said gas generating apparatus comprising a container having an opening, a reducing gas generating solid material in the container, an ampoule containing a liquid which is reactive with the solid material to produce a reducing gas catalytically reactive with oxygen at room temperature, said ampoule being openable from outside the container to free the liquid to contact the solid material, and means in the container which prevents liquid from flowing from the container after the ampoule is opened but which permits flow of reducing gas generated in the container out of the opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the bag contains a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the gas generating apparatus also produces carbon dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the culture retaining receptacle is a media plate, media tube or media strip having a series of microtubes containing different media.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the reducing gas is hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the container of the gas generating apparatus has a solid desiccant material therein which absorbs water which may enter the container before the ampoule is opened, thereby preventing degradation or premature reaction of the gas generating solid material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A package according to claim 5 in which the gas generating apparatus container contains a catalyst which induces reaction of the generated hydrogen with oxygen in the air to produce water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A package according to claim 5 in which the solid material also produces carbon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the liquid in the ampoule is water or aqueous acid and the gas generating solid material is reactive therewith to produce a reducing gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the gas generating apparatus container opening is covered by a microbacteriological filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A package according to claim 1 in which the gas generating apparatus container is an elongated flexible tube having an opening at one end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A package according to claim 11 in which the ampoule fits snugly in the tube and the gas generating solid material is between the tube open end and the ampoule.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A package according to claim 12 in which the means which prevents liquid flow is an absorbent plug located in the tube between the ampoule and the opening in the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package according to claim 12 in which a desiccant is positioned between the ampoule and the opening in the tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A package according to claim 2 in which the color indicator comprises: a container which permits flow of gas thereto, an ampoule in the container, said ampoule containing a redox color indicator liquid, and an absorbent material, for the liquid in the ampoule, in the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A package according to claim 15 in which the redox color indicator is methylene blue or resazurin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A package according to claim 15 in which the color indicator container is a tube open at both ends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A package according to claim 17 in which the tube is made of a transparent flexible polymeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A package according to claim 18 in which the ampoule containing the indicator liquid fits snugly in the tube and is rupturable by squeezing the tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package according to claim 19 in which the absorbent material is a white plug which fits snugly in the tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A package according to claim 17 in which each end of the tube is covered by a gas permeable filter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A package according to claim 17 in which each end of the tube has a cap with a hole for gas flow and the hole is covered by a filter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
A package for storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a culture retaining receptacle in the bag; a catalyst in the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generating apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; and a color indicator apparatus in the bag which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; said color indicator comprising a container which permits flow of gas thereto, an ampoule in the container, said ampoule containing a redox color indicator liquid, and an absorbent material, for the liquid in the ampoule, in the container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
A package for storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a culture retaining receptacle in the bag; a catalyst in the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generating apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; and a color indicator apparatus in the bag which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; said color indicator comprising a container which permits flow of gas thereto, an ampoule in the container, said ampoule containing a redox color indicator liquid, and an absorbent material, for the liquid in the ampoule, in the container.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A package according to claim 23 in which the redox color indicator is methylene blue or resazurin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A package according to claim 23 in which the color indicator container is a tube open at both ends.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A package according to claim 25 in which the tube is made of a transparent flexible polymeric material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A package according to claim 26 in which the ampoule fits snugly in the tube and is rupturable by squeezing the tube.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package according to claim 27 in which the absorbent material is a white plug which fits snugly in the tube.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A package according to claim 25 in which each end of the tube is covered by a gas permeable filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A package according to claim 25 in which each end of the tube has a cap with a hole for gas flow and the hole is covered by a filter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
176 words
A package for use in storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a catalyst inside of the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generator apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; and the gas generating apparatus comprising: a container having an opening, a reducing gas generating solid material in the container, an ampoule containing a liquid which is reactive with the solid material to produce a reducing gas catalytically reactive with oxygen at room temperature, said ampoule being openable from outside the container to free the liquid to contact the solid material, and means in the container which prevents liquid from flowing from the container after the ampoule is opened but which permits flow of reducing gas generated in the container out of the opening.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
176 words
A package for use in storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a catalyst inside of the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generator apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; and the gas generating apparatus comprising: a container having an opening, a reducing gas generating solid material in the container, an ampoule containing a liquid which is reactive with the solid material to produce a reducing gas catalytically reactive with oxygen at room temperature, said ampoule being openable from outside the container to free the liquid to contact the solid material, and means in the container which prevents liquid from flowing from the container after the ampoule is opened but which permits flow of reducing gas generated in the container out of the opening.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
122 words
A package for use in storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a catalyst inside of the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generator apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; and the color indicator comprising: an open container which permits flow of gas therethrough, an ampoule in the container, said ampoule containing a redox color indicator liquid, and an absorbent material, for the liquid in the ampoule, in the container.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
122 words
A package for use in storing and transporting an anaerobic culture comprising: a bag of flexible sheet material of low gas permeability; a self-contained gas generating apparatus in the bag for generating at least a reducing gas; a catalyst inside of the bag which promotes reaction between the reducing gas, when produced by the gas generator apparatus, and oxygen in the bag; a color indicator apparatus which when activated indicates the presence or absence of oxygen in the bag by color change; and the color indicator comprising: an open container which permits flow of gas therethrough, an ampoule in the container, said ampoule containing a redox color indicator liquid, and an absorbent material, for the liquid in the ampoule, in the container.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
A package according to claim 31 in which the gas generating apparatus has a solid desiccant material therein which absorbs water which may enter before the ampoule is opened, thereby preventing degradation or premature reaction of the gas generating solid material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
A package according to claim 31 in which the solid material in the gas generating apparatus produces hydrogen.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A package according to claim 34 in which the gas generating apparatus container contains a catalyst which induces reaction of the generated hydrogen with oxygen in the air to produce water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |