JP2002085054A - Culture apparatus equipped with observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve continuous or periodical observation of the culture state, for example, the state or number of the colonies of bacteria or cells of animals or plants cultured in the Petri dishes without taking out the dishes from the culture apparatus arbitrarily or according to the prescribed schedule. SOLUTION: The shelves 6 arranged in the frame case 4 of the main body of the culture apparatus are equipped with scanners 7 and the computer 3 controls the operation of the scanners 7 and processes the image data from the scanners 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a culture apparatus (incubator), and more particularly to the number and state of cultured bacterial and animal and plant cell colonies in a petri dish without removing the petri dish from a frame case of the culture apparatus. The present invention relates to a culture device with an observation device capable of continuously or periodically observing the culture state at any time or according to a preset schedule.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional culture apparatus, a plurality of trays are provided in a culture chamber in a housing with a door, and a petri dish containing bacteria (animal and plant cells) as a sample (sample) can be placed thereon. And the environment (temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, etc.) can be automatically adjusted.
See, for example, JP-A-53907. ).

[0003]

However, in the conventional culturing apparatus, the environment in the culturing chamber of the culturing apparatus can be automatically adjusted, but no apparatus for observing the culturing state in the petri dish is particularly provided. In order to observe, it is necessary to once open the door of the culture device and take out the petri dish from the culture room.

[0004] For this reason, there is a danger that the environment in the culture chamber is affected and certain environmental conditions required for appropriate culture cannot be maintained. For example, in the case of anaerobic bacteria or a sample that needs to be cultured in a dark place, it is not preferable to change the environment by opening and closing the door. In addition, the sample to be taken is also temporarily placed in an external environmental condition, so that there is a danger that the sample is affected by the influence and it is impossible to observe an accurate culture condition.

Further, in the conventional culturing apparatus, in order to take out each sample and observe it, it is necessary to always pay attention to the schedule management, and taking out a petri dish for observation is an extremely troublesome operation. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the conventional culture apparatus, to prevent the environment in the culture chamber and the sample in the petri dish from changing, and to observe the sample. It is an object of the present invention to realize a related culture apparatus that minimizes labor for taking out a sample from the culture apparatus and managing the time thereof.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a culture device with an observation device having a culture device main body including a frame case and a shelf provided in the frame case. The shelf provides a culture device with an observation device, wherein the culture device has a scanner.

The shelf may have a structure in which a petri dish containing a sample is placed on a transparent plate for a cover fitted in a scanner case of the scanner.

The shelf may have a structure in which a transparent plate for placing a petri dish is further provided on the transparent plate for cover of the scanner case of the scanner.

[0010] The shelf has a plate or a wire mesh on which a petri dish is placed, and a scanner having a vertically movable scanner case is arranged on the plate or the wire mesh, and the scanner is turned upside down. It is good also as a structure in which the said scanner can be mounted.

[0011] One or more shelves having the scanner may be provided.

[0012] The light source or the light receiving section of the scanner may be provided with an optical filter.

[0013] The scanner may be connected to a computer, and the computer may control the operation of the scanner and process image data obtained by the scanner.

The computer operates the scanner in accordance with a schedule stored in advance in the storage device, and processes the image data,
The image of the cultured sample may be displayed on a monitor or printed, or the cultured sample may be checked or identified.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a culture apparatus with an observation device according to the present invention will be described below based on examples with reference to the drawings. The culture device with an observation device according to the present invention includes at least a culture device main body, and further includes a computer that processes data obtained by the culture device main body.

A feature of the culture device main body with an observation device according to the present invention is that the shelf on which the petri dish is mounted has a scanner, and the state of the culture in the petri dish can be changed at any time or continuously according to a preset schedule. Or, it is a configuration that enables periodic observation.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a culture apparatus with an observation device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1A, the culture device 1 with the observation device of Example 1 is shown.
And the culture device main body 2 as described later.
And a computer 3 for controlling the operation of the scanner and the like and processing data obtained by the scanner and the like of the culture apparatus main body 2.

The culturing apparatus body 2 includes a frame case 4
Inside, shelves 6 on which a culture dish 5 is placed are arranged in a plurality of stages. In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which a plurality of shelves 6 are provided, but the number of shelves 6 may be one.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific configuration of the shelf 6. Each of the plurality of shelves 6 has a scanner 7. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the shelf 6 is such that a transparent glass plate 8 (or a transparent resin plate) for mounting a petri dish as shown in FIG. 2A is integrally mounted on the scanner 7. It is composed.

In a normal scanner, the upper opening of the scanner case 9 is sealed by inserting a transparent glass plate for a cover (a glass plate for a document table on which a document is placed in a normal scanner). The shelf structure is such that the transparent glass plate for cover (sealing) of such a scanner is directly used as the transparent glass plate 8 for placing the petri dish.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a transparent glass plate 8 for placing a petri dish may be arranged in close contact with a transparent glass plate 10 for a cover fitted into the scanner 7. Good.

The shelf 7 may be incorporated at the stage of manufacturing the culture device main body 2 as a shelf for a culture device with an observation device, but a scanner is mounted on a tray for mounting a petri dish of a conventional culture device (incubator). May be adopted. In this way, the present invention can be easily applied to a conventional culture apparatus.

In any case, the culture apparatus main body 2 of the first embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1 (b), a scanner 7 is provided below the petri dish 5, and a lid 11 of the petri dish 5 is placed from below (the petri dish is usually placed upside down as described later), The lid 11 of the petri dish 5 faces downward.) Scanning and observation are performed, so that it is a bottom-viewing type structure.

The scanner 7 has a structure in which the light receiving section 12 moves horizontally to perform scanning. In recent years, thinner scanners have been developed and put to practical use. However, it is preferable to use such a thin scanner because the entire culture apparatus body 2 becomes compact. For example, FIG.
As shown in (c), a thin scanner can be constructed by sticking a thin CCD 14 on a long movable scanning rod 13 constituting the main body of the light receiving section in a straight line.

Each of the scanners 7 on the plurality of shelves 6 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), it is connected to an I / O port (input / output unit) of the computer 3. Computer 3 uses I
It has an I / O port, a CPU, a storage device, etc., and is provided with a display device (monitor) and a printer.

The scanner 7 allows the user to perform a scanning operation (scanning) at any time as needed, or continuously or periodically by automatic control by the computer 3 according to a preset schedule. It can also work.

The operation schedule is appropriately programmed according to the type of bacteria to be cultured, the purpose of culture of the culture device, the observation method, and the like, and stored in the storage device of the computer 3. The CPU controls the scanner according to the program. An operation signal is generated and transmitted to the scanner 7. Thus, the operation of the scanner 7 is automatically controlled.

The operation of the culturing apparatus 1 with the observation device of the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described. At the time of use, a required number of Petri dishes 5 are filled with a medium (agar or the like) and bacteria (for example, anaerobic bacteria), cells of animals and plants, and the like, and placed on a transparent glass plate 8 as shown in FIG. It is placed upside down (with lid 11 in contact with transparent glass plate 8) as shown. Then, the computer 7 is set to operate the scanner 7 according to a predetermined programmed schedule.

As time passes, bacteria and cells are cultured in the petri dish 5, and colonies 16 which are clumps (communities) of cells of the same kind of bacteria and animals and plants are cultured. Then, according to the programmed schedule set, the scanner 7 operates continuously or at intervals of time, and as shown in FIG. 1B, the light receiving unit 12 moves in the right arrow direction, and the transparent glass The plurality of petri dishes 5 placed on the plate 8 are scanned from below. By this scanning, the lid 11
Through the scanning, the state such as the number, color, and size of the colonies 16 is scanned, and the image data is obtained.

The image data indicating the state of the colony 16 in the petri dish 5 obtained in this manner is stored in a computer 3
Sent to This image data can be monitored on a display device in the computer 3 or printed by a printer and provided for visual observation.

The image data is subjected to necessary image processing by the computer 3 if necessary, and compared with the image processing data stored in advance in the storage device of the computer 3, the number of colonies 16 is calculated. Confirmation, check of culture status,
It can be used for various purposes such as identification of the type.

As described above, there is no need to open the frame case 4 and take out the petri dish 5 from the shelf 6.
Since the culture state of the bacteria and the cell colonies 16 and the like can be observed, the environmental conditions in the frame case 4 can be kept constant, which is extremely useful particularly for the culture of anaerobic bacteria.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a culture apparatus with an observation device according to the present invention, particularly on a shelf, in Embodiment 2. FIG. 3A is a perspective view as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view as viewed obliquely from below. FIG.
(C) shows a cross-sectional view of a main part at the time of observation.

As in the first embodiment, the culturing apparatus with an observation device according to the second embodiment includes a culturing device main body and a computer for processing data obtained by the culturing device main body. This culture device main body is provided with a shelf 17 on which a petri dish 5 is placed in a sealed frame case 4.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the shelf 17 has a grid-like
9 Of course, the shelf 17 may be made of a plate material (not shown) made of transparent or opaque glass, resin, metal, or the like, instead of the wire netting 18. In the second embodiment, the shelves 17 are provided in a plurality of stages.

Further, the structure of the shelf 17 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail.
A scanner 7 having a transparent glass plate 10 for a cover is disposed upside down (in an inverted state) above each of the reference numerals 8.

The scanner 7 is configured to be vertically movable. The simplest structure for this purpose is to provide a guide frame 19 for guiding the scanner in the vertical direction at the left and right corners and the like, as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. (The upper surface in FIG. 3A) is provided with a grip portion 21.

Further, as a simpler structure, a thin scanner can be provided in such a manner that the user can appropriately lift the scanner and move it up and down on the wire mesh of the conventional culture apparatus without providing such a guide frame 19. May be used.

Although not shown, the power supply and signal input / output cables of the scanner 7 are connected to appropriate portions of the frame case 4 close to the scanners 7 of the respective stages via connectors, and are extended to the outside of the frame case 4. , And can be connected to the power supply and the computer 3 as appropriate.

The shelf 17 of the culture apparatus according to the second embodiment is
As shown in (c), the scanner 7 is placed on the petri dish 5 and placed on the wire net 18 upside down from above. The colony 16 is scanned through the bottom 22 of the petri dish 5 and the culture medium 23 for observation. Since it is possible, the structure is of a top-viewing type.

When using the culture device 1 with the observation device of the second embodiment, the user holds the grip 21 attached to the scanner 7 and lifts the entire scanner 7 along the guide frame 19 to place it on the wire net 18. Make space. Then, the petri dish 5 is placed on the wire net 18. Then, the scanner 7 is lowered along the left and right guide frames 19 and placed on the petri dish 5 so as to cover it.

As in the first embodiment, the user operates the scanner 7 continuously or at a time interval arbitrarily or in accordance with a programmed schedule set in the computer 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the light receiving unit 12 transfers the plurality of petri dishes 5 placed on the wire mesh 18 from above to the transparent glass plate 10 for the cover.
Through the right to right direction in the figure, and the number of colonies 16
Image data such as color and size can be obtained.

The image data on the state of the colony 16 in the petri dish 5 obtained by scanning as described above is sent to the computer 3 and is displayed, printed, image-processed, etc. in the same manner as in the first embodiment. It is used for purposes such as observation of cell culture status and identification of types.

In the second embodiment, it is not necessary to open the frame case and take out the petri dish 5 from the shelf 17.
This is the same as Example 1 in that the culture condition of the bacteria and cell colonies 16 and the like inside can be observed, so that the environmental conditions in the frame case can be kept constant.

In particular, in the culture device with the observation device of the second embodiment, the wire mesh 18 of the conventionally used culture device is
This configuration is very useful because it can be applied immediately if the light and thin scanner 7 is arranged upside down.

Although the embodiment of the culture apparatus with an observation device according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not particularly limited to such embodiments, and the technical features described in the claims can be used. It goes without saying that there are various embodiments within the scope of the matter. Some such examples will now be described.

Culturing in a dark place may be required depending on the type of bacteria and cells, or the culturing conditions. In this case, it is not possible to observe the culture device in a bright environment. For such an application, a configuration is adopted in which a light source 24 that illuminates only when scanning with the scanner 7, that is, illuminates at the minimum necessary, is provided on the scanning rod 13 together with the CCD 14, as shown in FIG. Good.

In the case where only colonies having a special gene emit light of a predetermined region when the microorganism is irradiated with light, a band-pass filter that allows only light of the predetermined region to pass through is provided in the light receiving portion. If attached, only such colonies can be detected.

Alternatively, in the case where only colonies having a special gene emit light when the microorganism is irradiated with light having a predetermined wavelength, a band-pass filter that allows only the light having the predetermined wavelength to pass therethrough is attached to the light source. Then, only such colonies can be detected.

The computer for controlling the operation of the culture device with the observation device according to the present invention and processing the image data obtained by the scanner may be provided as a dedicated machine for the scanner. A computer for controlling temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, etc.) may be used (in combination).

In the culture apparatus with an observation device of the second embodiment, the vertical movement of the scanner 7 may be configured to be automated by using a driving force of a motor or the like. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a drive device such as a rack and a pinion or a screw linear motion mechanism is provided between both frame cases and the scanner 7 to automatically move up and down.

[0052]

According to the culture apparatus with an observation device according to the present invention having the above-described structure, the following remarkable effects can be obtained. (1) The culture state can be continuously or periodically observed at any time or according to a preset schedule without removing the petri dish from the frame case. Bacteria and cells in a Petri dish are cultured under constant environmental conditions without being affected by concentration, etc., and the culture state (growth, division state, etc.) based on the essential characteristics of the bacteria and cells is observed. be able to. Especially for anaerobic bacteria,
This is effective because the influence of external air is large. In addition, only at the time of observation, it is sufficient to illuminate with a minimum necessary light source for scanning to obtain an image, which is extremely useful when culturing is required in a dark place.

(2) The scanner enables the computer to automatically or continuously perform the scanning operation based on a programmed fixed schedule, and automatically converts the image data obtained by the scanning. The user can automatically obtain accurate image data without having to worry about the timing of observation and without having to spend effort in taking out petri dishes for observation. Can be obtained.

(3) Image data can be taken out in various ways by a computer, for example, image data is displayed on a monitor and printed by a printer. Furthermore, if the image data is subjected to image processing, the continuous or regular culture status at any time or in a preset schedule is digitized and can be checked. Further, by performing image processing by a computer, it is possible to automatically identify a bacterial species and a cell type in comparison with reference image data prepared separately in advance.

(4) The present invention can be easily applied to a conventional culture device (incubator) because of its configuration. In particular, in the case of a conventional culture device having a wire mesh shelf, the present invention can be very easily implemented by adopting a top-viewing type configuration in which a lightweight and thin scanner is placed upside down on the wire mesh. Can be used as a culture device with an observation device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a shelf, particularly, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Culture device with observation device 2 Culture device main body 3 Computer 4 Frame case 5 Petri dish 6, 17 shelf 7 Scanner 8 Transparent glass plate for placing petri dish 10 Transparent glass plate for cover of scanner case 12 Light receiving unit 15, 23 Medium 16 Colony 21 Gripper

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A culture device with an observation device having a culture device main body provided with a frame case and a shelf provided in the frame case, wherein the shelf has a scanner. Culture device. 2. The culture apparatus with an observation device according to claim 1, wherein the shelf has a structure in which a transparent plate for a cover fitted in a scanner case of the scanner mounts a petri dish containing a sample. . 3. The culture apparatus with an observation device according to claim 1, wherein the shelf has a structure in which a transparent plate for placing a petri dish is further provided on a transparent plate for a cover of a scanner case of a scanner. 4. The shelf has a plate or a wire mesh on which a petri dish is placed, and a scanner having a vertically movable scanner case is arranged on the plate or the wire mesh upside down. The culture device with an observation device according to claim 1, wherein the culture device has a structure on which the scanner can be mounted. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more shelves having the scanner are provided.
5. The culture device with an observation device according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. The culture device with an observation device according to claim 1, wherein an optical filter is attached to a light source or a light receiving portion of the scanner. 7. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the scanner is connected to a computer, and the computer controls the operation of the scanner and processes image data obtained by the scanner. 1, 2, 3, 4,
7. The culture device with an observation device according to 5 or 6. 8. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the computer operates the scanner according to a schedule stored in advance in the storage device, and processes the image data to provide an image of the cultured sample for monitor display or printing. 8. The culture device with an observation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the culture sample is checked or identified.