Sterilizable cultivation system with separately attachable microfiltration membrane
First Claim
1. A sterilizable cultivation system for growing selected organisms for use in biological applications and the cultivation of edible fungi comprising:
- a sealable container having an interior for holding a growth substrate in a sterile condition, the container being gas impermeable and having at least one vent hole to allow gas exchange between the interior of the container and an outside of the container, and the growth substrate suitable for supporting growth of the selected organisms when inoculated onto the substrate; and
an adhesive breathing vent filter having an outer layer and an inner layer, the vent filter being separately adhereable to the container to cover the vent hole in the container, the outer layer being a filter material for allowing gas exchange while not allowing microbe transmission, and the inner layer being an adhesive material of non-water soluble, pressure sensitive adhesive for closely adhering the vent filter to the container and isolating the vent hole and the interior of the container from the ambient environment outside of the container.
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Abstract
A sterilizable cultivation system is provided for growing selected organisms for use in biological applications and the cultivation edible fungi. A sealable, sterilizable container holds a growth substrate in a sterile condition. A separate, adhesive vent filter is provided, which is adhereable to a vent opening in the container. The vent filter is gas permeable and allows gas exchange between the interior of the container and the ambient environment, but prevents the passage of microbes and other organisms into or out of the container. This gas exchange prevents excess carbon dioxide from accumulating in the container and allows necessary oxygen into the container in order to maintain an appropriate growth environment for the selected organisms. The vent filter may be combined with the container (a) during manufacture of new containers, or (b) in the field by the end-user on new containers or on re-cycled containers. The separately provided vent filters allow the end-user to adjust certain parameters of the growth environment within the container in the field. This is accomplished by adjusting the venting characteristics of the cultivation system, by increasing or reducing the amount and quality of the vent filters on the container.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sterilizable cultivation system for growing selected organisms for use in biological applications and the cultivation of edible fungi comprising:
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a sealable container having an interior for holding a growth substrate in a sterile condition, the container being gas impermeable and having at least one vent hole to allow gas exchange between the interior of the container and an outside of the container, and the growth substrate suitable for supporting growth of the selected organisms when inoculated onto the substrate; and
an adhesive breathing vent filter having an outer layer and an inner layer, the vent filter being separately adhereable to the container to cover the vent hole in the container, the outer layer being a filter material for allowing gas exchange while not allowing microbe transmission, and the inner layer being an adhesive material of non-water soluble, pressure sensitive adhesive for closely adhering the vent filter to the container and isolating the vent hole and the interior of the container from the ambient environment outside of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification