Method and apparatus for aseptic transfer of biological material

• US 9,181,522 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: King Abdul AZIZ City For Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: King Abdul AZIZ City For Science and Technology
• Inventors: Khiyami, Mohammad Ahmed
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHER, BRITTANY I
• Application Number:
  US13/849,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140287482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 962 Days
• Field of Search: 422/511
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/18 Aseptic storing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0279 co-operating with positive ejection means
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 1/26 Inoculator or sampler
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 1/262 Handle streaking devices
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 1/265 Pipettes; Syringes; Suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/02 by impregnation, e.g. using swabs or loops fluid transport using swabs B01L3/5029
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/00 Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/10 Devices for transferring samples or any liquids to, in, or from, the analysis apparatus, e.g. suction devices, injection devices G01N35/0099 takes precedence

Abstract

The present application discloses a novel biological material transfer apparatus and methods of using the same. The apparatus is made up of double walled barrel shaped tip chamber to house either the single tip or multiple tips of fixed size and a unique ball head to transfer the biological material from one location to another location in an aseptic method. The tip has a fixed shape and size and a ball head which makes the process of picking and transferring of biological material easy, safe and convenient to use with large scale samples. The apparatus is further equipped with an ultra violet light which sterilize the tips just before their use making the entire process of transferring of biological material highly aseptic.

Claims

1. A biological material transfer apparatus comprising:

a barrel shape tip chamber having a double wall and housing a tip therein, wherein the tip is at least one of a single tip and multiple tips, wherein the barrel shaped tip chamber has an inner wall and outer wall;

the tip having a specific size and ball head, wherein the ball head is used to pick and transfer the biological material from one location to another location;

a score lid to open and load the tip in the barrel shaped tip chamber and out of the barrel shaped tip chamber for transfer of biological material;

an ultra violet (UV) light source that is contained within either the inner wall or outer wall of said barrel shaped tip chamber and having a wavelength correlating to UV-C light to sterilize the barrel shaped tip chamber and ball head tip after being switched on for a specific time and having a specific strength.

2. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip has a broad end and a narrow end.

3. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the narrow end of the tip has a ball head to pick and transfer the biological material from one location to another location.

4. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tip is used in at least one of a sterilized manner and unsterilized manner.

5. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tip can be sterilized by switching on the UV light before use.

6. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip chamber has an open proximal end and an open distal end.

7. The biological material transfer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tip chamber is made up of UV protected material such as at least one of a ceramic, aluminum and synthetic material.

8. An aseptic method to perform a biological material transfer, comprising:

irradiating a barrel shaped tip chamber of the biological material transfer apparatus of claim 1 using the ultra violet light for a specific time and a specific wavelength;

autoclaving the tip to make a sterile tip and loading the tip on the barrel shaped tip chamber by bring the score lid to an open position;

lowering the sterile tip into the barrel shaped tip chamber by pushing the eject button until the ball head reaches the distal end;

re-irradiating the sterile tip by switching on the ultra violet light for the specific time and specific wavelength;

picking up a biological material from one location and transfer the biological material to another location; and

discarding the sterile tip after use by pushing the eject button.

9. The aseptic method as in claim 8, wherein the biological material transfer apparatus is a double walled barrel structure having an ultra violet light source built into it.

10. The aseptic method of claim 8, wherein the specific wavelength is UV-C light and the specific time is 2-10 mins.

11. The aseptic method of claim 8, wherein the biological material is a colony of microorganisms grown on an agar plate.

12. The aseptic method of claim 11, wherein the colony of the microorganism is a bacterial colony.

13. The aseptic method as in claim 8, wherein another location is at least a test tube, a petri dish and a conical flask.

14. The aseptic method of claim 8, wherein ball head of the tip is used to pick up the biological material.

15. The aseptic method of claim 8, wherein the ball head has a specific shape and size.

16. The aseptic method of claim 8, wherein the tip is re-irradiated at distal end of barrel shaped tip chamber just before it is used.