System and Method for Dispensing Dehydrated Culture Media Powder

Abstract

An improved system and method for dispensing dehydrated culture media (DCM) powder into containers for preparation as a culture media. The manual and automated systems and methods operate to dispense DCM powder, as well as liquid, into vessels or media preparation instruments in a manner to avoid DCM dust inhalation by persons in the surrounding area and contamination of equipment and surfaces in the surrounding area.

1 . A method for dispensing dehydrated culture media (DCM) powder into a vessel, the method comprising:
 operating a valve, having an opening adapted to couple to a container including DCM powder, to dispense the DCM powder from the container at a desired rate into the vessel.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically controlling the valve to dispense the DCM powder into the vessel at the desired rate.   
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 manually operating the valve to dispense the DCM powder into the vessel at the desired rate.   
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating a liquid regulator to control a flow of liquid into the vessel.   
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 automatically controlling the valve to dispense the DCM powder into the vessel at the desired rate while also controlling the liquid regulator to control the flow of liquid into the vessel at a desired flow rate.   
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 manually operating at least one of the valve and the liquid regulator to control at least one the desired rate at which the DCM powder is dispensed into the vessel and a rate of flow of the liquid into the vessel.   
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vessel is a flask.   
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vessel is a media preparation instrument.   
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coupling of the valve and container together form a substantially closed system to substantially eliminate DCM dust formation outside of the vessel.   
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling the valve to the container via an adapter.   
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve further comprises a rotating member; and   the operating step comprises rotating the rotatable member to dispense an amount of the DCM powder into the vessel per each rotation.   
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the valve further comprises a counter that is adapted to count the number of rotations of the rotatable member.   
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a conduit to add liquid to the media preparation instrument at a sufficient distance from an inlet of the media preparation instrument into which the valve dispenses the DCM powder to substantially prevent the contact of the liquid with the DCM powder at the inlet.   
   
   
       14 . A method for dispensing dehydrated culture media (DCM) powder from a container into a vessel, the method comprising:
 coupling the container to the vessel using a valve assembly that is independent of the container and the vessel, the valve assembly comprising:
 a structure defining a first opening therein and a second opening therein and an interior thereof, the first and second openings being on different sides of the structure, with the first opening being configured to couple the interior of the structure into communication with an opening that has been created in a container to provide communication between the interior of the structure and an interior of the container that houses DCM powder, and the second opening being configured to couple the interior of the structure into communication with an inlet that has been created in the vessel to provide communication between the interior of the structure and an interior of the vessel, such that the coupling together of the structure, container and vessel creates a substantially closed system to substantially eliminate DCM dust formation outside of the vessel; and 
 a valve, disposed in the interior of the structure; and 
   operating the value to dispense the DCM powder from the container such that the DCM powder enters the interior of the structure through the first opening, is driven by the valve through the interior of the structure, and passes out of the second opening at a rate controlled by movement of the valve and through the inlet into the vessel while the substantially closed system substantially eliminates DCM dust formation outside the vessel, structure and container.   
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising operating a liquid regulator to control a flow of liquid into the vessel. 
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising automatically controlling the valve to dispense the DCM powder into the vessel at the rate while also controlling the liquid regulator to control the flow of liquid into the vessel at a flow rate. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising manually operating at least one of the valve and the liquid regulator is manually operable to control at least one of the rate at which the DCM powder is dispensed into the vessel and a rate of flow of the liquid into the vessel. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the vessel is a media preparation instrument. 
   
   
       19 . A method for dispensing dehydrated culture media (DCM) powder into a media preparation instrument, the method comprising:
 coupling a container including DCM powder to the media preparation instrument using a valve;   operating the valve to dispense the DCM powder from the container at a rate into the vessel; and   coupling a conduit to the media preparation instrument to add liquid to the media preparation instrument at a sufficient distance from an inlet of the media preparation instrument into which the valve dispenses the DCM powder to substantially prevent the contact of the liquid with the DCM powder at the inlet.   
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 removing the valve and replacing the valve with a second valve having at least one recess therein whose volume is different from the volume of a recess in the valve; and   operating the second valve to dispense the DCM powder at a second rate different from the rate at which the valve dispensed the DCM.