Sample scraping tool

Sample manipulating tools may comprise a handle portion and a tool portion. A sample spreading tool may comprise a head connected to the handle portion by a pivot connection permitting at least pivotal movement of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion. The head may comprise a perimeter section and a bridge section. Another sample spreading tool may comprise a central element and at least two loop segments connected to the central element with each loop segment having a substantially arcuate shape. A sample picking tool may have a loop section forming a reservoir for receiving a liquid sample and a hook portion fixed to the loop section, with a first end fixed to the loop portion and a second end being a free end. A sample scraping tool may comprise a mounting structure to receive a pipette and a scraper structure having a scraping edge.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to laboratory tools and more particularly pertains to new sample manipulation tools for moving, spreading, picking, and otherwise manipulating samples in an easier manner than is possible with conventional tools.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a sample spreading tool comprising a handle portion being elongated with a first end and a second end, and a tool portion at the second end of the handle portion and having an inboard end and an outboard end with the inboard end being connected to the second end of the handle portion. The tool portion may comprise a head connected to the handle portion by a pivot connection permitting at least pivotal movement of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion. The head may comprise a perimeter section having a lower surface lying substantially in a plane, and the perimeter section may surround a central opening. The head may also comprise a bridge section extending between opposite locations on the perimeter section, with the bridge section being offset from the plane of the lower surface.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a sample spreading tool comprising a handle portion being elongated with a first end and a second end, and a tool portion at the second end of the handle portion and having an inboard end and an outboard end with the inboard end being connected to the second end of the handle portion. The tool portion may comprise a central element extending from the inboard end to the outboard end of the tool portion, and at least two loop segments connected to the central element. Each of the loop segments may have an inner end connected to the central element at the inboard end of the tool portion and an outer end connected to central element at the outboard end of the tool portion. Each of the loop segments may have a substantially arcuate shape between the inner and outer ends.

In a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a sample picking tool comprising a handle portion being elongated with a first end and a second end, and a tool portion at the second end of the handle portion and having an inboard end and an outboard end with the inboard end being connected to the second end of the handle portion. The tool portion may comprise a loop section forming a reservoir for receiving a liquid sample, with the loop section being located at the inboard end of the tool portion and fixed to the handle portion. The tool portion may also comprise a hook portion fixed to the loop section, with a first end fixed to the loop portion and a second end being a free end.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosures relates to a sample scraping tool for mounting on a pipette having a tip with a hole into a hollow interior of the pipette, with the pipette also having an exterior surface with a portion that tapers narrower toward the tip. The tool may comprise a mounting structure configured to receive a portion of the pipette to mount the mounting structure on the exterior surface of the pipette. The mounting structure may be tubular with opposite openings including a tip opening through which the tip of the pipette is able to protrude and a back opening through which a major portion of the pipette extends when the mounting structure is mounted on the pipette. The tool may also comprise a scraper structure having a scraping edge for scraping a surface, and a connection structure connecting the scraper structure to the mounting structure in a manner permitting movement of the scraper structure with respect to the mounting structure and a pipette on which the mounting structure is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 42thereof, a new sample manipulation tools embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described.

In various aspects, the disclosure relates to embodiments of sample manipulation tools10which may be useful for manipulating a sample in a laboratory or other controlled environment which may include the interior of a container such as a Petri dish or plate with a layer of gelatinous material, such as a nutrient agar. The tools may be useful for manipulating at least a portion of the sample, such as by spreading, lifting, transporting, gathering, or even separating the sample from the underlying surface, as well as other useful actions.

The sample manipulation tools10may include a handle portion12for gripping by the hand of the user during use of the tool, and which may be elongated with a first end14and a second end15. The first end14may generally be a free end for positioning towards the hand or forearm of the user, and the second end15may generally be a tool end where a tool or other manipulation element is located. In some embodiments, the handle portion12may have a substantially circular cross-sectional exterior shape, although as will be described elsewhere in this disclosure, other cross sectional shapes may be used to particular advantage. The sample manipulation tool10may also include a tool portion16which may be located at the second end15of the handle portion. The tool portion16may be at least partially integrally formed with the handle portion, although some tools may have elements that are separate or separable from the handle portion. The tool portion may be elongated to some degree with an inboard end18which may be connected to the second end15of the handle portion, and an outboard end19located generally opposite of the inboard end on the tool portion. Typically, although not necessarily, the outboard end19of the tool portion is employed to manipulate a sample.

In some embodiments, such as shown inFIGS. 1 through 9, the sample manipulation tool10may comprise a sample spreading tool20which is highly useful for spreading a sample, such as a cell colony, over the surface of a nutrient agar. In such embodiments, the tool portion16may comprise a head22connected to the second end of the handle portion by a pivot connection23which permits at least pivotal movement of the tool portion16with respect to the handle portion, and in some embodiments may permit swivel movement of the tool portion relative to the handle portion. The head22may have a perimeter section24which may have a lower surface that substantially lies in a plane25such that most or all of the perimeter section is able to effectively contact a planar surface, such as, for example, the upper surface of a layer of agar in a dish, for example. The perimeter section24may be continuous, and may surround a central opening26. In some embodiments, the perimeter section may be substantially circular in shape (see, e.g.,FIG. 2), and in some embodiments the perimeter section may be oval in shape (see, e.g.,FIG. 3). Optionally, but less advantageously, the perimeter section24may have a polygonal shape.

The tool portion16of the sample spreading tool20may also include a bridge section28which may extend between opposite locations on the perimeter section24. The bridge section may be elongated with opposite ends30, and each of the opposite ends may be connected to the opposite locations of the perimeter section. The bridge section28may be offset or raised from the plane25of the perimeter section24, such as by being bowed or arched in shape, such that it is unlikely to come into contact with a planar surface that is engaged by the perimeter section24.

In some embodiments, the pivot connection23may comprise a hook32and a bar33(seeFIGS. 4, 5, 8, and 9) which may be releaseably engaged with each other to permit pivot movement therebetween. The hook32may be formed on the first end14of the handle portion and the bar33may be formed on the bridge section28of the head22. The bar33may extend along a line that is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the perimeter section24. The hook32may be engaged with the bar33such that the handle portion12pivots with respect to the tool portion16. In other embodiments, the pivot connection23may comprise a ball34and a socket35(seeFIG. 6) with the ball34being at least pivotably, and optionally swivelly, received in the socket35. The ball34may be formed on the handle portion at the second end15, and the socket35may be formed on the bridge section28of the head22. In other embodiments, the pivot connection23may comprise a clevis bracket36and an aperture37(seeFIG. 7), with the clevis bracket being pinned by a pin to the aperture. Illustratively, the clevis bracket may be formed on the second end15of the handle portion, and the aperture may be formed on the bridge section28of the head22. It should be recognized that the positioning of the elements of the pivot connection23on the handle12and tool16portions may be reversed.

In some embodiments, the handle portion12of the sample spreading tool20may be substantially linear in shape, and in some embodiments the handle portion may have a primary section38and a secondary section39, with the primary section extending from the first end14of the handle portion to a juncture40, and the secondary section may extend from the juncture40to the second end15. The primary38and secondary39sections may each have a longitudinal axis, and in some embodiments the longitudinal axis of the primary section and the longitudinal axis of the secondary section may be angled with respect to each other such that the longitudinal axes are oriented at an angle α (seeFIG. 8) with respect to each other to produce a bend in the handle portion at the juncture40. Illustratively, the angle alpha may measure from approximately 140 degrees to approximately 179 degrees.

The loop formed by the perimeter section of the head22may extend outwardly in all directions from the point of connection of the handle portion to the tool portion which may permit the perimeter section to more easily reach to the edges of the interior of the dish, and the continuous nature of the perimeter section loop may spread sample material more effectively over the surface of agar in a dish. The bend in the handle portion12may assist in reaching the tool over the upper edge of the perimeter wall of the Petri dish as the sample is spread over the surface of the agar, and particularly in combination with the loop of the perimeter section, reaching virtually all portions of the agar surface becomes easier. Advantageously, as the cover for the Petri dish is held in close proximity to the upper opening of the dish and a sample is spread over the upper surface of the agar, the head portion is able to reach more areas of the agar surface without having to rotate the Petri dish in the users hands, and opening and reclosing the top each time the dish is rotated. Rapid and even distribution of bacterial or other cell cultures in a Petri or other culture dish is enabled. Minimal manipulation of the Petri dish and spreader tool by the user increases the speed of spreading samples without gouging the surface of the nutrient agar.

When a drop of the sample is placed on the surface of the nutrient agar in the Petri plate, the spreading tool20may be positioned on top of the drop and swept in a gliding motion from side to side, spreading the sample from edge to edge of the Petri plate without moving the plate. The pivot connection between the handle portion and the tool portion may permit a change in the angle of the handle portion with respect to the Petri plate without removing the perimeter section from contact with the agar surface. Further, the rounded nature of the tool portion minimizes the opportunity to gouge or cut into the surface of the agar.

In other embodiments, such as shown inFIGS. 10 through 26, the sample manipulation tool10may comprise a finned sample spreading tool42. In such embodiments, the tool portion16may include a central element44which may extend from the inboard end18of the tool portion toward the outboard end19of the tool portion. The central element44may have a passage therein, and the passage may extend from the inboard end18to the outboard end19.

The tool portion of the sample spreading tool42may also include at least two loop segments48,49which are connected to the central element44, and in some illustrative embodiments the tool portion includes four loop segments48,49,50, and51. The four loop segments may effectively form two complete loops with the loops being oriented in substantially perpendicular planes with respect to each other. Each of the loop segments may have an inner end52connected to the central element at the inboard end of the tool portion and an outer end53connected to the central element at the outboard end of the tool portion. The loop segments may be arcuate in shape between the inner52and outer53ends, and in some embodiments the loop segments may have outer sections54that are positioned in a plane that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion such that the outer sections of the loop segments are almost linear in that plane, and may be oriented at substantially a 90 degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion. This configuration of the loop segments may maximize the portion of the loop segment that can be brought into contact with the surface of the agar. The most preferred embodiments minimize the distance from the outboard end19of the tool to the location of maximum diameter (or width) of the loop segments of the tool so that the surface of one loop segment can touch the surface without surfaces of the other segments contacting the agar surface. The maximum width of the loop segments should be small enough to facilitate contacting the agar surface close to the sides of the Petri dish.

The finned sample spreading tool42may include a sample needle56which is retractably mounted on the tool portion. The sample needle56may be movable between an extended condition (seeFIGS. 12 and 14) in which a portion of the sample needle extends from the central element44, and a retracted condition (seeFIGS. 13 and 15) in which the sample needle is retracted into the central element. The sample needle56may also extend into the handle portion12of the tool42. The sample needle may be elongated with a tip end58that is exposed when the needle is in the extended condition and substantially covered when the needle is in the retracted condition. The needle56may also have an interior end60situated in the interior of the handle portion.

In some embodiments, the sample needle56may include a sample pickup facilitating structure66that is formed on the sample needle. The facilitating structure66may be located toward the tip end58and may have a variety of different configurations (seeFIGS. 16 through 20). In some embodiments, such as inFIG. 16, a cup68is formed by a recess70that extends into the sample needle56for cupping a portion of a sample. The recess70may extend along an axis that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sample needle. In other embodiments, the facilitating structure66may include a loop72formed by an aperture74(seeFIG. 17) that extends through the sample needle for holding a liquid sample by virtue of surface tension. The aperture74may extend along an axis that is also oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sample needle.

In still other embodiments, the facilitating structure66may include a fork76which is formed on the tip end of the sample needle (seeFIG. 18). The fork76may have a pair of spaced fork elements78which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sample needle for lodging a portion of the sample between the elements. In still other embodiments of the pickup facilitating structure66, at least one ridge80may be formed on an exterior surface of the sample needle. The ridge80may extend about the circumference of the needle, and may include a plurality of the ridges that extend about the sample needle. In some embodiments, the plurality of ridges may comprise a plurality of annular ridges, which are separated by grooves extending into the sample needle, while in other embodiments the ridge or ridges may have a helical form such that the ridge and groove forms a thread-like shape.

The handle portion12of the tool42may have an interior passage82that extends for at least a portion of the length of the handle portion and is in communication with the passage of the central element44of the tool portion. An access aperture84may be formed in the handle portion between the interior passage88and an exterior of the handle portion. The actuation handle64may be located in the access aperture84such that the finger or fingers of the user are able to engage the actuation handle64through the access aperture to move the handle64, and thus the needle, relative to the handle portion.

The sample needle56may include a locking structure62for releaseably holding the sample needle56in at least the extended condition with respect to the central element, and may also hold the needle in the retracted condition (seeFIGS. 21 through 24). The locking structure56may be located on the sample needle toward the interior end60, and may engage structure on the handle portion12to hold the needle in one or both of the conditions of the needle. The actuation handle64may form a portion of the locking structure. For example, as shown inFIGS. 21 through 24, the actuation handle64may have one or two lugs that may be engaged with recesses or holes formed on the handle portion when on one or both of the extended and retracted conditions of the needle. The orientation of the lug or lugs may be reversed with respect to the handle portion, and the positions of the recesses may be one opposite sides of the access aperture84.

The handle portion12may include a polygonal section86in some embodiments (seeFIGS. 25 and 26) which has a polygonal cross-sectional shape with a plurality of substantially planar sides. The number of sides may correspond to the number of loop segments48on the tool portion, and each of the sides may be aligned with one of the loop sections of the tool such that, for example, when one of the loop segments is oriented downwardly, the corresponding side is positioned in an upward orientation. A number of sides may correspond to a number of loop segments on the tool portion. Each of the sides of the handle portion may have at least one tactile indicator element88to permit the user of the tool to be able to distinguish by touch between the various sides and the various loop segments associated with the sides. Each of the sides may have a tactile indicator element88that is different from the indicator elements located on the other sides, such that the sides, and thus the loop segments, are tactilely distinguishable from each other using the indicator elements. Illustratively, the tactile indicator element comprises at least one bump protruding from the surface of the side of the handle portion, and each of the sides may have a different quantity or number of bumps than any other of the sides of the handle portion such that the user is able to touch the bumps and distinguish that side and that orientation from other sides and other orientations.

The finned sample spreading tool42may be employed to spread a sample over the upper surface of a nutrient agar (having a solidified gel form) in a Petri dish, and may provide multiple different surfaces on the tool for contacting and spreading a substance or culture over the agar surface. The tool42may be used to dilute a sample on a surface in a Petri plate in a manner that avoids the repetitive motions in conventional techniques in which (1) a needle tool is used to deposit and spread a sample on a small area of the surface; (2) the needle tool is pulled out of the Petri plate and sterilized (typically using heat in the flame of a Bunsen burner); (3) the needle tool is cooled; (4) the needle tool is again used to take a portion of the sample from the previous deposit on the plate and then spread to a new area of the plate; and repeating steps 1 through 3 for three or more times for each plate. The sample may thus be diluted over the surface of the agar nutrient in the plate. Instead, using the tool42, the sample may be picked upon and placed and spread at one portion of the plate using one of the loop segments, and the tool42may be rotated approximately one-quarter turn so that a new loop segment can take a portion of the sample from the first deposit and spread the sample portion to a new portion of the plate. The tactile indicator elements on the handle may assist the user in being able to distinguish between the loop segments, including between unused and previously used loop segments. The sample spreading action can be repeated once for each of the loop segments without pulling the tool away from the plate surface to, for example, sterilize the surface for subsequent sample spreading and possibly causing contamination of the sample by inadequate sterilization between spreading actions or possibly bringing a hot tool into contact with and destroying the organism.

In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a sample manipulation tool10that comprises a sample picking tool90(seeFIGS. 27 through 32) in which the tool portion includes a loop section92that is located toward the inboard end18. The loop section92may be fixed to the handle portion, such as on the handle portion's first end14. The loop section92may form a reservoir94in which liquids may be held through surface tension or other physical engagement. A portion of the loop section may have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The loop section may have an outer perimeter96, and in some embodiments at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the loop portion may be formed with an edge98that may extend outwardly from the outer perimeter96and the reservoir to assist in cutting into the agar material. The edge98may lie in a plane, and may be formed by an intersection of two substantially planar surfaces on the outer perimeter96when viewed in a cross-sectional plane (see, e.g.,FIGS. 31 and 32).

The sample picking tool90may also include a hook section100which extends from the loop section92. The hook section may have a first end102fixed to the loop section92and a second end104which is a free end located opposite of the loop section. In some embodiments, the hook section100may have an at least partially curved configuration with an arcuate section106which may help to minimize any gouging of the agar surface during sample manipulation. The direction of the curve of the arcuate extent106may be such that the hook section lies in a plane that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the loop section lies. The hook section100may be mounted on and extend from the loop section at a location that is substantially opposite from the location where the loop section92connects to the handle portion12.

The combination of the loop section and the hook section permits a user of the tool90to perform at least two different tasks, including picking up solid samples, such as microbial colonies, with the hook section and spreading it on a nutrient media as well as picking liquid samples, such as a microbial solution, with the loop section and dispersing it in liquid or solid nutrient media. The hook section permits the user to physically pick up samples having a more solid character, while the loop section permits the user to pick up a liquid sample and retain the sample through the mechanism of surface tension. The combination of the loop and hook sections on a single end of the tool keeps both of these tool elements in the same area or space, such as in the Petri dish or plate, so that the user does not have to be mindful of the position of a tool element on an opposite end of a handle when the other tool element is not being used. Additionally, the edge98that extends from the otherwise circular cross-section of the loop section may facilitate cutting into a nutrient agar positioned in a Petri dish to position a sample below the surface of the agar. The edge on the loop section may cut into the agar more cleanly rather than bluntly tearing into the surface of the agar, and the loop section may carry the sample into the cut made into the agar. The loop section may have different sizes (e.g., diameters) capable of carrying different predetermined volumes of a sample to the Petri plate and can cut into nutrient agar to deliver the sample into the nutrient agar without fracturing the solid media. A clean stab or cut of the nutrient agar may provide anaerobic conditions for the sample in the agar. Further, the curvature of the hook section, when employed, may facilitate the spreading of the sample on nutrient agar without gouging the surface of the agar.

In still yet another aspect of the disclosure, the sample manipulation tool comprises a sample scraping tool110(seeFIGS. 33 through 42) which is configured to mount on a pipette1having a tip2with a hole3at the tip which extends into the hollow interior of the pipette1. The pipette1has an exterior surface4with a tip portion that tapers narrower toward the tip2. The tapered exterior surface of the tip portion of the pipette may have a substantially conical shape, while the exterior surface of the main portion of the pipette1may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

The tool portion16of the tool110may comprise a mounting structure112which is configured to mount on the pipette1. The mounting structure112may be configured to receive a portion of the pipette, and may be configured to engage the exterior surface of the pipette such that the tool110is mounted on and carried by the pipette. The mounting structure112may be configured to mount on a substantially conical shaped tip portion of the exterior surface4, and the mounting structure may define a hollow substantially cone-shaped interior which receives the substantially conical-shaped portion of the exterior surface of the pipette. Attachment of the mounting structure on a pipette may be accomplished by sizing the cone-shaped interior for a snug fit with the exterior surface of the pipette such that jamming the pipette end portion into the cone-shaped interior creates a connection. Optionally, a substance that creates a temporary adhesion between the parts may be employed. The mounting structure112may be tubular with opposite openings including a tip opening114through which the tip2of the pipette extends and is able to protrude, and may also include a back opening116through which the major portion of the pipette extends when the mounting structure112is mounted on the pipette1. Different sizes of the mounting structure may be utilized for the variety of pipette sizes that are available.

The tool portion16may also include a scraper structure118which is configured to scrape a surface, such as plastic surfaces of a container and/or the upper surface of an agar material within a container. The scraper structure118may include an elongated scraping edge120extends along a portion of the length of the scraper structure. The scraper structure may be provided in a variety sizes to accommodate different sizes of containers and different types of samples.

The tool portion may also include a connection structure122which connects the scraper structure118to the mounting structure112in a manner that permits movement of the scraper structure with respect to the mounting structure and a pipette on which the mounting structure is mounted. The connection structure122may permit swivel movement of the scraper structure with respect to the mounting structure and may also permit rotational movement therebetween. The connection structure122may comprise a ball124and a socket126(seeFIGS. 40 through 42), with the ball being mounted on the mounting structure and the socket being formed on the scraper structure. The ball124may have at least one notch128formed on the surface of the ball for removably receiving at least one rib130formed on the socket to releaseably lock a position of the scraper structure with respect to the mounting structure (although the positions of the notch and rib may be reversed with respect to the ball and socket). The rib130and the notch128may be arranged on the structures such that a detent relationship is provided for maintaining the scraper structure in at least one orientation with respect to the mounting structure. The ball and socket may be in a tight snap fit relationship that enhances the ability of the rib and notch to hold an orientation of the scraper with respect to the connection structure. Illustratively, the orientation may be characterized by a longitudinal axis of the scraper structure being oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pipette. Optionally, the orientation may be characterized by the longitudinal axis of the scraper structure being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipette. In some embodiments, the location of the socket126on the scraper structure118may be offset from a midpoint of the length of the scraper structure such that an eccentric relationship is enabled.

The sample scraping tool, when mounted on the end of a pipette, facilitates the use of a pipette to withdraw material from the interior of a container, such as a tissue culture (TC) flask. The sample scraping tool is attached to the end of the pipette by pushing the pipette into the mounting structure112through the back opening typically to a point at which the tip of the pipette reaches the tip opening114of the structure112. The scraping edge120of the scraper structure is movable and rotatable, and may even be swivelable, so that the edge120may be positioned at a large range of angles once the tool110has been moved inside a tissue culture flask. The adjustability of the scraper structure enhances access to virtually all areas of the container interior. The sample, such as cells, is scraped from a surface in the container, such as the surface of tissue culture media, and then removed using the pipette. These actions may be repeated a number of times without removing the tool from the interior of the container. Thus, the scraping and removal (such as by aspiration using the pipette) may be accomplished without using two different tools at different times, and may also be accomplished without removing the tool from the container interior between the scraping and removal operations. The speed and efficiency of the operations are also significantly increased.

It should be appreciated that in the foregoing description and appended claims, that the terms “substantially” and “approximately,” when used to modify another term, mean “for the most part” or “being largely but not wholly or completely that which is specified” by the modified term.

Each of the tools described may be formed out of a suitable plastic material that may be sterilized before and after use, although it is contemplated that in many applications the tool may be disposed after a single use.

It should also be appreciated from the foregoing description that, except when mutually exclusive, the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with features of other embodiments as desired while remaining within the intended scope of the disclosure.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the steps disclosed in the text and/or the drawing figures may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order of the steps may be rearranged, substeps may be performed in parallel, shown steps may be omitted, or other steps may be included, etc.