Patent ID: 7449327

Claim:
A system for dispensing dehydrated culture media (DCM) powder from a container into a vessel, the system comprising: a valve assembly, being independent of the container and the vessel, and 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 operable 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 movable valve through the interior of the structure, and passes out of the second opening at a rate controlled by movement of the movable valve and through the inlet into the vessel while the substantially closed system substantially eliminates DCM dust formation outside the vessel, structure and container; and a liquid regulator, adapted to control a flow of liquid into the vessel.