Modular incubators for configurable workstations
A modular incubator includes a housing including one or more fastening mechanisms for attachment to a workstation frame, a platform located at the housing and defining a sample placement area, and a chamber wall structure coupled to the platform. The chamber wall structure is pivotable between a closed position against the platform to form a sample chamber and an open position in which a front end of the chamber wall structure is spaced apart from the platform to allow access to the sample placement area. The modular incubator further includes a lid coupled to and openable from the chamber wall structure to expose at least a portion of the chamber wall structure for viewing.
1 . A workstation comprising:
a flat work surface area having a width of about 1.0 m to about 2.0 m;
a frame supporting the flat work surface area, the flat work surface area and the frame together defining a workspace for carrying out a scientific protocol;
a flat incubation surface area lying adjacent to and flush with the flat work surface area and defining a sample placement area on which a sample container can be positioned for incubating a sample contained therein, the sample placement area lying flush with the flat work surface area such that the sample container can be slid from the flat work surface area onto the sample placement area without lifting the sample container from the flat work surface area; and
a chamber wall structure providing an incubation functionality at the workstation, the chamber wall structure coupled to the flat incubation surface area and pivotable between:
a closed position against the flat incubation surface area to form a sample chamber in which the sample container can be placed for incubating the sample contained therein, and
an open position in which a front end of the chamber wall structure is spaced apart from the flat incubation surface area to allow access to the sample placement area,
wherein the flat incubation surface area forms a lower wall of the sample chamber, and
wherein the lower wall of the sample chamber provides the sample placement area that lies flush with the flat work surface area,
wherein the workstation is a Class II biosafety cabinet.
2 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises an upper panel structure that at least in part defines the workspace.
3 . The workstation of claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a table structure disposed beneath the upper panel structure and that at least in part supports the flat work surface area.
4 . The workstation of claim 3 , wherein the frame comprises a lower panel structure disposed beneath the table structure.
5 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising an airflow system mounted to the frame and providing an airflow path that extends through the workspace.
6 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the sample placement area is flat continuously between a first end of the sample placement area and a second end of the sample placement area that is located oppositely from the first end.
7 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the chamber wall structure has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
8 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the chamber wall structure comprises a sealing member that extends along a sidewall of the chamber wall structure for sealing the chamber wall structure to the flat incubation surface area in the closed position.
9 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the chamber wall structure is coupled to the flat incubation surface area at a torque hinge.
10 . The workstation of claim 9 , wherein the torque hinge is positioned at a first end of the chamber wall structure, and wherein the chamber wall structure comprises a handle positioned at a second end of the chamber wall structure, the second end located oppositely from the first end.
11 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the chamber wall structure comprises one or more heating elements.
12 . The workstation of claim 11 , wherein the one or more heating elements comprise a heating plate.
13 . The workstation of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more heating elements is positioned adjacent a top wall of the chamber wall structure.
14 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising one or more heating elements positioned adjacent the flat incubation surface area.
15 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising a gas nozzle extending upward from the flat incubation surface area to deliver a gas to the sample chamber.
16 . The workstation of claim 15 , further comprising a gas line positioned beneath the flat incubation surface area and fluidically coupled to the gas nozzle.
17 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising an RFID sensor positioned along the flat incubation surface area.
18 . The workstation claim 1 , further comprising a positional feature that defines the sample placement area.
19 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for inputting one or more operational parameters that determine one or more conditions within the sample chamber.
20 . The workstation of claim 1 , further comprising a plate structure disposed beneath the flat incubation surface area.
21 . The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the scientific protocol comprises an assisted reproductive technology (ART) protocol.
22 . A modular incubator comprising:
a housing comprising one or more fastening mechanisms for attachment to a workstation frame;
a platform located at the housing and defining a sample placement area that comprises a plurality of positional regions for respective placement of a plurality of sample containers;
a gas distributor located at a center position of the sample placement area;
a chamber wall structure coupled to the platform and pivotable between:
a closed position against the platform to form a sample chamber, and
an open position in which a front end of the chamber wall structure is spaced apart from the platform to allow access to the sample placement area; and
a lid coupled to and openable from the chamber wall structure to expose at least a portion of the chamber wall structure for viewing.
23 . A modular incubator comprising:
a housing comprising one or more fastening mechanisms for attachment to a workstation frame;
a platform located at the housing and defining a sample placement area that comprises a plurality of positional regions for respective placement of a plurality of sample containers;
a plurality of RFID sensors respectively associated with the plurality of positional regions;
a chamber wall structure coupled to the platform and pivotable between:
a closed position against the platform to form a sample chamber, and
an open position in which a front end of the chamber wall structure is spaced apart from the platform to allow access to the sample placement area; and
a lid coupled to and openable from the chamber wall structure to expose at least a portion of the chamber wall structure for viewing.