WO2011135583A2

WO2011135583A2 - Antibiotic disc dispensing devices

Info

Publication number: WO2011135583A2
Application number: PCT/IN2011/000272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bhagwati Prasad; Pranav Naik; Rajeev Kranthi Naraparaju; Veeral Desai
Original assignee: Span Biotronics Private Limited
Priority date: 2010-04-26
Filing date: 2011-04-26
Publication date: 2011-11-03
Also published as: WO2011135583A3

Abstract

A disc dispensing clip comprising: a cartridge holding portion to receive a disc-loaded cartridge; an actuator to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge to a receiver; a locator to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus; and, a hollow well shaped region at the end of the locator to dispense at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge at a predetermined position on the receiver. The invention further relates to a disc dispensing assembly comprising at least one disc-loaded cartridge and at least one disc dispensing clip wherein the disc-loaded cartridge is positioned in the disc dispensing clip to enable dispensing of at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge.

Description

ANTIBIOTIC DISC DISPENSING DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disc dispensing clip to dispense antibiotic sensitivity discs from the disc loaded cartridges on the surface of the receiver. The invention further relates to a disc dispensing apparatus designed to hold a plurality of the disc dispensing clips. The invention particularly relates to a disc dispensing assembly comprising the disc dispensing apparatus, the disc dispensing clip and a disc-loaded cartridge with the disc-loaded cartridge designed to hold desiccants within the cartridge assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional antibiotic disc dispensing means include manual dispensers such as tweezers or pen like cartridges. However, such dispensers are not user friendly and consume a lot of precious time of the skilled personnel during the disc dispensing operations. Besides, the dispensing is not accurate as the antibiotic discs tend to fly during dispensing. As a result the sensitivity discs are not dispensed at the desired locations on the receiver leading to wastage-of the receiver area or relatively smaller zone diameter between the dispensed antibiotic discs thereby failing to ensure accuracy in conducting sensitivity assays. Disc dispensing devices for dispensing sensitivity discs from tubular disc-loaded cartridges are known in the art. Several disc dispensing devices simultaneously release more than one sensitivity discs into a receiver such as a Petri dish to analyze and compare the effectiveness of several antibiotics. Such dispensers are found to cause malfunctions such as failure to discharge one of the discs during the dispensing operation.

Several automatic disc dispensers are available which are known to provide reproducible distances between the dispensed antibiotic discs. But such dispensers involve high manufacturing costs and^" are quite expensive. Besides they exhibit the drawback of becoming dysfunctional even if one of the cartridges is empty or faulty. Additionally, the antibiotic discs available in disc-loaded elongated tubular cartridges are found to be sensitive to moisture and do not exhibit a good shelf life. Desiccants are known to be included in the packaging of these cartridges so as to increase the shelf life of the antibiotic discs. However, once the cartridge packaging is opened such desiccants are disposed off, thereby leading to a reduced shelf life of the sensitivity discs.

Hence there is a need to develop a disc dispensing device which effectively dispenses the sensitivity discs at predetermined positions on the receiver, providing for reproducible distances between the dispensed discs, thus ensuring uniform zone diameter between the dispensed discs. There is a need to develop a disc dispensing apparatus which is capable of dispensing several discs simultaneously and which ensures that the discs are dispensed in a uniform direction with a controlled positioning on the surface of the receiver to ensure accuracy of the test results. There is a still further need to develop a disc dispensing assembly wherein the disc-loaded cartridges include desiccants within the cartridge assembly thus increasing the shelf life of the antibiotic discs slacked in the cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a disc dispensing clip comprising: a cartridge holding portion enabled to receive a disc-loaded cartridge; an actuator enabled to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge to a receiver; a locator in continuous arrangement with the cartridge holding portion, the locator enabled to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus; and, a hollow well shaped region at the end of the locator to dispense at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge at a predetermined position on the receiver.

According to an embodiment, the invention relates to a disc dispensing apparatus comprising: a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of elevated receptacles connected end to end to receive a plurality of disc dispensing clips, and, a handle embedded in the centre of the top portion to simultaneously dispense a plurality of sensitivity discs on the receiver; and, a peripheral side wall to position the disc dispensing apparatus on the receiver, wherein the peripheral side wall is moulded to the top portion. According to another embodiment, the invention relates to a disc loaded cartridge comprising a first portion including a plunger and a first desiccant; a second disc holding portion which comprises a plurality of antibiotic discs positioned one above the other; and, a cartridge cap enabled to a hold a second desiccant.

According to a further embodiment, the invention relates to a disc dispensing assembly comprising: a. at least one disc-loaded cartridge which comprises a first portion including a plunger and a first desiccant; a second disc holding portion which comprises a plurality of antibiotic discs positioned one above the other; and, a cartridge cap enabled to a hold a second desiccant; and,

b. at least one disc dispensing clip which comprises a cartridge holding portion enabled to receive a disc-loaded cartridge; an actuator enabled to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge to a receiver; a locator in continuous arrangement with the cartridge holding portion, the locator enabled to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus; and, a ho!low well shaped region at the end of the locator to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge at a predetermined position on the receiver,

wherein the disc loaded cartridge is positioned in the cartridge holding portion of the disc dispensing clip to enable dispensing of at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described by way of embodiments of the invention.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a top view of a receiver wherein the sensitivity discs are dispensed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 illustrates^ prior art disc dispensing clip used with a disc-loaded cartridge for dispensing antibiotic discs.

FIGURE 3 illustrates an isometric view of the disc dispensing clip of the invention showing the cartridge holding portion, an actuator to release the lowermost disc from the disc loaded cartridge, a locator to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc, dispensing apparatus and a hollow well shaped region to dispense the released antibiotic disc at a desired position on the receiver, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 4 illustrates a bottom view of the disc dispensing clip showing the hollow well shaped region designed to dispense the antibiotic disc at a desired position on the receiver and a D-shaped locator to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 5 illustrates an isometric view of the disc dispensing apparatus showing a top portion with a plurality of receptacles to receive a plurality of disc dispensing clips, a handle embedded in the centre of the top portion to dispense a plurality of sensitivity discs on to the surface of the receiver and a peripheral side wall to position the disc dispensing apparatus on the receiver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6A and 63 illustrate side and front views of the disc-loaded cartridge showing the inclusion of the desiccant in the cartridge assembly. FIGURE 6B illustrates a perforated plunger in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 7 illustrates a side view of the disc dispensing assembly including a disc dispensing clip engaged with a disc-loaded cartridge in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 8A illustrates a front view of the disc dispensing apparatus and the positioning of one disc dispensing assembly comprising a disc dispensing clip and a disc-loaded cartridge on one of the elevated receptacles of the disc dispensing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 8B illustrates an isometric top view of the disc dispensing apparatus showing the positioning of a disc dispensing assembly comprising a disc dispensing clip with a disc-loaded cartridge, over one of the receptacles of the disc dispensing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIGURE 9 illustrates an isometric view of the disc dispensing assembly showing a plurality of disc dispensing clips each with a disc-loaded cartridge, the clips positioned in a plurality of receptacles of the disc dispensing apparatus with the handle being pushed to simultaneously release a plurality of discs on to a receiver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

It is to be understood that the drawings are not to scale and are schematic in nature. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which renders other details difficult to perceive, may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In describing the embodiments of the invention, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes ail technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the invention relates to disc dispensing clip (300) for dispensing antibiotic

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sensitivity discs on the surface of the receiver (not shown). The disc dispensing clip (300) is formed of a cartridge holding portion (305) which can include a cylindrical hollow structure (310) at the top and an elongated arcuate plate (315) in a continuous arrangement with the cylindrical hollow structure (310). The disc dispensing clip further has an actuator (320) to release at least one disc from a disc-loaded cartridge (not shown) The actuator has an elongated arm (325) having its first end (335) secured to the cylindrical hollow structure (310) of the cartridge holding portion (305) and a second end (340) biased away therefrom. The actuator further includes a short moveable arm (330) moulded at an angle to the second end (340) of the elongated arm (325). The other end (345) of the short movable arm (330) is free. When the actuator (320) is pushed, the free end of the short moveable arm (330) tits the lowermost disc of the disc-loaded cartridge (600) as shown in FIGURE 7 to release the disc from the cartridge. The disc dispensing clip (300) further includes a locator (350) which is in a continuous arrangement with the elongated arcuate plate (315) of the cartridge holding portion (305). The locator (350) is designed to position the disc dispensing clip (300) on the disc dispensing apparatus (not shown in the figure). The locator (350) defines a hollow cavity which forms a hollow well shaped region (355) towards^ the end of the locator (350). The hollow well shaped region (355) facilitates the release of at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge (600) at a predetermined position on the receiver (not shown). According to an embodiment, the disc dispensing clip (300) further includes a latch arrangement (360) at the periphery of the cylindrical hollow structure (310) of the cartridge holding portion (305). The latch arrangement (360) can provide for a steady engagement of the disc-loaded cartridge with the cartridge holding portion (305) of the disc dispensing clip (300). According to a further embodiment, FIGURE 4 illustrates a bottom view (400) of the disc dispensing clip (300) showing the hollow well shaped region (355) designed to dispense the antibiotic disc at a desired position on the receiver (not shown in the figure) and the locator (350) of the disc dispensing clip (300) to position the disc dispensing clip (300) on a disc dispensing apparatus (not shown in the figure). While the D-shaped locator (350) has been illustrated as an embodiment, it should be understood that the shape of the locator (350) can also be oval, square, rectangular or other suitable geometrical forms.

According to an embodiment as shown in FIGURE 5, the invention relates to a disc dispensing apparatus (500) which can be used with the disc dispensing clip (300) of the invention. The disc dispensing apparatus (500) has a top portion (510) which includes a plurality of elevated or raised receptacles (530) moulded to the top portion. The plurality of receptacles (530) is connected end to end to one another. While the receptacles (530) have been illustrated to be D-shaped or semicircular, as an embodiment, it should be understood that the receptacles (530) of any convenient geometrical shape known in the art, are well within the scope of the invention.

The top portion (510) further has a handle (540) embedded in the centre (590) of the top portion. The handle (540) has an inbuilt spring mechanism (not shown) to facilitate the pushing of the handle and includes an annular ring-shaped pusher (550) at the centre. On pressing the handle, the pusher (550) hits the actuator (320) (not shown) of at least one disc dispensing clip (300) mounted with the disc-loaded cartridge to simultaneously release at least one sensitivity disc from the disc loaded cartridge to the receiver. The disc dispensing apparatus (500) further has a peripheral side wall (520) moulded to the top portion (6510). The peripheral side wall (520) helps positioning the disc dispensing apparatus (500) on the receiver (not shown) during the disc dispensing operation.

According to an embodiment, the peripheral side wall (520) of the disc dispensing apparatus (500) can be cylindrical in shape. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of the peripheral side wall can be such that it facilitates the placement of the disc dispensing apparatus on top of the receiver during the disc dispensing process. The peripheral side wall can have a height upto about 30 mm. The peripheral side wall (520) allows the disc dispensing apparatus to rest on the receiver (not shown in the figure) or on the table top (not shown in the figure) or on a base station (not shown in the figure) during dispensing. It ensures that the disc dispensi g apparatus remains steady during the disc dispensing operation.

According to another embodiment, the peripheral side wall (520) of the disc dispensing apparatus (500) has at least one opening (570) on its surface which is useful to grip or hold the dispensing apparatus in position during the disc dispensing operation.

According to yet another embodiment, the peripheral side wall (520) has a iock arrangement (560) towards the periphery at the base. The lock arrangement (560) facilitates the placement of the disc dispensing apparatus on an optional base station (not shown) during the disc dispensing operation.

According to a further embodiment, the top portion ( 10) and the peripheral side wall (520) can be moulded inseparably to one another.

Figures 6A and 6B depict disc-loaded cartridges (600) according to an embodiment of the invention. The disc-loaded cartridge (600) has a first portion (610) which includes a plunger (640) and a first desiccant (650) placed inside the plunger (640). The disc-loaded cartridge (600) further has a second disc holding portion (620) which includes a plurality of antibiotic sensitivity discs (670) stacked one above the other. The sensitivity discs particularly comprise circular pieces of absorbent materials such as a blotting paper which has a thickness of about 1 mm. The discs are based at one end of the cartridge by means of an internal coil spring. The cartridge further has a cartridge cap (630) below the disc holding portion (620) which includes a second desiccant (650). The first portion (610), the second disc holding portion (620) and the cartridge cap (630) are in a continuous arrangement with one another. The disc-loaded cartridge further has a protrusion (680) on the outer surface which provides for engaging the disc-loaded cartridge (600) with the disc dispensing clip (300) of the invention. The protrusion (680) on the outer surface of the disc-loaded cartridge can be engaged with a latch arrangement (360) at the periphery of the cylindrical hollow structure (310) of the cartridge holding portion (305) of t e disc dispensing clip to achieve the positioning.

According to another embodiment, the invention relates to a disc dispensing assembly (700) as shown in FIGURE 7. The disc dispensing assembly (700) comprises a disc-loaded cartridge (600) and a disc dispensing clip (300). The disc-loaded cartridge (600) has an elongated cylindrical first portion (610) which includes a plunger (not shown) with a first desiccant (not shown), an elongated cylindrical second disc holding portion (620) continuous with the first portion which holds a plurality of sensitivity discs stacked above one another and a removable cartridge cap (not shown) beneath the second portion (620) which contains a further desiccant (not shown) therein.

The disc dispensing clip has a cartridge holding portion (305) which is designed to receive and hold a disc-loaded cartridge (600). The disc dispensing clip further has an actuator (320) formed of an elongated arm (325) and short movable arm (330) moulded to the elongated arm (325). The disc dispensing clip (300) further includes a locator (350) in a continuous atrnrigement with the cartridge holding portion (305). The locator defines a hollow cavity which forms a well shaped region (355) towards the end of the locator (350) which facilitates the release of at least one disc from the disc- loaded cartridge (600) at a predetermined position on the receiver (not shewn) which is placed below the disc dispensing apparatus (600).

According to an embodiment, the disc-loaded cartridge (600) is positioned in the cartridge holding portion (305) of the disc dispensing clip (300) to form the disc dispensing assembly (700) which provides for the dispension of at least one disc from the disc loaded cartridge (600) on the receiver.

According to another embodiment as shown in FIGURES 8A and 8B, the disc dispensing assembly (700) further includes a disc dispensing apparatus (500) which has a top oison (510) with a plurality of elevated receptacles (530), connected end to end and designed to receive the disc dispensing clip (300) with the disc-loaded cartridge (600).

The top portion (510) of the disc dispensing apparatus (500) further has a handle (540) embedded at the centre (590) of the top portion. The handle (540) has an annular ring-shaped pusher (550) at the bottom. On pressing the handle (540) which has an inbuilt spring mechanism (not shown), the annular ring shaped pusher (550) hits one or more actuators (320) of the disc dispensing clips and then slides against the actuators (320), thereby pushing the short movable arm (345) of one or more actuators (320) towards one or more disc-loaded cartridges (600). The short movable arm (345) of the actuator (320) hits the lowermost disc from the disc-loaded cartridge (600) thereby releasing the lowermost disc from the cartridge. According to an embodiment, the free end of the short movable arm (345) of the actuator has a rounded or curved edge to ensure effective dispensing of the disc from the disc-loaded cartridge. According to yet another embodiment, one or more disc dispensing assemblies (700) comprising at least one disc dispensing clip (300) engaged with the disc loaded cartridge (600) are placed on the disc dispensing apparatus (500) to simultaneously dispense a plurality of sensitivity discs on the receiver. The placement of the disc dispensing assemblies (700) on the disc dispensing apparatus (500) is achieved by positioning the locators (350) of one or more disc dispensing clips (300) on one or more receptacles (530) based on the top portion (510) of the disc dispensing apparatus (500),

According to another embodiment, the disc dispensing apparatus (500) and the disc dispensing clip (300) are fabricated from a polymeric or a plastic material such as polystyrene. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is possible to manufacture the disc dispensing apparatus by using any material that can be moulded or machined without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to a further embodiment, the receiver is a growth medium carrier. The growth medium carrier can be a petri plate or any cell culture dish.

According a still further embodiment, the sensitivity discs are dispensed from the disc dispensing apparatus to a flat surface (not shown) in the receiver. The flat surface can be a growth medium such as nutrient broth or an agar gel.

According to an embodiment, the positioning of the disc dispensing clips (300) on the disc dispensing apparatus (500) is such that the actuators (320) of all the disc dispensing clips (300) are facing inwards towards the handle (540) of the disc dispensing apparatus (500). However, the positioning of the disc dispensing clips (300) on the disc dispensing apparatus (500) wherein the actuators facing outwards, away from the handle ^540), are also within the scope of the present invention.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Claims

We ciaim: j 1. A disc dispensing clip comprising:

a cartridge holding portion enabled to receive a disc-loaded cartridge;

an actuator enabled to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge to a receiver;

a locator in continuous arrangement with the cartridge holding portion, the locator enabled to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus; and,

a hollow well shaped region at the end of the locator to dispense at least one disc from the discloaded cartridge at a predetermined position on the receiver.

2. The disc dispensing clip of claim 1. wherein the cartridge holding portion includes a cylindrical hollow structure and an elongated arcuate plate in a continuous arrangement with the cylindrical hollow structure.

^■'ό . The disc dispensing clip of claim 1 further comprising a latch arrangement at the periphery of the cylindrical hollow structure of the cartridge holding portion^ to engage the disc-loaded cartridge in the cartridge holding portion.

4. The disc dispensing clip of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an elongated arm with a first end secured to the cylindrical hollow structure of the cartridge holding portion and a second end biased away therefrom; and a short movable arm moulded at an angle to the second end of the elongated arm, the short movable arm being free at the other end.

5. The disc dispensing clip of ciaim 1, wherein the locator is in a continuous arrangement with the elongated and arcuate plate of the cartridge holding portion, defining a cavity, and enabled to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus.

6. A disc dispensing apparatus comprising: a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of elevated receptacles connected end to end to receive a plurality of disc dispensing clips; and, a handle embedded in the centre of the top portion to simultaneously dispense a plurality of sensitivity discs on the receiver; and,

a peripheral side wall to position the disc dispensing apparatus on the receiver, wherein the peripheral side wall is moulded to the top portion.

7. The disc dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the handle further comprises an annular ring- shaped pusher to push at least one actuator of the at least one disc dispensing clip to simultaneously release at least one disc on the receiver.

8. The disc dispensing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the peripheral side wall has at least one aperture enabled to hold the disc dispensing apparatus during the disc dispensing operation.

9. The disc dispensing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one lock arrangement at the base of the peripheral side wall to position the disc dispensing apparatus on a base station.

10. A disc-loaded cartridge comprising:

a first portion including a plunger and a first desiccant;

a second disc holding portion which comprises a plurality of antibiotic discs positioned one above the other; and,

a cartridge cap enabled to a hold a second desiccant.

1 1. The disc-loaded cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first portion, the second disc holding portion and the cartridge cap are in continuous arrangement with one another.

12. The disc-loaded cartridge of claim 10, wherein the first desiccant and the second desiccant are identical.

13. The disc-loaded cartridge of claim 10, wherein the plunger has one or more perforations.

14. A disc dispensing assembly comprising; a. at ieasi one disc-loaded cartridge which comprises a first portion including a plunger and a first desiccant; a second disc holding portion which comprises a plurality of antibiotic discs positioned one above the other; and, a cartridge cap enabled to a hold a second desiccant; and,

b, at least one disc dispensing clip which comprises a cartridge holding portion enabled to receive a disc-loaded cartridge; an actuator enabled to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge to a receiver; a locator in continuous arrangement with the cartridge holding portion, the locator enabled to position the disc dispensing clip on a disc dispensing apparatus; and, a hollow well shaped region at the end of the locator to release at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge at a predetermined position on the receiver,

wherein the disc-loaded cartridge is positioned in the cartridge holding portion of the disc dispensing clip to enable dispensing of at least one disc from the disc-loaded cartridge.

15. The disc dispensing assembly of claim 14 further comprising a disc dispensing apparatus wherein the disc dispensing apparatus comprises:

a top portion comprising a plurality of elevated receptacles connected end to end to receive a plurality of disc dispensing clips; and, a handle embedded in the centre of the top portion to simultaneously dispense a plurality of sensitivity discs on the receiver; and,

a peripheral side wall to position the disc dispensing apparatus on the receiver, wherein the peripheral side wall is moulded to the top portion,

wherein the disc dispensing assembly comprising the at least one disc dispensing clip and the disc loaded cartridge is positioned on at least one of the plurality of the elevated receptacles of the disc dispensing apparatus to simultaneously dispense a plurality of discs on the receiver.

16. A disc dispensing clip for dispensing at least one disc to a receiver substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A disc dispensing assembly for dispensing at least one disu to a receiver substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.