^Technical Field

[0001] The present invention in particular relates to the technical field of the experimental facilities and specifically relates to a dark box suitable for operating light-sensitive reactions.

Background Art

[0002] In many experiments for assessing sample behavior, it is often required to be placed in a dark environment for a set time for reaction, and changes are monitored during and after the reaction is finished. MTT assay, such as a colorimetric analysis for measuring cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, needs to be carried out with protection from light and in a sterile environment.

[0003] The most widely used technique for these experiments is that the test specimen during a measurement period is stored in a dark and sterile room, such as a culture room. Occupying a dark and sterile room for a long time costs a lot. In addition, if several different tests are performed simultaneously on a multi-well plate, analyzing different samples with different intervals and/or different period of the test may disrupt the dark conditions and interrupt the measurement, which the reproduction is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, a need exists to design a small, portable, dark, and sterile box for operation the light- sensitive reactions.

Summary of Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and provide at least the advantages which will be described later.

[0005] The invention also aims at providing a dark box for assessing sample behavior, which must be placed in a dark and sterile environment, wherein the operation is easy, the precision of the condition is controllable, and the stability is satisfactory. To achieve these objects, the dark box for light-sensitive reaction is comprising:

[0006] According to this invention, there is provided a dark and sterile box for light-sensitive reactions which is made of metal or opaque plastics to shield the light, having a table as a holder for sample container, a fan for cooling the air inside the box, a timer to set the test duration, an alarm to warn the operator and at least one sterilization lamp. According to one aspect of the invention, the sample container could be a Petri plate or a multi -well plate. [0007] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a dark box for light- sensitive reactions with a movable door, having a aperture with a sliding door that provides access to each well for assessing and/or injecting some material into the well, separately.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, is also provided a dark box for light- sensitive reactions, wherein the sample container in the dark box is placed on a table which can move in two directions, and can be controlled manually by a control panel on the outer lateral surface of the box body to address the intended well.

[0009] Preferably, the box body is provided in cubical shape, however, it can be made in cylindrical and other shapes.

Technical Problem

[0010] In some experiments for investigating the sample behavior, it is stored in a dark and sterile room, for a set time of reaction. Providing and maintaining a dark and sterile condition for a long time is difficult and costly. Also, evaluating different samples with different test intervals disrupts the dark and sterile conditions, which is detrimental for other samples.

Solution to Problem

[0011] The present invention relates to a dark box for light-sensitive reactions, which is small and portable and can be placed under the fume hood or biosafety cabinet in a laboratory.

[0012] The present invention relates to a dark box, in which the dark and sterile conditions are providing without occupying a room in dark and useless.

[0013] An aperture on the door of the body box provides access to each well, separately. Shifting from one sample to another is carried out by the movement of the table in the two- axis.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] The present invention relates to a dark box for light-sensitive reactions which introduces advantages as :

[0015] Providing dark and sterile condition in a small dark box is easier and more stable than that in a room;

[0016] Maintaining dark and sterile condition in a small dark box is easier and more stable than that in a room; [0017] The present dark box is small and portable, so it can be displaced anywhere if it is required.

[0018] Each sample is accessible in the dark box through the designed aperture on the door of the box and keeps other wells away from exposure to light.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] Below, the present invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment with associated drawing.

FIG. la is a schematic perspective view of the inside of the dark box for light-sensitive reactions according to one embodiment;

FIG. lb is a schematic perspective view of the outside of the dark box for light-sensitive reactions according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the mechanical part of the dark box for light-sensitive reactions according to one embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] It will be understood that the term "comprises" as used herein, do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or groups thereof.

[0021] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] In a particular embodiment, a dark box for light-sensitive reactions is a small and portable box wherein the samples can be stored in it in the dark for a long time without being interrupted. The present dark box can be set-up anywhere in the laboratory, in an advantageous embodiment, under a fume hood. Also, in another embodiment, since the box is light, it can be easily moved if needed.

[0023] As shown in FIG. la and FIG. lb, in one embodiment, dark box for light-sensitive reactions 10, comprises a box body 11, a movable door 12, a table 13 as sample holder provided inside the box 11, one or plurality of sample container(s) 14 placed on the table 13. In one embodiment, the box body 11 and door 12 are made of metals or opaque plastics which block all light from passing through them.

[0024] As shown in FIG. la and FIG. lb, in a preferred embodiment, the movable door 12 can pivotally be attached from one side to the body box 11. It should be noted that this method of connecting the door does not limit other ways of installing a movable door to the body box, and they are also within the scope of the present invention. [0025] As shown in FIG. la and FIG. lb, in one embodiment, an aperture 15 is designed on the door 12 of the body box 11 which is covered with a sliding door 16. In various embodiments, the aperture 15 can be circular and/or rounded rectangular in shapes. In one embodiment, the aperture 15 size can be adjusted by using the sliding door 16. Sliding door 16 of the aperture 15 provides controlling the access to only one well and keeping away the other wells from light exposure. Sliding door 16 is also made of the same material as dark box 11 and the movable door 12. In another embodiment, other shapes may be used for designing the aperture 15, provided that individual sample assessment can be insured.

[0026] FIG. lb provides a view of the outside of the dark box 11, wherein the sliding door 16 is shown in a better manner. In another embodiment in FIG. lb is shown that the sliding door 16 is adjustable to access a well 14, separately.

[0027] As shown in FIG. la, in a particular embodiment, the sample container 14 is placed on the table 13 which can move in two perpendicular directions. In one embodiment, table 13 movement is controlled by an electrical and a mechanical unit.

[0028] In one embodiment, the electrical unit comprises an electrical board which drives the movement of the mechanical unit and another electrical board, which is associated with a control panel 18 placed on the lateral surface of the body box 11 for addressing the sample 14. In one embodiment, the control panel can be installed on the outer lateral surface of the body box 11. In other words, the position of the sample 14 is chosen by using the control panel 18, and then the electrical drivers in the electrical board transmitted this command to the mechanical unit.

[0029] As shown in FIG. la and lb, there is an electrical turn on/off bottom 17 on the lateral surface of the box body 11. In various embodiments, the dark box for light-sensitive reactions 10 needs to connect to electrical power to use more features. For example, table movement and cooling fan require electric power. In other words, the dark box for light- sensitive reaction without electrical power can be just used as a dark place, it neither cools the inside of the box nor controls the movement.

[0030] In one embodiment, the structure of the mechanical unit components 20 are shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the mechanical unit comprises a frame 26, two guideways 28, a step motor 22, a lead screw 24 for moving the table (25, 14) in each direction. In another embodiment, each step motor 22 by opening or closing the related lead screw 24 makes a linear movement in a direction. As an example, for moving to the next or previous sample in a row or column in a multi-well culture plate, the numerical position of the well can be selected by using the control panel 18. So, the electrical unit drives the step motors 22 to open or close the lead screw 24 in one and/or two directions.

[0031] In one embodiment, the dark box for light-sensitive reactions 10 is provided with at least one sterilizer lamp for sterilization inside the box 11. In another embodiment, a cooling fan can be provided in the dark box for cooling the electrical board and decreasing the air temperature inside the box 11 because of heat can be harmful to the samples 14. Also, in another embodiment, because of that, the dark box is small, light, and portable, it can be placed in the laboratory refrigerator.

[0032] Cell metabolic activity and other experiments can be carried out in the present dark box, usually need to assess in frequent time-intervals. So, in one embodiment, the dark box is provided with a timer to set the experiment duration and a warning system to notify the operator. The alarm can be a sound, light, text message, or call.

Examples

[0033] MTT assay is a colorimetric assay for measuring cellular metabolic activity, which is based on the reduction of a yellow tetrazolium salt (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide or MTT) to purple formazan crystals by metabolically active cells. MTT is a light-sensitive material and should be kept in the dark as much as possible. The present dark box was used for investigating the cytotoxicity of a drug on the cellular metabolic activity by using MTT assay. A dark box was made of black poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), as ‘’plexiglass” trade name, as explained in the description with 43*43* 15 cm ³ dimension. A 96-well plate was used as a sample container for measuring the cytotoxicity of different dosage of drug. The dark box also can be used for XTT and PI assay and for other light-sensitive reactions.

Industrial Applicability

[0034] The present invention can be used widely in all laboratories in which light-sensitive reactions can be carried out inside the box, and there is no need to provide a room with dark and sterile conditions, which makes it useless for other researches and researchers.