A heated, insulated box known as a laboratory incubator is utilized to cultivate and preserve cell or microbiological cultures. Lab incubator, such as hybridization incubators, CO2 incubators, etc., keeps the interior atmosphere's temperature, humidity, and gas concentration at ideal levels. A programmable timer that can be configured to cycle through various temperatures and humidity levels is a common feature of laboratory incubators.
Lab incubators come in various forms, such as dry bath incubators with single or dual blocks, hybridization incubators/ovens, biological oxygen demand (BOD) units perfect for insect or plant studies, shaking incubators, bioreactors, and a range of laboratory test chambers.
Principle of Laboratory Incubator
The thermo-electricity concept, which states that heat or thermal energy transforms into electrical energy, is the fundamental principle of a laboratory incubator. The incubator's thermostat keeps the temperature steady by generating a thermal gradient. As a result, the temperature gradient creates a voltage called a thermoelectric effect.
Because different microbes require various temperatures to flourish, the device has a predefined temperature set. For instance, mesophilic bacteria should be incubated at 37°C, but yeast and mold should be incubated at 28°C. When power is supplied, the temperature within the incubator rises. The temperature sensor, controller, and contractor all play a role in temperature regulation.
A thermometer shows the internal temperature of an instrument. The incubator's heating system consists of bulbs and fans to ensure that the hot air is distributed evenly throughout the space. Once the incubator has power, the contractor is powered, which turns on the lights. The contractor is de-energized when the incubator achieves the desired temperature, momentarily turning off the power supply.
Parts of the Laboratory Incubator
The parts of laboratory incubators are as follows:
Thermostat
The thermostat maintains the desired temperature both during heating cycles and when no heat is needed.
Shelves
In the interior of the incubator, there are shelves. These can be easily cleaned because they are removable. The Petri plates containing culture media are kept on the shelves. Heat is distributed more evenly throughout the incubatory due to perforations in the racks.
Thermometer
The upper portion of the cabinet's exterior wall contains the thermometer. The thermometer includes a mercury bulb embedded into the incubator on one end and gradations on the other, showing the temperature.
Cabinet with Door
The incubator's cabinet has two walls. The cabinet is comprised of stainless steel on the outside and aluminum on the interior. To stop heat loss, glass wool insulates the space between the twin walls. The cabinet has a storage capacity that spans from 20 to 800 liters. The door is at the incubator's front.
Asbestos door gaskets airtightly seal the door and cabinet. The gaskets stop sterile air from entering the wardrobe and hot air from escaping into the outside environment. The cabinet door features glass so that you can see what's inside.
Control Panel
The control panel, located outside the cabinet, features numerous switches for managing the incubator's various settings. In addition, it operates the thermostat.
Additional Parts
Incubators with HEPA filters limit the likelihood of contamination by creating a closed-loop system. In a similar vein, some incubators have humidity and CO2 control to offer the ideal environment for the development of some bacteria.
Uses of Laboratory Incubator
Laboratory incubators have a vast range of applications. Some of them are listed below:
- An incubator aids in the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms in microbiology labs.
- Similarly, it aids in the growth of viruses in cell cultures.
- The environment for hatching insects, birds, and other oviparous animals' eggs is provided by incubators in zoology labs.
- Biological samples should be stored before being analyzed in medical labs.
Contact Us for More Details About Our Lab Products
Please get in touch with a member of our team right away if you have any questions about any of our laboratory incubators, such as hybridization incubators, CO2 incubators, etc., or would like to find out how much a lab incubator costs.
We are looking forward to assisting you!
