Chemostat Culture Systems
The Tyler Research 500ml chemostat is intended for the growth and maintenance of bacterial cultures for input into Modified Robbins Devices and other biofilm systems. The device consists of a glass vessel (with or without water jacket), a Teflon and glass rotor assembly, and a type 316L stainless steel ported cover. There are 5 locking ports on the cover, each of which is capable of accepting and sealing a cylindrical object (plug, probe, tube or thermometer, for example) with diameters ranging from 6mm to ¼”. The cover holds two O-rings to provide a sterile seal with the glass reservoir. Agitation and circulation is provided by indirect drive of the rotor via placement on a standard magnetic stirrer.
Each device holds 6 coupons of LPMR-series configuration in a static solution for long-term incubation where flow is undesirable. The LL suffix refers to luer-lok ports for the introduction of the incubating medium. The SC suffix refers to a screw cap port.
Temperature-regulating manifolds (thermoelectric or recirculated water type) are available for the LPMR-series Modified Robbins Devices and other Tyler biofilm systems. Thermoelectric modules consist of a Peltier heat pump embedded in an aluminum ingot machined to accept one or two specific biofilm devices. A low-voltage, high-current DC circuit under microprocessor control drives the heat pump. Solid-state sensors embedded in the aluminum ingot provide feedback to the microprocessor, which functions as a proportional integrating controller. The desired temperature is programmed by means of a front panel keypad, indexing the setpoint in one-degree increments up or down. The setpoint is displayed on an LCD display, along with the actual temperature and the power consumption of the driver circuit.