What are the working conditions of incubator?

An incubator is a device that maintains the temperature and humidity of its chamber in such a way that it forms favourable conditions for rapid multiplication of microbial cells. It is commonly used in cell culture, tissue culture, biochemical studies, food processing, haematological studies and fermentation studies etc.

The basic body of the incubator is an insulated cabinet consisting of a double-walled enclosed chamber that has a capacity ranging from 20 to 800L. The space between the two walls is filled with glass wool to act as insulation. This prevents heat loss and reduces electricity consumption.

Temperature

Incubators operate under the fundamental principle that microorganisms need the perfect environment to thrive. These conditions include the right temperature, humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

To maintain these ideals, incubators use a thermostat to regulate the temperature within the chamber. The thermostat produces a thermal gradient to maintain the desired temperature.

A simple thermostat consists of a thin capillary tube that leads into a pressure can. The lid of the can opens when the temperature gets warmer, triggering an electrical switch.

Some incubators also have a cooling system that uses water or oil to keep the chamber at the optimal temperature. Some models also add CO2 at a set concentration, ensuring the incubator maintains ideal levels for cell growth.

The optimal operating temperature of an incubator depends on several factors, including the type of organism being cultured. It can also be affected by environmental factors, such as air movement past the egg or humidity.

Humidity

The humidity of the air inside an incubator is an important factor in ensuring proper hatching. High levels can cause many problems, including dead-in-shell chicks.

A well-designed and maintained incubator should create a relative humidity of at least 80%, with an even higher percentage during the last three days before the hatch. Increasing ventilation during this period, either by opening or closing vents, can also help to increase humidity.

Humidity is a measure of how much water vapor is in the air. If it is too high, eggs will be hard to hatch, and if it is too low, they may develop pneumonia or die.

Most modern incubators have sophisticated humidity controls that monitor and control humidity levels in real time. They can be manually adjusted or automatically set to maintain a specified level of relative humidity.

Oxygen

Oxygen is one of the most abundant elements in the universe and accounts for about 60% of the mass of the human body. It is a colourless gas at normal temperatures and pressures and can occur in two diatomic forms (O2) and a triatomic form (O3).

It is a vital element for life, and its presence in the atmosphere protects us from the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, its strong reactivity and rapid dissociation make it a potential threat to human health, especially to premature infants.

During cell culture, oxygen availability influences cells both metabolically and morphologically. As more pressure is placed on journals to ensure reproducibility of results, it is likely more researchers will be forced to consider the oxygen conditions surrounding their cells.

It is thus important to understand the basic physical laws governing the oxygen content of both the gas phase and the liquid phase. It is also important to know how the oxygen penetrates into the cells of a tissue culture dish.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the gas that helps maintain the pH levels in an incubator to allow for proper cell growth. This is done through a process that is mimicked inside the human body when CO2 from the air reacts with water to create bicarbonate.

Incubators also help to maintain consistent humidity conditions. This is accomplished through the use of a fan or convection to mix the air within the incubator.

The goal of any incubation is to replicate the natural environment of the cells and other microorganisms in a way that they can grow as nature intended. A CO2 incubator accomplishes this by maintaining an environment that is sterile and has constant temperature and humidity.

A key component of any incubation is a CO2 sensor that monitors the level of CO2 in the chamber. This requires a sensor that is impervious to high heat sterilization and can automatically compensate for changes in the temperature, pressure and humidity of the environment.