Glove Boxes

Configurations and types

• Vinyl, polymer, or aluminum
• Heated or unheated, or unheated with incubator
• Gloved or gloveless

Standard features — all Coy Anaerobic Chambers

• Automatic or manual airlock with vacuum pump and tubing
• Gas regulator(s) with tubing and fittings
• Catalyst fan box(es) (heated or unheated)
• Stak-Pak with catalyst (two per fan box)
• Six-receptacle plug strip
• Feed-through adaptor(s)

Incubation and heaters

For applications that require incubation with temperature control, Coy has several solutions. The advantages and disadvantages of these options should be factored into your selection.

Anaerobic chamber with heater option

With this option, the entire chamber becomes an incubator. Incubation capacity is limited only by the size of the chamber. Disadvantages include larger temperature variations and a less comfortable work area when compared to an unheated chamber with incubator option. It is a less expensive solution than purchasing an unheated chamber with an incubator.

Anaerobic chamber with incubator option

An unheated chamber with an incubator has the advantage of incubation with more precise temperature control when compared to the same process with just a heater in the chamber. The chamber is more comfortable to work in than a heated chamber. The disadvantage is the limited incubation capacity, and odd-size containers may not fit inside.

Anaerobic chamber with heater and incubator option

The advantage with this option is that the heater can be kept turned off until the incubator reaches overflow capacity, at which point it can be turned on. While this is a best-of-both-worlds choice, it is more expensive.

Only Coy Vinyl Anaerobic Chambers can be retrofitted in the field with an incubator. All three types of anaerobic chambers can have a heater specified at initial purchase or later.

Vacuum airlock

How airlocks work

Coy vacuum airlocks (manual or automatic) remove O₂ from ambient conditions to achieve acceptable levels of O₂ prior to transfer to/from the chamber. The airlock reaches the low O₂ level through a multiple vacuum/purge procedure. The standard factory procedure is to pull a vacuum to 20” of mercury (Hg), then purge back to 1” of Hg using an inert background gas. Another cycle is repeated with the inert gas. A third cycle is performed with the H₂ gas mix used for anaerobic work. On the third and final purge, the vacuum level is brought back to ambient with just a slight vacuum left to hold the seal. The seal is easily broken by the user when opening the door.

Automatic airlocks

Automatic airlocks are equipped with an advanced electronic program that allows adjustments in vacuum levels, number of cycles, calibration of pressure sensors, and programmable profiles, depending on the type of work being done in the chamber. All vacuum pumps are equipped with moisture traps to prevent excess moisture from the chamber or gas tanks from entering the pump. This helps prevent pump vane rusting, which can significantly damage the pump. Manual airlocks operate with the user turning ball valves for the gas and pump while monitoring the vacuum levels. Automatic airlocks operate with the touch of a button.

Vacuum airlock door

This update to the airlock door has a spring-loaded corner pivot which allows the door to swing up while parallel to the airlock, saving valuable space. Older Coy airlocks may be retrofitted in the field with the new style door and updated digital electronics.

Purge airlock

The purge-only units operate by flushing background gas into the airlock to push out excess oxygen prior to opening the interior door. Ideal purge times are provided by Coy for various O₂ levels. Automatic units allow the user to preset a specific time to purge the airlock with a simple touch of a button. With manual units, the user operates ball valves and times the purge. Purge units, while initially less expensive to purchase than vacuum airlocks, generally have a higher operational cost and a longer transfer time.

The Coy O2 Control Glove Box for Cell and Tissue Culture has temperature control up to forty degrees Celsius. For long-term incubation, users will want to maintain high humidity levels to prevent sample from drying out.

Coy offers a small humidified incubation box that allows samples to be incubated at levels of moisture at or near saturation while minimizing the amount of moisture that escapes into the glove box. Coy provides two solutions for controlling and removing moisture from this hypoxic chamber — a desiccant-based system or an automatic dehumidifier, which is recommended.

Coy O₂ Control Glove Boxes for tissue culture offer the following optional features:

• Atmosphere filtration system (HEPA): The capsule system filters the box atmosphere and controls contamination through a standard HEPA filter
• UV light: A combination of fluorescent and 254-nanometer UV lights provides illumination and decontamination of the work area
• Anoxic upgrade kit: This kit upgrades O₂ control glove boxes to enable users to create an anoxic environment, using catalyst reacting with a non-flammable hydrogen gas mix
• High accuracy calibration kit: This kit enables calibration and mounting of the O₂ sensor, taking into account temperature, pressure, and the dilution effects of humidity on O₂ in air when it is used as the reference calibration gas
• Vacuum sleeve: Further minimize the slight amount of O₂ transferred into the system when accessing the unit through the glove ports
• Feed-through adaptor: Electrical wiring, tubing, or cords are input through factory-installed feed-through adaptors sealed through the glove box wall
• Custom sizing for analytical equipment: Perform all analyses and manipulations in a controlled environment
• Microscope view port: Microscopes, valuable tools for intrabox work, are easier to use with this optically clear, flexible vinyl port
   

All O₂ Control Glove Boxes for tissue culture are supplied with the following:

• Control of O₂ and CO₂ in 0.1% increments
• Gloveless sleeves (operator’s arms and hands may enter the box through the cuff-and-sleeve system without compromising the environment)
• Large side door for initial equipment installation
• Interior power supply
• Arm port plugs seal box when operator is not working in it
• Adjustable interior shelves
• Gloves may be attached to sleeves
• Patented diaphragm top to compensate for small volume changes (e.g. hands entering), increasing user ergonomic comfort

Construction

Coy O₂ Control Glove Boxes are equipped with a purge-only airlock, which is a transfer chamber that equilibrates O₂ levels by purging excess O₂ prior to opening the door into the actual glove box and placing items inside. Automatic units use a specific preset time for purges based on protocol and desired glove box O₂ levels. Once preset, the airlock is operated with the touch of a button by lab personnel. With manual units, the user operates a valve and times the purge.

The Coy Humidified Incubation Box for Cell and Tissue Culture is a separate unit that sits inside the glove box. It allows cultures to be humidified with the same atmosphere content (gas and temperature) without immediately increasing the humidity of the rest of the box.

Materials

Coy O₂ Control Glove Boxes for InVitro Studies are available in polycarbonate (three standard sizes) and aluminum (two standard sizes). The choice of material depends on your research needs and budget. Aluminum is generally more robust and, therefore, offers more service years than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a less expensive option and is easily customisable.

Key:
✓: Available option/accessory        CC: Common Customisation        
SA: Standard Accessory                   SE: Standard Equipment