Abstract: A bioreactor includes a reservoir container for holding a liquid medium, a duct providing a flowpath in a generally vertical direction upward from the reservoir container, a plurality of fiber assemblies located within the duct, a top of which is higher than a top of the plurality of fiber assemblies, and a circulation system. The upper end of the duct comprises an overflow wall surrounded by a moat, a bottom of which is lower than a top of the overflow wall. The upper end of the duct and moat contact a pocket region that is bounded by a structure that is connected to the duct and that is isolated from fluid communication with an exterior of the pocket region. The liquid medium flows over the overflow wall within the pocket region, contacts gas in the pocket region, overflows into the moat and is removed therefrom by the circulation system.

Abstract: A bioreactor includes a reservoir container for holding a liquid medium, a duct providing a flowpath in a generally vertical direction upward from the reservoir container, a plurality of fiber assemblies located within the duct, a top of which is higher than a top of the plurality of fiber assemblies, and a circulation system. The upper end of the duct comprises an overflow wall surrounded by a moat, a bottom of which is lower than a top of the overflow wall. The upper end of the duct and moat contact a pocket region that is bounded by a structure that is connected to the duct and that is isolated from fluid communication with an exterior of the pocket region. The liquid medium flows over the overflow wall within the pocket region, contacts gas in the pocket region, overflows into the moat and is removed therefrom by the circulation system.

Abstract: A bioreactor for culturing of cells is described. Screens suitable as a cell growth scaffold may comprise crossed fibers. Screens may be contained loosely in a screen holder, which in turn may be contained inside a manifold assembly. A lower manifold, screen holder and upper manifold may have identical or similar interior open cross-sections. Flow of liquid medium can occur upwardly through the array of screens, then flowing over a weir in the presence of an air pocket, and into a moat and a pump. The screen holder may have slots whose exterior-facing ligaments are rounded, and may have grooves whose interior-facing edges are rounded. These components may be located inside an incubator suitable to maintain desired environmental conditions and cleanliness.

Abstract: A bioreactor for culturing of cells is described. Screens suitable as a cell growth scaffold may comprise crossed fibers. Screens may be contained loosely in a screen holder, which in turn may be contained inside a manifold assembly. A lower manifold, screen holder and upper manifold may have identical or similar interior open cross-sections. Flow of liquid medium can occur upwardly through the array of screens, then flowing over a weir in the presence of an air pocket, and into a moat and a pump. The screen holder may have slots whose exterior-facing ligaments are rounded, and may have grooves whose interior-facing edges are rounded. These components may be located inside an incubator suitable to maintain desired environmental conditions and cleanliness.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, there may be provided a bioreactor having tissue scaffolds and having culture medium perfused therethrough. There may be multiple independent culture chambers and reservoirs or sub-reservoirs. Sensors can provide for individually controlling conditions in various culture chambers, and various culture chambers can be operated differently or for different durations. It is possible to infer the number of cells or the progress toward confluence from the fluid resistance of the scaffold, based on flowrate and pressure drop. Harvesting may include any combination or sequence of; exposure to harvesting reagent; vibration; liquid flow that is steady, pulsatile or oscillating; passage of gas-liquid interface through the scaffold. Vibration and flow can be applied so as to reinforce each other.

Abstract: A bioreactor for culturing of cells is described. Screens suitable as a cell growth scaffold may comprise crossed fibers. Screens may be contained loosely in a screen holder, which in turn may be contained inside a manifold assembly. A lower manifold, screen holder and upper manifold may have identical or similar interior open cross-sections. Flow of liquid medium can occur upwardly through the array of screens, then flowing over a weir in the presence of an air pocket, and into a moat and a pump. The screen holder may have slots whose exterior-facing ligaments are rounded, and may have grooves whose interior-facing edges are rounded. These components may be located inside an incubator suitable to maintain desired environmental conditions and cleanliness.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RP system which can directly use hot melt polymers for fabricating porous 3D construct for cell culture and other biomedical applications based on a CAD design. To realize the direct use of polymer hot melt, the RP system uses a hot melt chamber which is mounted on a robotic dispensing ann or a XYZ motion control system. The hot melt chamber is equipped with a delivery mechanism to force the molten polymer passing through a nozzle. The extruded polymer thin filament deposits onto the positions according to the computer generated model, in a layer-by-layer fashion, similar to FDM. The present invention can use any type of thennal plastic polymer pellets, beads, particles, which are suitable for extrusion and injection molding, as well as composites of two or more different thermal plastic polymer blends, inorganic particle/thennal plastic composites.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RP system which can directly use hot melt polymers for fabricating porous 3D construct for cell culture and other biomedical applications based on a CAD design. To realize the direct use of polymer hot melt, the RP system uses a hot melt chamber which is mounted on a robotic dispensing ann or a XYZ motion control system. The hot melt chamber is equipped with a delivery mechanism to force the molten polymer passing through a nozzle. The extruded polymer thin filament deposits onto the positions according to the computer generated model, in a layer-by-layer fashion, similar to FDM. The present invention can use any type of thennal plastic polymer pellets, beads, particles, which are suitable for extrusion and injection molding, as well as composites of two or more different thermal plastic polymer blends, inorganic particle/thennal plastic composites.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are three-dimensional porous tubular scaffolds for cardiovascular, periphery vascular, nerve conduit, intestines, bile conduct, urinary tract, and bone repair/reconstruction applications, and methods and apparatus for making the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid biomedical device formed from a prefabricated biomedical device and coated with an extracellular matrix coating which is produced by directly culturing mammalian cells on the prefabricated biomedical device. The purposes of applying such an ECM coating is to regulate the biological and cellular responses of a living tissue or a cellular environment that the hybrid biomedical device is intended to interact with. The ECM coating will provide necessary biological cues, biomechanical cues, structural cues, etc to regulate the biological and cellular responses of a living system. The invention further provides methods of making the hybrid biomedical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three dimensional construct formed from non-biodegradable and non-cytotoxic polymers that provide an internal and external space for living cells to attach, proliferate and differentiate. The construct is composed of polymer struts and/or fibers which are joined together in a designed 3 dimensional pattern. The 3 dimensional cell culture construct (cell culture insert) is intended to be used together with cell/tissue culture plate, tissue culture flask, bioreactor and the like under normal cell culture conditions. The invention further provides methods of making the 3 dimensional cell culture construct. Finally, the invention provides kits comprising one or more 3 dimensional porous cell culture construct in a package together with other cell culture supplies, such as tissue culture plate and flasks.