Abstract: An orbital shaker apparatus is provided, including a first shaft connected to a first bearing assembly at a first end and a mounting portion at the other. The first shaft is rotatable about a first shaft axis, and is connected to a motor. The second shaft has a bearing assembly on the mounting portion at one end and a platform at the other, and is aligned parallel to and offset from the first shaft by a distance. A counterweight rotor assembly is coupled to the mounting portion, and rotated by a belt driven by a pulley connected to the rotating shaft of a counterweight motor. The counterweight assembly includes two counterweight bearings, each having a counterweight wedge. The platform also includes supports for objects to be secured thereto. In use, as the counterweight rotor rotates, the second shaft, second bearing assembly, and platform describes a circular orbit with diameter 2R.

Abstract: An orbital shaker apparatus is provided, including a first shaft connected to a first bearing assembly at a first end and a mounting portion at the other. The first shaft is rotatable about a first shaft axis, and is connected to a motor. The second shaft has a bearing assembly on the mounting portion at one end and a platform at the other, and is aligned parallel to and offset from the first shaft by a distance. A counterweight rotor assembly is coupled to the mounting portion, and rotated by a belt driven by a pulley connected to the rotating shaft of a counterweight motor. The counterweight assembly includes two counterweight bearings, each having a counterweight wedge. The platform also includes supports for objects to be secured thereto. In use, as the counterweight rotor rotates, the second shaft, second bearing assembly, and platform describes a circular orbit with diameter 2R.

Abstract: An adjustable sanitary impellor hub device having a hub, a tapered, split collet, a locking collar and multiple seals. Impeller blades are attached to a hub that may be slid over an agitator shaft to a desired position. A tapered, split collet engages with a tapered inner cylindrical bore of the locking collar as the locking collar and hub are forced together, clamping the collet to shaft. At the same time, the outer surface of the locking collar engages with the hub, locking all three elements to the shaft. The multiple soft seals ensure that there are no dead spaces.

Abstract: An orbital shaker apparatus is provided, including a first shaft connected to a first bearing assembly at a first end and a mounting portion at the other. The first shaft is rotatable about a first shaft axis, and is connected to a motor. The second shaft has a bearing assembly on the mounting portion at one end and a platform at the other, and is aligned parallel to and offset from the first shaft by a distance. A counterweight rotor assembly is coupled to the mounting portion, and rotated by a belt driven by a pulley connected to the rotating shaft of a counterweight motor. The counterweight assembly includes two counterweight bearings, each having a counterweight wedge. The platform also includes supports for objects to be secured thereto. In use, as the counterweight rotor rotates, the second shaft, second bearing assembly, and platform describes a circular orbit with diameter 2R.

Abstract: An orbital shaker apparatus is provided, including a first shaft connected to a first bearing assembly at a first end and a mounting portion at the other. The first shaft is rotatable about a first shaft axis, and is connected to a motor. The second shaft has a bearing assembly on the mounting portion at one end and a platform at the other, and is aligned parallel to and offset from the first shaft by a distance. A counterweight rotor assembly is coupled to the mounting portion, and rotated by a belt driven by a pulley connected to the rotating shaft of a counterweight motor. The counterweight assembly includes two counterweight bearings, each having a counterweight wedge. The platform also includes supports for objects to be secured thereto. In use, as the counterweight rotor rotates, the second shaft, second bearing assembly, and platform describes a circular orbit with diameter 2R.

Abstract: A rotary shaker employs two pairs of straps which lie in planes perpendicular to each other to constrain the orbital motion of the shaker. A motor and an eccentric drive are mounted on a base plate. The base plate also supports a first or lower pair of flexible straps located on opposite sides of the base plate. Four posts attach the ends of the lower pair of straps to the four corners of the base. A first center plate is located above the base and is attached by a first pair of tabs connecting the intermediate section of opposite sides of the first plate to the intermediate sections of said lower pair of flexible straps. A pair of apertures in the first plate permits the motor and the eccentric drive to pass through. A drive belt connects a pulley on the motor to a pulley on the eccentric drive on the side of the first plate opposite from said base. A second or upper plate is located above the first plate and is attached in the center thereof to a support plate mounted on the shaft of the eccentric drive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus cultivates anchorage and nonanchorage cell in a reactor. A reactor includes a basket type packed bed and an internal recirculation device. The basket includes a top and bottom portion for allowing medium to flow uniformly through the basket. Medium flows downwardly from the top of the basket through the basket for providing gentle flow and preventing removal of cells from the carrier. Preferably, the carrier is formed of a fiber matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in-place sterilization of a fermentation vessel assembly and media. Media can be contained in reagent bottles placed on the fermentation vessel assembly or can be contained in a fermentation vessel which is part of the fermentation vessel assembly. A removable shroud covers the fermentation vessel assembly and media during sterilization. Steam is applied inside the shroud for raising the temperature within the shroud to a sterilization temperature.

Abstract: A shaker apparatus having a platform for carrying a load, a supporting base disposed beneath said platform, drive means carried by the base and operatively connected with the platform to provide horizontal shaking of the platform in an orbital motion with respect to the base, eccentric idler devices connecting the base to the platform for maintaining the platform in a substantially planar orbit substantially parallel to the base during the horizontal shaking of the platform and to eliminate backlash, and alignment elements associated with the eccentric idler devices to prevent the transmission of rigid, non-yielding force loadings between the platform and the base through one of the eccentric idler devices when the force loadings are generated at another of the eccentric idler devices or by the drive means. A second embodiment includes alignment and support structure to prevent transmission of rigid, non-yielding force loadings and to support the platform.

Abstract: A connector assembly for coupling a fluid transfer line to a resterilizable port. The connector assembly includes a two-position connector coupled at one end to one side of an on-off valve. At the other end, the connector has a means, e.g. threaded nut, for coupling the connector to the resterilizable port which is shown as a resterilizable spool valve. The output of the spool valve is a nipple that can be coupled to a fluid passage in the connector when the connector is placed in a first position. When so coupled, a fluid transfer passage will extend from the on-off valve through the connector and through a passage in the spool valve. The connector may be placed in a second position wherein the nipple is decoupled from the fluid passage in the connector. In this position, the assembly, i.e. spool valve and connector, can be sterilized by passing a sterilization medium, e.g. pressurized steam, through the assembly.

Abstract: A water bath shaker having a water bath, a vessel-mounting shelf and a triple-eccentric drive, whereby the shelf is subjected to orbital gyratory motion via a drive shaft consisting of a single post that extends into the center of the bath via a standpipe. The drive shaft also acts as a mount that can removably receive and support any one of a variety of dedicated and universal shelves. A microprocessor control performs self-correcting feedback control of temperature and shaker speed. A push-button means is used to input set points.

Abstract: Retaining means and method for use with multi-leaf spring clamps used to secure culture flasks, bottles or the like during imposed orbital, reciprocating or vibratory motion, a resilient encircling member which has adjustable engagement with the leaves of the spring clamp to prevent relative movement between the flask and the clamp. The resilient encircling member is provided with internal annular ribs or threads to engage the spring clamp leaves and may have a deformation-resistant annular flange for insertion and removal of the encircling member and for control of engagement pressure and holding power.

Abstract: An improved agitator for use with a fermentation and tissue culturing vessel acting as a microcarrier culture vessel is provided. The agitator includes a hollow body assembly having an open end and a closed end and at least one tubulation communicating with the hollow body assembly at a location spaced from the open end thereof, the tubulation having an exit opening oriented such that movement of the agitator and the tubulation causes a suction or draft at the exit opening to cause flow of fluid from the open end of the hollow body assembly through the hollow body assembly and out through the tubulation exit opening. In this way, a microcarrier cell culture may be stirred in a smooth and non-erratic way thereby minimizing the detachment of the rounded growth cells from the microcarriers.

Abstract: A modular instrumentation system for monitoring and control of biochemical processes, and in particular of fermentation processes is provided. The system includes a plurality of function monitoring and control modules each including a microprocessor and associated memory devices, manual input devices and an interface for the receipt of sensor signals and the transmission of control signals. The modules for a plurality of functions have substantially common design and are adapted for relatively quick conversion to another function. The system may include an instrument console adapted to receive a plurality of the function monitoring and control modules as well as incorporating provision for sensor inputs, power inputs, one or more recorders, one or more pumps and/or an interface for an external computer.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser pumps fluid in increments. The dispenser includes a computer which, on command, determines the volume of fluid dispensed per increment, the determined value constituting a calibration value which is stored in the memory of the computer. A controller which may include the computer as a component provides for dispensing a selected number of doses, each of a selected volume. The controller can also specify a time interval between the delivery of successive doses. The dispenser is particularly useful in combination with apparatus for charging petri dishes with agar.

Abstract: A tiltable fermentor includes a hollow perforated drum rotating within a generally cylindrical jacketed pressure vessel. The drum is cantilever-mounted and supported at one driven end by a shaft for rotation which is indirectly motor driven by means of an adjustable pulley and belt. The other end of the drum has no central bearing but is circumferentially supported by bearing strips affixed to the inner surface of the outer pressure vessel. A hinged headplate on the pressure vessel, swings open to expose the open undriven end of the inner drum, thereby facilitating loading and unloading. The entire fermentor assembly, that is, vessel, drum and drive, is pivotably mounted so that the rotational axis of the drum may be horizontal or tilted about a transverse axis to a 45 degree angle, with the hinged headplate being either up or down. The drum can rotate at any orientation, and the absence of a drum bearing at the undriven end permits rotational operation even when the headplate is swung open.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling petri dishes include the features of situating a stack of empty petri dishes at a dish-drop station where the stack rests with the lowermost petri dish of the stack on a stationary support. A moving structure engages this lowermost petri dish and moves it beyond the stationary support to a filling station, and during this movement of this lowermost petri dish to the filling station a lower dish member of the petri dish drops down from an upper lid member thereof and remains spaced beneath the upper lid member while being supported by a movable support which carries the lower dish member to the filling station. At the filling station a nozzle of a pump becomes situated in the space between the upper lid member and the lower dish member of the petri dish and fills a given quantity of agar into the lower dish member, whereupon this latter member and the upper lid member spaced thereover are moved to an elevating station.

Abstract: Continuous control of biosynthesis process conditions on the basis of measurable quantities in the off-gases from the process and calculated quantities derived from said measured quantities provides for optimization of reaction conditions with respect to maximum output rate of selected product. Where the selected product is a mix of cell mass and ethyl alcohol ranging from virtually all cell mass with negligible alcohol to the maximum alcohol content which the cell can tolerate, optimization depends on maintaining the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in the nutrient feed at a level appropriate to the desired product mix. The calculated quantities, including the time derivative of the rate of oxygen uptake, are used for essentially continuous control of the rates of feed of individual nutrients and other selected essential variables as a means of optimizing the process.

Abstract: A vessel, containing a culture medium or laboratory ware, is brought rapidly to sterilization temperature by circulating a mixture of steam and superheated water through a closely spaced jacket. The mixture of steam and superheated water is generated in a portion of the sterilizer which is exterior to the jacket and said mixture is circulated without the use of a pump. The sterilizer can be made in sizes small enough for bench-top operation and the sterilization procedure can be carried out with automatic control.