Abstract: A data management system for a biological process, comprising: a. a single-use component, b. a tag assembly, including a non-volatile memory storage component, that is associated with the single-use component, c. the memory storage component including a unique identification and a memory, and at least one data element that describes a key performance or control parameter of the single-use component d.

Abstract: A cylindrical or annular polymeric bioreactor is disclosed which provides enhanced mixing and aeration of the growth medium while simultaneously offering reduced mechanical shear force.

Abstract: A port assembly for use with a polymeric bioreactor bag said assembly comprising: i) a hollow port member comprised at least in part of a material suitable to be fusibly affixed to the wall surface of said bioreactor bag; ii) at least one fluorophore spot positioned on said port member; iii) conduit means for conveying excitation light from an optical source to said fluorophore, said conduit means being an assembly comprising at least one of a lens, an optic fiber, a curved parabolic collimator, a shaped reflector or a wave guide; iv) conduit means for conveying fluorescent emission light from said fluorophore to a photo-detector, said conduit means being an assembly comprising at least one of a lens, an optic fiber, a curved parabolic collimator, a shaped reflector or a wave guide.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the stimulation and collection of fluorescent signals, said apparatus comprising: i) a frequency modulated optical source which emits excitation light of a wavelength which will stimulate a target fluorophore to emit a fluorescent signal when illuminated by said excitation light: ii) a first optical filter interposed between said optical source and said target fluorophore, iii) a second optical filter interposed between said fluorophore and a photo-detector positioned to receive said emitted fluorescent signal, and iv) a data processor which calculates and records the phase delay between said excitation light and said fluorescent signal wherein the beam path of at least one of the excitation light and the fluorescent signal is transmitted substantially through free space.

Abstract: A method for converting non-linear optical loss readings in a bioreactor process vessel into process parameter units by applying a curve fitting algorithm to the fitting function represented by the empirical equation: yol = A + B ( 1 - ? - x PU C ) + D · x PU wherein xPU is in the process units (PU), yol is optical loss in the chosen units, A is the offset, D is the absorption coefficient, B is the effective scattering coefficient, and C is the scattering constant. The preferred fitting algorithm is Levenberg-Marquardt.

Abstract: A port for use with a bioreactor vessel comprising: i) a base member comprising a hollow tubular portion and a base plate configured to be sealingly affixed to a hole in the wall of a bioreactor vessel ii) a hollow, generally tubular bushing member for containing electrical, optical, microfluidic and/or chemical monitoring components which bushing member fits inside the bore of the tubular portion of the base member, both the base member and bushing member providing access to the contents of a bioreactor by; iii) a monitoring assembly inserted into the bushing member which assembly comprises means for providing incoming optical and/or electrical signals and means for collecting and transmitting measurement signals resulting from the interaction of incoming optical and/or electrical signals with the contents of a bioreactor; and iv) a cover which maintains the position and alignment of components ii) and iii) relative to the base member.

Abstract: A method for analyzing gas concentration using doubly resonant photoacoustic spectroscopy, and a doubly resonant photaoacoustic gas detector comprising: i) a continuous wave light beam whose wavelength coincides with an absorption wavelength of a gaseous analyte; ii) a closed path optical cavity having at least two reflective surfaces; iii) an acoustic resonator chamber contained within said optical cavity, and comprising an acoustic sensor for detecting sound waves generated by a gaseous analyte present within said chamber, the light beam passing sequentially into, through and out of said chamber, and being repeatedly reflected back and forth through said chamber, and being modulated at a frequency which is equal to or equal to one-half of an acoustic resonance frequency of said acoustic resonator chamber.

Abstract: The present invention describes the method and system for characterizing optical receivers based on the measured impulse response and by applying linear system theory. In a first embodiment, the impulse response of an optical receiver is obtained. Convolving the impulse response with band-limited input pulses (modeled with straight-line edge pulses), a receiver output pulse can then be determined. From this pulse, an associated eye diagram can be mathematically derived and the maximum ISI can be estimated. In a second embodiment, for a given input pulse stream with a specified amount of noise, the impulse response-generated eye diagram is used to estimate the bit error rate (BER) that the receiver would yield.

Abstract: A method for analyzing gas concentration using doubly resonant photoacoustic spectroscopy, and a doubly resonant photaoacoustic gas detector comprising: i) a continuous wave light beam whose wavelength coincides with an absorption wavelength of a gaseous analyte; ii) a closed path optical cavity having at least two reflective surfaces; iii) an acoustic resonator chamber contained within said optical cavity, and comprising an acoustic sensor for detecting sound waves generated by a gaseous analyte present within said chamber, the light beam passing sequentially into, through and out of said chamber, and being repeatedly reflected back and forth through said chamber, and being modulated at a frequency which is equal to or equal to one-half of an acoustic resonance frequency of said acoustic resonator chamber.