Abstract: An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for measuring a tension of a cell structure containing muscle cells includes a first and a second gel adaptor holder. The first gel adaptor holder includes a frame member and a first gel holding portion which is disposed protrudingly from a part of an inner surface of the frame member for fixing one end of a gel. The second gel adaptor holder includes a second gel holding portion that fixes another end of the gel, and connecting members connected with the second gel holding portion. A kit including the device, a substrate and a gel forming cover. The substrate includes a pair of gel shaping convex parts fitted along the inner surface of the frame member. The gel forming cover includes a surface parallel to a gel contacting surface of the substrate, in order to form an upper surface of the gel.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes an introduction-side flow path arranged to allow a culture solution introduced to flow therethrough and be introduced therethrough into each of a plurality of concave wells of a flexible strip circumferentially wound, and a first introduction-side seal provided on an outer circumferential side of the introduction-side flow path, the first introduction-side seal being configured to block flow of the culture solution from the introduction-side flow path to an outer circumferential side of the flexible strip.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes a culturing unit having a surface provided with a plurality of concave wells for culturing cells therein, and a flow unit including a gas flow path which allows gas to flow therethrough. The culturing unit includes a gas permeator that is arranged to separate the plurality of wells from the flow unit, the gas permeator having oxygen permeability and liquid impermeability.

Abstract: A flexible, thin, elongated band is used as a substrate. Similarly to a magnetic tape, the band is unwound from a feed reel and is transported past an outlet opening of a receptacle containing the cells such that the cells are poured onto the band. Subsequently, the band containing the cells applied thereon is wound onto a take-up reel. The take-up reel is fixed on a drive shaft which can be rotated by a drive mechanism. The rotation thus achieved has the effect that the band is unwound, transported past the outlet opening and finally wound up. In addition, spacers are provided at the upper surface of the band in order to prevent the contacting of radially adjacent sections of the band containing the cells in a wound-up state.

Abstract: A polymer or other substrate optimized for growing cells is described, which takes the form of a micro-thin bag with gas permeable sides. Sides of the bag can be held at a fixed distance from one another with a multitude of tiny micropillars or other spacers extending between them, keeping the bag at a predetermined thickness and preventing the bag from collapsing and the sides from sticking together. In other embodiments, the sides may be held apart by gas pressure alone. A 0.01 ?m to 1000 ?m parylene or other biocompatible coating over the bag outsides controls the permeability of the bag material and provides a bio-safe area for cell growth. An alternate configuration uses open-cell foam with skins coated with a biocompatible coating. Tubes going into multiple bags can be connected to a manifold that delivers gaseous oxygen or removes carbon dioxide and other waste gases.

Abstract: A scalable horizontal single-use pressurizable modular multi-agitated portable fermentor for culturing microorganisms to high cell density with high oxygen mass transfer capability is provided. The fermentor is suitable for laboratory use, process development suites and large scale production facilities. The disposable sterile bag, constructed of thin polymer film, incorporates a single-use magnetically driven turbine impeller. The single-use bag is fully contained in a stainless steel bag retention vessel designed to permit the bag to be pressurized. Conventional fermentor control is used to facilitate oxygen mass transfer rates suitable for optimal microbial growth, metabolism, and recombinant protein product formation. Horizontal modules, each having an independent agitator, enables scaling-out while maintaining constant input power per unit volume. Increasing the bag retention vessel/bag diameter enables scaling-up to large batch sizes.

Abstract: Electrophysiological recording systems for analysis of cultured cells include an recording device and a housing for supporting the electrophysiological recording device. The device has a porous membrane with top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of pores extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The porous membrane defines a first cell culture region disposed on the top surface and an opposed second cell culture region disposed on the bottom surface. The electrophysiological recording device has a plurality of electrodes positioned on the porous membrane in between a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer. The plurality of electrodes extend to the first cell culture region of the porous membrane. Recording ends of the electrodes measure electrical properties of cells cultured within the first and second cell culture regions, while the contact ends of the electrodes are positioned in electrical communication with data acquisition equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioreactor and a method for operating a bioreactor which comprises a chamber (100) capable of receiving a liquid media, and a filter assembly (200) comprising a perfusion filter (210; 212; 214). The filter assembly (200) is disposed in the chamber (100) and the filter assembly (200) is free to move within the chamber (100). The filter assembly (200) comprises means for coupling a harvesting flow through said filter (210; 212; 214) and means for coupling a feed flow through said filter in an opposite direction compared to the harvesting flow. Through this arrangement, the clogging prevention of the perfusion filter can be improved.

Abstract: A system for culturing photosynthesizing microorganisms includes a source of a gaseous fluid a mixer that creates micron bubbles within an aqueous medium using the gaseous fluid. The mixing chamber holds the aqueous medium including the micron bubbles before the micron bubbles and aqueous medium are mixed with a culture of photosynthesizing microorganism in a reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid reflux reaction control device comprising: a reaction vessel having one or a plurality of wells configured to accommodate a sample; a heat exchange vessel provided in contact with the reaction vessel so as to conduct heat to the reaction vessel, and comprising an inlet and an outlet respectively for introducing and draining a liquid of a predetermined temperature; a plurality of liquid reservoir tanks provided with a temperature-controllable heat source for maintaining liquids of predetermined temperatures; a tubular flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchange vessel with the liquid reservoir tanks; a pump disposed on the tubular flow channel, and configured to circulate the liquid between the heat exchange vessel and the liquid reservoir tank; and a switching valve disposed on the tubular flow channel, and configured to control the flow of the circulating liquid, which controls the temperature of the reaction vessel to keep a desired tem

Abstract: A device and method for processing an algae medium containing algae microorganisms to produce algal oil and by-products thereof. The method comprises pumping the algae medium through a flow-through hydrodynamic cavitation device, generating localized zones of reduced fluid pressure, creating cavitational features in the algae medium, collapsing those cavitation features, and disintegrating cell walls and intracellular organelles to produce algal oil and by-products.

Abstract: A photobioreactor (100) for use in treating polluted air and producing biomass may comprise, at least in part, a generally vertical tube or fluidic pathway (102), a generally vertical helical tube or fluidic pathway (104) having a light source (106) partially positioned within the helical fluidic pathway (104), a head cap assembly (108), and a base assembly (110). In one illustrative example, the light source (106) may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). By one approach, a gas diffusion apparatus (112) is located at the base assembly (110) adjacent the generally vertical fluidic pathway (102).

Abstract: The present invention provides a bioreactor having a system that can grow cells, tissue, etc. while maintaining or improving their function, and finally recover the cells as they are with good efficiency. The bioreactor has a porous sheet-form material disposed in its main body, the porous sheet-form material being formed from a nonwoven fabric, etc. having high cell affinity in order to retain cells. This porous sheet-form material has a thermosensitive polymer and a cell-adhesive substance incorporated thereinto, and the porous sheet-form material is not only cell-adhesive but also allows cells and tissue to be detached from the porous sheet-form material as they are by, for example, cooling from 37° C. to 25° C. Furthermore, in order to efficiently ensure the bioactivity or the survival of the cells, it is arranged so that circulation of a culture medium in a culturing space of the bioreactor is of a radial flow type.

Abstract: A sensing element for measuring extracellular potential including a substrate, a well provided in a substrate, a guide section provided on the wall of the well, and a detective electrode formed at a lower surface of the substrate. The guide section is for guiding drug. The well is provided at the bottom with a depression, and a first throughhole penetrating through the depression and the lower surface of the substrate. The well is for mixing a subject cell, a culture solution and the drug together. The above-configured sensing element accurately measures a change generated by a subject cell.

Abstract: A sensing element for measuring extracellular potential including a substrate, a well provided in a substrate, a guide section provided on the wall of the well, and a detective electrode formed at a lower surface of the substrate. The guide section is for guiding drug. The well is provided at the bottom with a depression, and a first throughhole penetrating through the depression and the lower surface of the substrate. The well is for mixing a subject cell, a culture solution and the drug together. The above-configured sensing element accurately measures a change generated by a subject cell.

Abstract: A high-throughput device is structured to perform a continuous-flow reaction, e.g., a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) requiring repetitive temperature control in a timely fashion.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel which is simple in structure and easy to handle, and is capable of preventing damage to the cells when separated, promoting transport of nutrients and excretion of effete matter, and elevating the culturing efficiency improving effect by the structural features. In order to attain the above object, there is provided a cell culture vessel including a culture section provided with a plurality of projections having an equivalent diameter smaller than the cells to be cultured and the culture section side walls enclosing the culture section, wherein the distance between an arbitrary position on the culture section/side wall boundary line and the nearest projection is smaller than the diameter of the cells to be cultured. The effect of the projections in the vessel given to the cultured cells is enhanced.

Abstract: An alga microbe photosynthetic reaction system is used to circularly cultivate alga microbes and a culture medium infused in the system. The system comprises a photosynthetic reaction unit, a communicating unit, a pressure liquid infusion unit, an injection and oxygen discharging device, and a regulation area. The photosynthetic reaction unit is a light permeable pipeline. The injection and oxygen discharging device is assembled with an oxygen discharge can and a liquid collection can. By the connection and the functioning of the photosynthetic reaction unit, the communicating unit, the pressure liquid infusion unit, the injection and oxygen discharging device, and the regulation area, the alga microbe culture solution can circularly cultivate good quality algae in the system. The system further comprises a heating unit, a watering unit, and a light complement unit to control the ambient temperature and the light source to suit all kinds of algae.

Abstract: A micro device for cell culture is disclosed, which cooperates with a fluid and includes: a top plate having an inlet port; a orifice plate having a plurality of orifices; a culture plate having a plurality of culture wells and a plurality of injection ports; and a bottom plate having at least one collecting well and at least one collecting flow channel, wherein, the culture plate is placed between the orifice plate and the bottom plate. The collecting flow channel connects to all regulating orifices in the culture wells and guides the fluid from the culture wells, then receives the fluid in the collecting well. The fluid flows into the orifice plate from the inlet port of the top plate, and then diversifies into the culture plate, then arrives at each culture well by way of the injection ports, and finally collects in the collecting well of the bottom plate.

Abstract: A description is given of a bioreactor (1), in particular for NMR spectroscopy, comprising a container (7) capable of containing a cell culture, a first inlet line (6) for the inward flow of a culture medium to the inside of the container and a second outlet line (9, 10) for the outward flow of the culture medium from the container (7). The first line (6), an inlet line, is connected to a spiral-shaped device (12) which has a form such that when the medium is made to flow inside the first line (6) and made to flow out of the second line (9; 10), hydrostatic thrust and hydrodynamic forces produce with respect to the cells a condition of simulated reduced gravity inside the container (7).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cell culture vessel which is simple in structure and easy to handle, and is capable of preventing damage to the cells when separated, promoting transport of nutrients and excretion of effete matter, and elevating the culturing efficiency improving effect by the structural features. In order to attain the above object, there is provided a cell culture vessel including a culture section provided with a plurality of projections having an equivalent diameter smaller than the cells to be cultured and the culture section side walls enclosing the culture section, wherein the distance between an arbitrary position on the culture section/side wall boundary line and the nearest projection is smaller than the diameter of the cells to be cultured. The effect of the projections in the vessel given to the cultured cells is enhanced.

Abstract: Heat transfer in non-turbulent highly viscous mixed-phase flowing streams can be improved by altering flow characteristics using spiral-shaped elements to eliminate boundary phenomena. The spiral-shaped element promotes helical or spiral flow paths to reduce or eliminate temperature gradients associated with laminar flow characteristics.

Abstract: A micro-organism production system having at least one micro-organism growth unit for maintaining therein micro-organisms in solution. Upon the receipt of a predetermined amount of live organisms, liquid and nutrients within the at least one micro-organism growth unit and the application of radiation thereto, the system produces the rapid growth of micro-organisms within the at least one micro-organism growth unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bioreactor having a system that can grow cells, tissue, etc. while maintaining or improving their function, and finally recover the cells as they are with good efficiency. The bioreactor has a porous sheet-form material disposed in its main body, the porous sheet-form material being formed from a nonwoven fabric, etc. having high cell affinity in order to retain cells. This porous sheet-form material has a thermosensitive polymer and a cell-adhesive substance incorporated thereinto, and the porous sheet-form material is not only cell-adhesive but also allows cells and tissue to be detached from the porous sheet-form material as they are by, for example, cooling from 37° C. to 25° C. Furthermore, in order to efficiently ensure the bioactivity or the survival of the cells, it is arranged so that circulation of a culture medium in a culturing space of the bioreactor is of a radial flow type.

Abstract: The invention provides a ventilating/stirring culture tank that has a longitudinal tubular container 2 that is capable of freely containing culture fluid, within which a rotation shaft 3 that is supported coaxially with the axis of the container 2, a stirring impeller 4 that is attached to the rotation shaft in order to stir the culture fluid, and an air feed pipe 5 for feeding air into the container, are provided, and wherein an opening 6 for introducing culture medium material and fungal cells is provided in an upper part of the container, in which a ratio (HT/D) of height (HT) to inner diameter (D) of a cylindrical portion 7 of the container is greater than 3.8, and a baffle plate 8 for causing turbulence within the culture fluid that is being stirred is attached to an inner side of a peripheral wall of the container.

Abstract: A sensing element for measuring extracellular potential including a substrate, a well provided in a substrate, a guide section provided on the wall of the well, and a detective electrode formed at a lower surface of the substrate. The guide section is for guiding drug. The well is provided at the bottom with a depression, and a first throughhole penetrating through the depression and the lower surface of the substrate. The well is for mixing a subject cell, a culture solution and the drug together. The above-configured sensing element accurately measures a change generated by a subject cell.

Abstract: A vegetable alga and microbe photosynthetic reaction system and method for the same is used for vegetable algae and microbe cultivation liquid and algae seeds infused herein to circularly conduct photosynthesis and discharge oxygen; the vegetable alga and microbe photosynthetic reaction system comprises a photosynthetic reaction unit, a pressure liquid infusion unit, and an oxygen discharge and regulation unit; the photosynthetic reaction unit is a light permeable pipeline; the oxygen discharge and regulation unit is assembled with an oxygen discharge can, a liquid collection can, and a regulation can for facilitating production and assembly, and many oxygen discharge points so that oxygen formed in the cultivation liquid can be quickly evaporated.

Abstract: A cell/tissue culture apparatus for applying a desired tensile stress to a material to be cultivated such as a cell or tissue as a physical stimulation, thereby enhancing acceleration of culture of the material to be cultivated. The cell/tissue culture apparatus comprises a chamber (a culture chamber 8) for circulating a culture fluid (24), a material to be cultivated (a matrix 32) that is placed and cultivated in the chamber, stress generation means (an electromagnetic stretcher 38, an actuator 56) for causing a tensile stress to act on the material to be cultivated from an outside of the chamber, and control means (controllers 50, 60) for causing the tensile stress generated by the stress generation means to intermit as well as undergo gradual increase or gradual decrease. The material to be cultivated can be caused to undergo expansion or contraction by applying and relieving the tensile stress, thereby applying a physical stimulation necessary for the proliferation to the material to be cultivated.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell/tissue culture apparatus capable of applying an optional physical stimulation to a material to be cultivated serving as a cell or tissue to be cultivated and of protecting the material to be cultivated from contamination of various bacteria and so forth.

Abstract: A perfusion incubator having a fluid conditioning unit (12), a well assembly (7) and a well assembly heating unit (14), a peristaltic pump (4) and a fluid collection unit (11). The well assembly has a number of wells (20, 21) each having a transparent lid (30) and a fluid inlet (26) and a fluid outlet (27). An illumination device (13) is under the well so that the cell being cultured in the well assembly can be observed by means of a microscope (15). Each fluid inlet (26) is positioned so as to allow a tangential entry of fluid to the well at a mid point in the well, and each fluid outlet (27) is above the fluid inlet with the cell to be cultured in a lower portion of the well so that flow of fluid in the well is formed into a vortex which tends to draw fluid from around the cell without direct flow over the embryo.

Abstract: The invention concerns a solid state fermenter in particular for large volumes as well as a procedure for solid state fermentation. The task of the present invention was the development of a solid state fermenter for large volumes and of a procedure for solid state fermentation, that allows an economic application of the solid state fermentation for little competitive micro-organisms in large fermenters. The solid state fermenter according to the invention is characterized by representing a module fermenter, where at least two module bases, that are permeable for air and water, are arranged on top of each other, which are connected with the wall of the vessel in such a manner, that neither air nor water can pass laterally, the existence of a cultivation substrate for the micro-organisms, which have to be cultivated, on the module bases, a cooling device below every module base and the fermenter being closed with a lid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of improving the transfer in an annular biological reaction chamber defined by coaxial inner and outer walls (11, 12) and in which there flows a liquid reaction medium containing a culture of microorganisms or of cells from vegetable or animal macroorganisms in suspension. At least one of the walls is an exchange wall enabling gaseous or liquid matter to be transferred or allowing light to pass through. The reaction medium is subjected to a turbulent primary flow that is helical and that under the action of centrifugal force creates rotary secondary vortices so as to encourage renewal of the culture in the vicinity of the exchange wall.

Abstract: A bio-reactor for enhancing the biomass yield using a closed sterile vessel having a medium, said reactor comprising a central shaft, a support matrix oriented horizontally and dividing the vessel into an upper and a lower chamber, a means for stirring selected from turbine-2,4,6-impeller; marine blade impeller; helical blade impeller; mounted onto the central shaft and located at a predetermined distance from the support matrix so as to generate both radially and axially directed volumetric flow of the media; and at least two semi-circular spargers located both in the upper and lower compartments of the vessel at a predetermined distance from the support matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to new flow-through cell culturing devices that include plates arranged in parallel and spaced to control the flow patterns and velocity of liquid medium flowing between the plates. The devices can also include gas-permeable, liquid impermeable membranes arranged between the plates. The devices can be used to culture cells, such as hepatocytes, at high levels of mass transport of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products, yet low levels of shear stress for extended periods of time and with high levels of cell function, e.g., in organ assist systems. The invention also includes new culturing plates for use in the devices, and methods of manufacturing these plates.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel culture methods and devices in which biocatalysts are substantially immobilized contained, suspended and or incubated in a chamber. At least one injection element provides a fluid flow to a perimeter of the chamber and the fluid force of the fluids flowing into the chamber works with the centripetal force created by rotation of the device to suspend the cells within the chamber, promote cell growth and/or clean the fluid as it passes thru the suspended biocatalyst.

Abstract: A potential energy field flow bioreactor for processing a reagent in feedstocks with reactant particles adsorbed therein includes a flow pathway defined by a least one surface, preferably in the form of a spiral, through which pathway is flowed reactant particles and at least one initial reagent adapted to react therewith during their passage through the pathway. The reaction generates an energy potential difference the beginning of said pathway and its end thereby polarizing the reactant particles whereby they adhere to each other and become immobilized within the pathway.

Abstract: A process to remedy a polluted medium includes contacting a first medium containing a pollutant with a second medium containing a microorganism which is capable of decomposing the pollutant. A membrane permeable to the pollutant and impermeable to the microorganism is spaced between the first and second media. The first medium and the second medium may flow in opposite directions to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for contacting a gas and liquid. An elongated cylindrical reactor has an inlet region of reduced cross-sectional area at a first end. At least some of the gas or liquid is introduced into the inlet region in a direction tangential to the longitudinal axis of the reactor by way of an inlet to cause rotational flow within the inlet region. The gas or liquid flows into the remainder of the reactor at such a velocity as to cause more intimate mixing of the liquid and gas. Additional gas or liquid can be introduced through a second inlet disposed in an intermediate region of the reactor so that the fluid introduced flows in a generally longitudinal direction or rotational direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for carrying out a treatment in the presence of centrifugal force. The treatment may be a physical or a chemical treatment. For this purpose the first and second phase are brought into contact with each other. The second phase comprises a phase soluble in the first phase and a third phase dispersed in the soluble phase. According to the invention at least one liquid phase is supplied continuously to a chamber for treatment (2) with a course of treatment while the third phase, which is a non-aggregating phase, is dispersed finely over the breadth of the course of treatment by the first phase.

Abstract: Bioreactor apparatus for culture of living matter in a liquid medium includes a plurality of tubes connected at one end to a primary manifold section and at their other end to a secondary manifold section such that a flow of liquid containing the living matter can be established within the manifolds and tubes. The flow of liquid medium in such manifolds and/or tubes is capable of control by at least one gas injection device in communication with the primary manifold section and at least one gas injection device in communication with the secondary manifold section. Such an arrangement provides finer control of the flow conditions in the tubes forming part of the bioreactor and of the environmental conditions for culture of the living matter. The arrangement can have a relative simplicity of design which also permits a reduction in the total number of tanks and/or control loops usually associated with bioreactor apparatus of this type.