Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes a cell culture chamber formed by a first major surface, an opposing second major surface spaced apart from the first major surface, and a first side wall around the first chamber and extending between the first and second major surfaces. A portion of the first sidewall proximate the first major surface comprises an infrared absorbent material, and a portion the first sidewall proximate the second major surface is formed from substantially non-infrared absorbent material. The first major surface is formed by a gas permeable polymeric film that is impermeable to cell culture liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel perfusion bioreactor allowing continuous medium feed and extraction of metabolites or other desired products from cells. The invention is useful for plant cell cultures but may also be used for mammalian cell cultures, insect cell cultures and bacterial cell cultures. The design of the reactor includes sedimentation columns mounted inside the bioreactor to separate single cells and cell aggregates from the culture medium at a very low shear stress. The operating conditions allow a stable cell/medium separation by maintaining the medium upward velocity equal to or slightly lower than the cell sedimentation velocity.

Abstract: Chemical and biological reactors, including microreactors, are provided. Exemplary reactors include a plurality of reactors operable in parallel, where each reactor has a small volume and, together, the reactors produce a large volume of product. Reaction systems can include mixing chambers, heating/dispersion units, reaction chambers, and separation units. Components of the reactors can be readily formed from a variety of materials. For example, they can be etched from silicon. Components are connectable to and separable from each other to form a variety of types of reactors, and the reactors can be attachable to and separable from each other to add significant flexibility in parallel and/or series reactor operation.

Abstract: An in-vivo bioreactor device producing a dialysis effect by acting within the gastrointestinal tract for the removal of undesirable concentrated intestinal or blood substances or metabolites is disclosed. The ingestible device is comprised of a body wall that surrounds an internal compartment. Along the wall of the shell are openings located around the periphery that allow bodily fluids to enter and exit device. The wall of the device is comprised in whole or at least in part of materials that are impermeable to the passage of external fluids and maintains its physical and chemical integrity in the environment of use during its activity. Semi-permeable membranes located either internally or externally of the device are able to withstand all physiological temperatures and pH and act in a similar manner to dialysis membranes that are used for the separation of substances in suspensions, solutions, tissue cultures, etc.

Abstract: An assembly for culturing cells includes a housing defining a reservoir for containing cell culture media and an opening in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cell culture assembly further includes a filter valve assembly configured to sealingly engage the opening. The filter valve assembly includes a flexible membrane, a contiguous side wall, an end wall, and a microbial filter. The end wall has an opening and extends across one end of the side wall to form a major cavity within the side wall and the end wall. The flexible membrane has a slit spanning the membrane and is disposable within the major cavity such that the membrane sealingly divides the major cavity into (i) a chamber formed between the end wall and the membrane and (ii) a minor cavity formed by the membrane and a portion of the side wall. The minor cavity is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of biomass by culturing a microorganism in an aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor having an effluent gas removal zone where from carbon dioxide-containing effluent gas is removed from the reactor and upstream thereof a degassing zone in which a driving gas is introduced to drive carbon dioxide in the liquid phase into a separable effluent gas phase and having upstream of said degassing zone a nutrient gas introduction zone in which oxygen is introduced into the reactor and mixed with the liquid culture medium therein, characterized in that oxygen introduction in said nutrient gas introduction zone is effected at a plurality of locations along the flow path through said loop reactor at a rate such that the average dissolved oxygen content of said liquid culture medium measured using a polarographic oxygen electrode does not exceed 25 ppm.

Abstract: A culture vessel comprising a gas permeable film which has oxygen permeability of PO2×S/V>2.0, carbon dioxide permeability of PCO2×S/V>8.0 and water vapor permeability of PH2O×S/V<0.02 where V (ml) is a set capacity, S (cm2) is area of the gas permeable film, PO2 (ml/cm2•day•atm) is oxygen permeability at 37° C., PCO2 (ml/cm2•day•atm) is carbon dioxide permeability at 37° C., PH2O (g/cm2•day) is water vapor permeability at 37° C.

Abstract: A liquid mixture of water and a small percentage of an alcohol, for example a cellulosic fermentation broth, is converted into a mixture of vapours. The vapour mixture includes an increased percentage of alcohol vapour relative to the liquid mixture but is mostly water vapour. Water vapour is removed from the vapour mixture by permeation through a vapour separation membrane unit. Retained vapour has an increased alcohol content, optionally to the level of a fuel grade alcohol. Heat energy in permeate or product vapours or both may be recovered, for example by us as heating steam or by flow through a heat exchanger. The membrane unit may have two or more stages. Permeate from a stage may be condensed and used for example as fermentation make up water, compressed and fed to the permeate from an upstream stage or heating steam, or fed to another membrane stage for further dewatering.

Abstract: A system for selective removal of metabolites from an aqueous broth including a bioreactor vessel containing at least one live culture producing at least one metabolite disposed within an aqueous broth, and a membrane module having a mixed matrix membrane suitable for selective removal of the at least one metabolite from the aqueous broth. The membrane is made of mixtures of hydrophobic zeolite and carbon on a porous substrate. In accordance with one particularly preferred embodiment of this invention, the membrane module is integral with the bioreactor vessel.

Abstract: The present invention includes a harvesting and irrigation device, a method and a kit for the collection of viable fat cells and/or adipose tissue with decreased handing and improved yield and viability.

Abstract: Parallel, integrated bioreactor. The bioreactor includes a plurality of growth chambers, each growth chamber associated with a peristaltic oxygenating mixer and separated therefrom by a porous membrane. Each oxygenating mixture has a gas inlet and a gas outlet with the gas inlet in fluid communication with a gas reservoir. A gas mixer switch is provided for controlling oxygen concentration in the reservoir. The apparatus and methods disclosed in the application allow precise control over dissolved oxygen concentration with a quick response time.

Abstract: A stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals from syngas components contacts CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a highly porous side of an asymmetric membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with microorganisms contained within bio-pores of the membrane. The membrane side of the membrane utilizes a dense layer to control hydration of the bio-pores with a liquid phase. The gas feed directly contacts the microorganisms in the bio-pores and maximizes their utilization of the syngas. Metabolic products produced by the microorganisms leave the membrane through the side opposite the entering syngas. This system and method establishes a unitary direction across the membrane for the supply of the primary feed source to the microorganisms and the withdrawal of metabolically produced products. The feed and product flow improves productivity and performance of the microorganism and the membrane.

Abstract: A triphasic bioreactor for physico-chemically treating a gas is disclosed. The triphasic bioreactor comprises a reaction chamber with a liquid and biocatalysts in suspension in the liquid, for catalyzing a reaction between the gas and the liquid to obtain a treated gas and a solution containing a reaction product. A gas bubbling means is provided in the reaction chamber for bubbling the gas to be treated into the liquid thereby dissolving the gas into the liquid and increasing a pressure inside the reaction chamber. The bioreactor further comprises a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for receiving the liquid and filling the reaction chamber, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for releasing the solution and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber to release the treated gas. The bioreactor further comprises a retention device to retain the biocatalysts in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The device comprises a cell culture compartment (10) and a diffusion compartment (20) in fluid communication with the cell culture compartment (20) through a filtering element (22) for the progressive diffusion of chemotactic molecules contained in the diffusion compartment into a culture medium contained in the culture compartment, so as to maintain, in the culture compartment, a chemotactic molecules concentration gradient between a region (A) of the culture compartment (10) adjacent to the diffusion compartment (20) and a region (B) of the culture compartment (10) spaced from the diffusion compartment (20), wherein the ratio (R) of the volume of the culture compartment (10) usable for receiving a culture medium over the volume of the diffusion compartment (20) usable for receiving molecules is at least 15.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biofuel mixture comprising a fraction of fatty acid alkyl esters and at least one fraction of bound glycerol in an amount of ?1 wt %, based on the glycerol backbone, and a method and a device for producing said biofuel mixture. The biofuel mixture can be produced inexpensively, can also be utilized as a fuel in diesel engines without additional heating and can be added to conventional diesel fuel.

Abstract: A culturing bag for microorganisms has a wall formed of plastic film wherein at least one wall area of the wall is permeable for oxygen and carbon dioxide. A first layer of microporous film is attached to the at least one wall area as an exterior layer so as to form a multi-layer configuration in the at least one wall area. The first layer of microporous film is sealed by a seal-tight edge seam to the wall. The microporous film is adapted to be torn open or torn off. At least one second layer of microporous film can be placed between the exterior layer and the wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reactor driven in an oscillatory-rotary manner about its fixed, preferably vertical, axis, for preferably biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. By means of its process-intensifying properties for mixing, suspension, gaseous material transport, heat transfer, irradiation and particle retention, the applicability on the industrial scale is ensured. The reactor which succeeds without a shaft seal permits particularly robust production with respect to sterile technique with avoidance of cleaning and cleaning validation required when the reactor is constructed as a single-use reactor.

Abstract: A culture chamber for use in a method of culturing microbiological material, which comprises a wall or at least a portion of a wall consisting of a gas-permeable membrane, a textured interior growth surface arranged for contact with the microbiological material being cultured and at least a portion of the external surface gas-permeable membrane being textured to enhance gas permeability. Preferably, the gas-permeable membrane is textured over the majority of both of its surfaces. This culture chamber provides enhanced gaseous exchange between the interior and exterior of the culture chamber and increased surface area within the culture chamber for cell attachment.

Abstract: A disposable spinner flask includes an asymmetric container, a lid, and a spinning mechanism. The container can be sealingly coupled to the lid, which includes an access port and a cap configured to be coupled to the access port for preventing bacteria, viruses, and fungi from passing therethrough while allowing air to flow between the container and a surrounding environment. The lid may include a structure for retaining the cap when the cap is removed. The spinning mechanism can include a shaft, at least one blade, and a magnetic device. Further, the spinning mechanism can include a receptacle that fixedly receives the magnetic device toward an end of the blade assembly, the magnetic device configured to rotate when subjected to an external magnetic force.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the conversion into biogas of fermentation stillage arising as a waste product of ethanol production. This apparatus comprises a separation unit for the separation of the fermentation stillage into a thin fraction and a thick fraction, at least one biogas reactor for fermenting the thin fraction and/or the thick fraction, and a storage tank. According to a first aspect of the present invention, two biogas reactors are provided, to separate the thin fraction and the thick fraction independently of one another. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a nitrogen sink is provided downstream of the storage tank to provide, from the reactor effluent, process water with low or no nitrogen content which may then be fed to the reactor and/or the bioethanol plant. According to a third aspect the invention is characterised by a combination of a single-stage separation unit and a heavy-duty biogas reactor with a pore-free flow path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microtiter plate and use thereof for conducting fermentation under fed-batch conditions. In order to produce a microtiter plate which permits screening under fed-batch conditions, the invention proposes that the cavities (2) of the microtiter plate according to the invention be filled with a culturing fluid and nutrient solution and be designed in such a way that each of the cavities (2) of the microtiter plate which is filled with nutrient solution is connected by a channel (4) to at least one other further cavity (3) of the microtiter plate which is filled with a culturing fluid. A diffusion barrier (13) arranged in the material permeable channel (4) controls the kinetics of the material transfer of nutrients from the cavity containing the nutrient solution to the cavities containing the culturing fluid.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for growing and maintaining cells. A three-dimensional matrix, such as a hydrogel material, is seeded with cells and placed in a bioreactor having two compartments. The matrix is supported between the two compartments by first and second porous materials, which engage opposing surfaces of the matrix. A first media stream having certain properties is propagated through the first compartment, where it contacts one surface of the matrix via the first porous material. A second media stream having different properties is propagated through the second compartment such that it contacts the opposite surface of the matrix via the second porous material. Through migration of each stream at least partially into the matrix, various controlled gradients may be established within the matrix, encouraging growth of the cells. Such gradients include osmotic pressure, oscillating osmotic pressure, hydrostatic pressure, oxygen tension, and/or nutrient gradients.

Abstract: This invention provides cylindrical cell culture tubes with a cap having both a septum and gas exchange membranes. The culture tubes can be used to inoculate media, culture cells, harvest cells and store cells in the same container with reduced risk of contamination, while facilitating automated handling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of cell and tissue culture. In particular, the invention provides a novel device for organotypic culture. The device comprises a medium conduit having one open end and one end closed by a porous membrane fused across it; and a frame holding the medium conduit in a substantially vertical orientation; wherein the medium conduit is adapted to permit retention by capillarity of a sufficient volume of liquid culture medium in the medium conduit to contact the surface of the porous membrane and thus supply nutrients to cells that may be grown on the porous membrane. The device may further comprise a cell suspension conduit having one end open and one end closed by the surface of said porous membrane contralateral to the surface of said porous membrane sealed to said medium conduit; wherein said frame holds the medium conduit and the cell suspension conduit in a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: Initiation of growth and cultivation of cells can be performed by introducing the cells into culture compartments of a liquid-gas-phase exposure bioreactor containing a supply chamber in which there are disposed hollow-filament membranes having an inside diameter of no larger than 5 mm, wherein an inner volume of said hollow-filament membranes forms the culture compartments. Approximately one half of the supply chamber is filled with a nutrient medium and a remainder is filled with a gas mixture. Perfusion of medium and gas is turned on simultaneously or separately. The hollow-filament membranes and the cells contained therein are cyclically exposed to the gas or liquid phase.

Abstract: A bioreactor system for growing and conditioning tissue for research and implantation in a human or animal body is disclosed which includes one or more tissue growth chambers for growing and conditioning tissue, each chamber being defined by a housing and providing a fluid culture media cavity which can act as a reservoir. A construct for growing three-dimensional tissues is housed in each tissue growth chamber. Each chamber is connected to a source of pressurized air for applying a controlled pressure to the chamber media cavity. The tissue growth chambers can be mounted on an agitation device such as a shaker system which enhances mass transport within the chamber media cavity. A control system is provided to control the pressure and temperature of the pressurized gas delivered to the chamber media cavity and subsequently to the tissue construct.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recipient for containing moist substrate, which recipient comprises a flexible polymer wall having an outer surface and at least one gas exchanging membrane, which gas exchanging membrane is hermetically sealed to the outer surface of the flexible polymer wall along a sealing line. The sealing line defining a hermetically sealed area of the flexible polymer wall. The flexible polymer wall comprises at least one aperture, being provided in this hermetically sealed area of the flexible polymer wall. The recipient further comprises a means for creating an air chamber circumscribed by the hermetically sealed area and the gas exchanging membrane, for preventing moist substrate to contact the gas exchange membrane when the recipient is filled with moist substrate.

Abstract: A portable temperature transfer device for transferring thermal energy to and/or from a laboratory plate is provided as well as its methods of use. The temperature transfer device comprises a base and a raised stage that comprises a thermal conductive material and an encasement that interfaces with the base to create a cavity that encloses a laboratory plate. The raised stage allows direct contact between individual wells of the laboratory plate and the temperature transfer device. The encasement completes the thermally conductive environment for the laboratory plate.

Abstract: A biofilter media has one or more of a set of desired physical characteristics. The set of physical characteristics includes a sphericity of 0.75 to 1, a particle size of 1 to 16 or 4 to 8 mm, a uniformity coefficient of 2 or less and a surface area of 800 to 2000 m2/m3 of media. The media is coated, supports microorganisms and is used to treat a waste gas stream.

Abstract: A biological or chemical reactor (2) has an inner vessel (4) disposed within an outer vessel (6) and an annular space (16) defined therebetween in which fluid is to be contained. The fluid comprises reactants of a biological or chemical reaction. A reaction support (10a) is disposed in an opening in a wall of one of the vessels and is designed to support a structure such as a scaffold that receives fluid under pressure from the annular space. The reactor generates hydrodynamic pressure and shear stress in the fluid within the annular space, upon relative rotational movement between the vessels so as to drive the fluid through intersticies in the scaffold.

Abstract: Systems and processes for producing hydrogen using bacteria are described. One detailed process for producing hydrogen uses a system for producing hydrogen as described herein, the system including a reactor. Anodophilic bacteria are disposed within the interior of the reactor and an organic material oxidizable by an oxidizing activity of the anodophilic bacteria is introduced and incubated under oxidizing reactions conditions such that electrons are produced and transferred to the anode. A power source is activated to increase a potential between the anode and the cathode, such that electrons and protons combine to produce hydrogen gas. One system for producing hydrogen includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reactor and an exterior of the reaction chamber. An anode is provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber and a cathode is also provided which is at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an implant for medical purposes, to the implant obtainable by the process, and to the bioreactor used for the production of the implant. The implants of the invention can be used as implantable prostheses having essentially the functional characteristics of the following tissues: ligaments and tendons, bone and chondrogenic tissues, e.g. intervertebral discs, and combinations of bone tissue with cartilage tissue, e.g. sections of joints having the cartilaginous surface of a joint surface hacked by bone tissue. According to the invention, a porous matrix material is incubated under cell culture conditions with cells while the matrix is exposed to positive pressure on one side and negative pressure on another side for effective colonization of the matrix.

Abstract: A moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) produces liquid products from a gaseous substrate of CO and/or CO2/H2 using a biomass that grows on the surface of carrier suspended in a fermentation broth into which the gaseous substrate is at least partially dissolved. The injection devices include gas spargers and preferably a high efficiency gas transfer system such as jet or slot aerator/gas transfer devices. The gas injection device creates eddy currents in the surrounding liquid for thoroughly mixing the fermentation broth in a fermentation vessel. Gas bubbles from the gas delivery device rise through the liquid surface and provide additional mixing and gas dissolution. The motion of gas and liquid keeps the biomass carrier moving can also provide sufficient shear so as to maintain the biofilm thickness on the biomass carrier media in the desirable range.

Abstract: Chemical and biological reactors, including microreactors, are provided. Exemplary reactors include a plurality of reactors operable in parallel, where each reactor has a small volume and, together, the reactors produce a large volume of product. Reaction systems can include mixing chambers, heating/dispersion units, reaction chambers, and separation units. Components of the reactors can be readily formed from a variety of materials. For example, they can be etched from silicon. Components are connectable to and separable from each other to form a variety of types of reactors, and the reactors can be attachable to and separable from each other to add significant flexibility in parallel and/or series reactor operation.

Abstract: A modular membrane supported bioreactor for anaerobic conversion of gas into liquid products including membrane module(s) having a plurality of hollow fibers packed across a cross sectional area of the membrane module in a direction transverse to the axis of the membrane module; a membrane vessel for retaining the membrane module(s) at least partially submerged in a process liquid and isolated from ambient atmosphere; and a gas supply conduit operably connected to the hollow fibers for supplying a process gas to the hollow fiber lumens. The gas supply conduit enables the formation of a biofilm on the outer surface of the hollow fiber wall by interaction of microorganisms with the process gas and the production of a liquid product that mixes with the process liquid.

Abstract: A new design for a static diffusion cell for use in a diffusion sampling apparatus to be used in conjunction with automated or manual sampling is disclosed. The diffusion cell of present invention provides to an improved and efficient diffusion assay system.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a surface of a membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components in contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microoganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.

Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the co-culturing of at least two cell types is disclosed. The cell co-culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between some cell culture chambers and the external environment. In addition, some cell culture chambers may have limited access to air creating relatively lower oxygen content cell culture chambers. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus amenable to high throughput applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention introduces integrated fluid injection and mixing devices to enable pH control in a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array system. In another embodiment, the environmental conditions of the growth chamber is enabled through fluidic injections in a miniature parallel cell culture system. In still another embodiment, the present invention utilizes gas switches to control oxygen concentration within a miniature parallel integrated bioreactor array.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which contains one or more pores 10. The pores 10 in turn contain one or more translocase proteins which from a translocation system 20. At the pores 10, two zones, the cis zone 50 and the trans zone 60, are separated from one another on a support body 90 by means of translocation systems 20 in such a way that only those proteins that are recognized by the translocation systems 20 due to specific molecular signals can exclusively pass over from the cis zone 50 into the trans zone 60.

Abstract: A culture container and a method of culture which do not require a plurality of incubators in a case where a plurality of cells of different kinds which like different gas concentrations should be cultured simultaneously. A culture double container 1 comprises a gas-permeable culture container 2 having an inlet and an outlet 6, a gas-impermeable container 3 covering the culture container 2, and joint portions 12 and 13 for holding the culture container 2 in the gas-impermeable container 3 in such a manner that space is defined between the culture container 2 and the gas-impermeable container 3. The culture double container 1 receives gas controlled in its composition in the space defined houses the culture container 2 and the gas-impermeable container 3 during culture of cell or micro-organism.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system may reduce contaminants in water. A system may include a biofilm in a container. The biofilm may be formed from one or more bacteria coupled to one or more substrates. The bacteria may be selected to maximize the reduction of contaminants in water. The system may include one or more bacteria generators to provide bacteria to the biofilm and/or one or more air sources to provide an air bubble stream to the container and/or the bacteria generator. In some embodiments, bacteria may be preserved in a starvation phase. Bacteria may be incubated until they reach a starvation phase. The bacteria may then be preserved as beads or immobilized on a substrate. The preserved bacteria may be used in a system for the reduction of contaminants in water.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices that improve cell culture efficiency. They include the use of gas permeable culture compartments that reduce the use of space while maintaining uniform culture conditions, and are more suitable for automated liquid handling. They include the integration of gas permeable materials into the traditional multiple shelf format to resolve the problem of non-uniform culture conditions. They include culture devices that use surfaces comprised of gas permeable, plasma charged silicone and can integrate traditional attachment surfaces, such as those comprised of traditional tissue culture treated polystyrene. They include culture devices that integrate gas permeable, liquid permeable membranes. A variety of benefits accrue, including more optimal culture conditions during scale up and more efficient use of inventory space, incubator space, and disposal space. Furthermore, labor and contamination risk are reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates three dimensional porous cell culture matrices or scaffolds which have directional porous structure. More particularly, this invention relates to three dimensional porous cell culture matrices or scaffolds for cell culture which are derived from or contain gums including naturally occurring gums, plant gums, galactomannan gums or derivatives thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making the matrices, articles of manufacture (e.g., cell culture vessels and labware) having such matrices or scaffolds, methods of applying these materials to cell culture surfaces, and methods of using cell culture vessels having these three dimensional porous cell culture matrices or scaffolds.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device that combines microfabrication, microfluidic, and surface micropatterning techniques to create a multi-compartment neuronal culturing device that has application across a number of different neuroscience uses. Devices configured in accordance with the invention allow directed growth of neurites and isolation of neurites from their cell bodies. The device can use hydrostatic pressure to isolate insults to one compartment and, thus, expose localized areas of neurons to insults. Due to the high resistance of the microgrooves for fluid transport, insults are contained in the neuritic compartment without appreciable leakage into the somal compartment for a certain period of time (e.g., over 15 h).

Abstract: A vessel includes a gas reservoir. The vessel also includes at least one gas outlet. The gas outlet includes an integral gas permeable membrane. A culture system includes the vessel as a first vessel. The first vessel is coupled to a second vessel that includes or otherwise contains a cell, a plant, an animal or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the fermentational production of biologically active materials, wherein a fermenter is located in an insulator which, in turn, is located within a working chamber or is adjacent to it. A pressure gradient in relation to ambient pressure prevails in both the insulator and in the working chamber.

Abstract: A bioreactor with an anode and a cathode, and a plurality of reaction chambers each having an inlet and an outlet and each including a porous solid ion exchange wafer having ion-exchange resins. Each of the reaction chambers is interleaved between a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane or between either a cation or an anion exchange membrane and a bipolar exchange membrane. A product chamber is separated from one of the reaction chambers by either a cation or an anion exchange membrane. Recirculation mechanism is provided for transporting material between the reaction chamber inlets and outlets. A method of producing organic acids, amino acids, or amines using the separative bioreactor is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices that improve cell culture efficiency. They include the use of gas permeable culture compartments that reduce the use of space while maintaining uniform culture conditions, and are more suitable for automated liquid handling. They include the integration of gas permeable materials into the traditional multiple shelf format to resolve the problem of non-uniform culture conditions. They include culture devices that use surfaces comprised of gas permeable, plasma charged silicone and can integrate traditional attachment surfaces, such as those comprised of traditional tissue culture treated polystyrene. They include culture devices that integrate gas permeable, liquid permeable membranes. A variety of benefits accrue, including more optimal culture conditions during scale up and more efficient use of inventory space, incubator space, and disposal space. Furthermore, labor and contamination risk are reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating fixed biological tissue to inhibit calcification of the biological tissue following implantation thereof in a mammalian body. The apparatus includes a container for placing the biological tissue in contact with a treatment solution, structure to induce relative tissue/solution movement, and structure to heat the solution. The relative movement may be induced by shaking a container in which the tissue is immersed in the treatment solution, or by stirring the solution within the container. The movement may also be induced by flowing a treatment solution past the tissue to be treated. The tissue may be free to move in the treatment container, or may be restrained from gross movements. The flow may be part of a circulation system having a reservoir, with a heater being provided to heat the treatment solution in the reservoir. Alternatively, a treatment apparatus, including a fluid circulation system if desired, may be enclosed in an incubator.