Abstract: A fluid transfer device includes a syringe barrel having a chamber, a first plunger slidably movable inside the chamber, and a second plunger slidably movable inside the chamber. The distal end portion of the first plunger is engageable with the proximal end portion of the second plunger such that when the distal end portion of the first plunger and the proximal end portion of the second plunger are engaged, the second plunger is movable by the first plunger. A check valve may be incorporated into the distal end portion of the second plunger to allow a fluid to pass therethrough in a direction towards the proximal end portion of the second plunger and prevent a fluid to pass therethrough in a reverse direction. A fluid transfer assembly and a sampling method are also described.

Abstract: A clamp device for a barb member having a barbed region for disposing within an end of a flexible tube having an outer surface. The clamp device includes a flexible member including a body having a plurality of finger members compressible between a first resting position and a second clamping position; at least one of the flexible finger members having a radially inwardly extending tooth; the body having a through bore and an outer surface comprising threads; the flexible member being slidable over the barbed region and the outer surface of the flexible tube; a compression member having a body having a through bore and an inner surface including threads; the compression member being slidable over the flexible member; wherein upon threadingly engaging the compression member with the flexible member, the compression member compresses the finger member against the barb member.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to electrospun nanofiber ultrafiltration membrane compositions capable of operating in tangential filtration mode and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A biocontainer film enhanced with an abrasion resistant or “cut-proof” substrate. Such substrates can be combined with current biocontainer materials, via various techniques of embedding, coextrusion or laminating, to maintain the cleanliness and low extractables already validated for biotech manufacturing. The substrate of choice may be constructed from materials known to be more resistant to abrasion and sharp razor type cuts or from materials oriented in such a way to prevent puncture to occur. The new substrate must also be flexible to allow for typical folding as demonstrated by current packaging practices. The new substrate may be constructed from materials other than polymers such as metal, glass or carbon or in combination with polymers. A non-constrained pressure test is also disclosed.

Abstract: Fluid transfer device and method that allows for sterile wet connections, allows the connection to be reversed, and allows the connection to be reconnected, while leaving the connectors sterile and reusable under pressure. In certain embodiments, the device includes a first member and a second member, the latter adapted to receive the former in locking engagement upon actuation of the device to create fluid communication between the two in a sterile manner. Each of the members include a door that when opened, allows the first member to be linearly displaced into the second member to allow fluid to be transferred. When fluid transfer is complete, the first member can be retracted from the second member, and the doors closed.

Abstract: Fluid containment pressure vessel that eliminates the outer support housing present in certain conventional vessels, and provides an improved cap-to-body interface. In certain embodiments, the cap is threaded and configured to threadingly engage with the body of the pressure vessel, and has sufficient structural integrity to withstand the pressures in the device without the need for a support housing. In certain embodiments, an interlock mechanism is provided that prevents the cap from being opened (e.g., removed from the body) while the device is under pressure. In certain embodiments, a pressure relief valve is provided with a pre-loaded biasing mechanism to achieve the required pressure release rate. The vessel can be used for sample preparation, including purification or concentration of samples, particularly protein samples.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a filter capsule that supports direct integrity testing of an internal filter element. The filter capsule includes a filter housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, a passage running longitudinally between the inlet port and outlet port and holding a filter element, and an aseptic vent assembly. The filter housing also includes an integrity test assembly that can be used as a direct connection for integrity testing hardware, as opposed to upstream of the filter capsule. In one embodiment, the integrity test assembly comprises a body having a bore formed through its interior and a movable plunger within the bore. The plunger includes a handle to move the plunger between a closed position and an open position. Various seals between the plunger and the bore form a fluid tight seal between various portions of the plunger and the bore.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for Immunohistochemistry, including a slide holder assembly fixture, a slide holder, a slide holder frame, and a slide holder frame assembly adapted to be placed in communication with a driving force to draw fluid through the slide holder. The slide holder may include an injection port that allows consistent fluid delivery and recovery, while minimizing the introduction of air bubbles. The slide holder may include a reservoir that allows for filling, soaking, rinsing, flushing, uniform antibody coverage of the tissue and reduces handling time, space, and errors, and one or more sample chambers. The slide orientation in the slide holder allows for visualization of label information and tissue to confirm adequate antibody coverage. A multi-port frame allows multiple assays to be carried out concurrently, and is removable from a vacuum manifold and allows for easy transport from the vacuum manifold to an incubator/refrigerator and back.

Abstract: A disposable container, such as a deformable bag, for a fluid, having one or more inlets and one or more outlets and an impeller assembly within the container to cause mixing, dispersing, homogenizing and/or circulation of one or more ingredients contained or added to the container. The impeller assembly has a protective hood surrounding at least a portion of the moveable blades or vanes of the impeller assembly and being above at least a portion of the blades or vanes. The hood surrounds the blades or vanes and arcs over the height of the blades or vanes. The hood is shaped in a dome shape or semi-spherical shape that is around and above the impeller blades and acts as a protector for the container surface against the impeller assembly both during shipping and storage as well as when in use, particularly at lower liquid levels.

Abstract: The device for the microbiological analysis of a support adapted to contain microorganisms marked by a fluorophore agent, said agent being adapted to absorb light energy with an absorption spectrum (53) having a crest (53?) at a predetermined absorption wavelength (?2) and to release that energy by emitting light with an emission spectrum (54) having a crest (54?) at a predetermined emission wavelength (?3) distinct from said absorption wavelength (?2), comprises illuminating means; the spectrum (55) of the excitation light coming from the illuminating means having a crest (55?) at a predetermined excitation wavelength (?1) with a predetermined difference between the excitation (?1) and absorption (?2) wavelengths by virtue of which it is made easy to discriminate the light emitted by said fluorophore agent from that coming from the illuminating means.

Abstract: The device for the microbiological analysis of a support adapted to contain microorganisms marked by a fluorophore agent, said agent being adapted to absorb light energy with an absorption spectrum (53) having a crest (53?) at a predetermined absorption wavelength (?2) and to release that energy by emitting light with an emission spectrum (54) having a crest (54?) at a predetermined emission wavelength (?3) distinct from said absorption wavelength (?2), comprises illuminating means; the spectrum (55) of the excitation light coming from the illuminating means having a crest (55?) at a predetermined excitation wavelength (?1) with a predetermined difference between the excitation (?1) and absorption (?2) wavelengths by virtue of which it is made easy to discriminate the light emitted by said fluorophore agent from that coming from the illuminating means.

Abstract: Novel compositions for removing impurities such as, protein aggregates, from a sample containing a protein of interest, e.g., an antibody. Such compositions can be used prior to the virus filtration step during protein purification, to remove aggregates and protect the virus filter from fouling, therefore improving virus filter capacity. A porous solid support including a co-polymer having at least two monomers, wherein at least one of the monomers comprises acrylamide and at least a second monomer comprises a hydrophobic binding group, where the solid support selectively binds protein aggregates, thereby to separate the monomeric protein of interest from the protein aggregates. The method can be performed under neutral to high pH and high conductivity conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the filtering of liquid samples, preferably in a laboratory environment, for example for collecting micro organisms from the liquid sample for subsequent testing. The invention provides a method for filtering a liquid sample which comprises providing a blank of a deformable sheet material and a filtration medium, deforming the blank to form a funnel extending above and about the filtration medium, introducing the liquid sample to be filtered into the so formed funnel, and filtering the liquid sample from the funnel through the filtration medium, for example to a downstream receptacle. The method is accordingly based on the concept that the funnel is not or at least not completely preformed but provided in a form of a blank of a deformable material sheet which is deformed so as to form the funnel at the point and time of use during filtration.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a process for separating target proteins from non-target proteins in a sample comprising increasing the concentration of the target proteins and non-target proteins in the sample and subsequently delivering the concentrated sample to a chromatography device. In other embodiments, the invention relates to a process for increasing the capacity of a chromatography device for a target protein by delivering a concentrated sample comprising the target protein to a chromatography device.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices, systems, and methods providing for an invasion assay using microfluidic culture systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to improved LMO composition suitable for use as cathode material in rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The LMO composition may be doped with an additional metal or undoped. The LMO composition carries a surface treatment of LiF that protects the LMO from acid degradation. Cathodes prepared from the improved LMO have improved fade characteristics.

Abstract: A needle protector, having a flexible material, a pocket defining an internal volume, a wrapping strap having a plurality of holes, and a main body disposed between the pocket and the wrapping strap; at least one rigid body or cylinder for placement within the internal volume; and; a pin for placement within one of the plurality of holes, wherein the pin is capable of releasabiy locking the pocket and the main body when the wrapping strap is wrapped around the pocket and the main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for increasing purity of an Fc-containing protein by removing protein aggregates during the Protein A chromatography step used during the purification of the Fc-containing protein.

Abstract: A plasma source which is capable of supplying a plasma processing space with plasma in a state where gas is sufficiently ionized is a device for supplying plasma to a plasma processing space in which a process using the plasma is performed, and includes: a plasma generation chamber; an opening that allows the plasma generation chamber to communicate with the plasma processing space; a radio-frequency antenna that is a coil of less than one turn provided in a position where a radio-frequency electromagnetic field having predetermined strength required to generate plasma is able to be generated in the plasma generation chamber; voltage application electrodes in a position close to the opening in the plasma generation chamber; and a gas supply unit (pipe) that supplies plasma source gas to a position closer to the side opposite to the opening than the voltage application electrodes in the plasma generation chamber.

Abstract: Chromatography media including a high surface area thermoplastic porous nanofiber and an ion-exchange ligand functionality on the surface of the fiber. The porous nanofibers display a convoluted structure that is comprised of discrete bundles of highly entangled nanofibrils that may be fibrillated or ridged. The porous fibers can be prepared through the extraction of a dissolvable mineral or polymeric porogen that is embedded into the fiber during its manufacture in a melt extrusion process.