Abstract: A generally cylindrical collapsible mixing vessel, comprising: a) a flexible plastic film side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein both the top wall and the bottom wall are attached to the side wall and the side, top and bottom walls define an inner volume of the vessel; b) an agitator located in the inner volume and; c) at least one vortex breaker made from flexible plastic film, located in the inner volume and attached to the bottom wall and/or the side wall via string elements, wherein said vortex breaker extends along the side wall and inwards in a generally radial direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chromatography ligand, which comprises Domain C from Staphylococcus protein A (SpA), or a functional fragment or variant thereof. The chromatography ligand presents an advantageous capability of withstanding harsh cleaning in place (CIP) conditions, and is capable of binding Fab fragments of antibodies. The ligand may be provided with a terminal coupling group, such as arginine or cysteine, to facilitate its coupling to an insoluble carrier such as beads or a membrane. The invention also relates to a process of using the ligand in isolation of antibodies, and to a purification protocol which may include washing steps and/or regeneration with alkali.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system for perfusion culture of cells which comprises: a bioreactor; a filter unit with a retentate inlet end, a retentate outlet end and a permeate outlet port; a reciprocating pump fluidically connected to the retentate inlet end, with the retentate inlet end fluidically connected to the bioreactor via an inlet check valve arranged to allow flow in the direction from the bioreactor to the retentate inlet end and to block flow in the reverse direction, and where the retentate outlet end is fluidically connected to the bioreactor via an outlet check valve arranged to allow flow in the direction from the retentate outlet end to the bioreactor and to block flow in the reverse direction; and where the inlet and outlet check valves are each fluidically connected to a tubing branch point, which is further connected to the bioreactor via a length of tubing.

Abstract: A method and a rotary valve in a continuous chromatography system. The rotary valve comprises a stator with an inner stator face, and a rotor with an inner rotor face arranged in sealing contact with the inner stator face. The stator comprises at least a first and a second inlet orifices, at least two first outlet orifices, a second outlet orifice and a third outlet orifice, and the rotor interconnection paths are arranged to: in at least one rotary position connect the first inlet orifice to the second outlet orifice and the second inlet orifice to the third outlet orifice, and in at least two other rotary positions connect the first inlet orifice with any one of the first outlet orifices at the same time as the second inlet orifice is connected to the second outlet orifice.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a biological sample holder and for holding biological samples. Conventionally, processing of biological samples, which may be stored on a biological sample storage medium, is done manually with samples being tested individually. However, handling of the samples is difficult and time consuming; greater demand for storage and extraction of genetic material has led to a requirement for greater throughput. In embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a biological sample holder comprising a chamber holding a biological sample storage medium, the chamber comprising one or more openings for receiving a liquid when inserted therein. This provides a means of holding a biological sample which is easy to handle and suitable for automation, for example in an array of such holders, allowing processing of multiple biological samples in parallel.

Abstract: The invention provides a an inactive, non-replicating vaccine comprising whole virion, chemically inactivated Yellow Fever virus which is inactivated using a method that ensures preservation of critical, neutralizing epitopes. The Yellow Fever virus has been adapted to propagate in cells to higher yields than the unadapted virus. The invention also provides methods for preventing Yellow Fever viral infection.

Abstract: The invention discloses a polypeptide capable of binding immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin-containing proteins, which polypeptide comprises six or more domains of protein Z or the C domain of protein A or a functional variant thereof. It also discloses separation matrices comprising the polypeptide and methods of using the separation matrices for separation of immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin-containing proteins.

Abstract: Systems and methods for executing super-resolution microscopy of a specimen with most of the image processing performed in a camera of a fluorescence microscopy instrument are described. In one aspect, the camera includes one or more processors to execute machine-readable instructions that control excitation light output from a multi-channel light source, control capture of intermediate images of the specimen, and perform image processing of the intermediate images to produce a final super-resolution image of the specimen.

Abstract: Various light-scanning systems that can be used to perform rapid point-by-point illumination of a focal plane within a specimen are disclosed. The light-scanning systems can be incorporated in confocal microscopy instruments to create an excitation beam pivot axis that lies within an aperture at the back plate of an objective lens. The light-scanning systems receive a beam of excitation light from a light source and direct the excitation beam to pass through the pivot point in the aperture of the back plate of the objective lens while continuously scanning the focused excitation beam across a focal plane.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus to monitor component status in a bioprocessing environment are disclosed and described. Certain examples provide a sensor device for a disposable bioprocessing component. The example sensor device includes a first portion affixed to the component, the first portion configured to provide an identifier associated with the component. The example sensor device also includes a second portion configured to provide a status indication based on a state of the component. The example sensor device is configured to transmit the identifier and status indication to a control computer associated with a bioprocessing platform including the component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chromatography column frame comprising at least two legs, a support arrangement connected to said at least two legs, and a holder means connected to said support arrangement. Said holder means is arranged to releasably hold an adaptor rod of a chromatography column, so that the adaptor rod is prevented to move in a horizontal direction and so the adaptor rod is allowed to move in a vertical direction. The invention also relates to method of conducting maintenance on and packing of a chromatography column.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of separating a biomolecule from at least one other component in a liquid, comprising a step of contacting said liquid with a separation matrix comprising a solid support and polymer chains bound to said solid support. The polymer chains comprise units derived from a first monomer of structure CH2?CH-L-X, where L is a covalent bond or an alkyl ether or hydroxysubstituted alkyl ether chain comprising 2-6 carbon atoms, and X is a sulfonate or phosphonate group.

Abstract: There is a recognized need for novel, more simplified, approaches to isolation of plasma from whole blood, as well as a need to isolate cell-free plasma fractions containing different plasma proteins. Methods are divulged for use of aqueous phase systems, formed in blood or blood containing solutions via addition of a single polymer at relatively low concentration, to effect isolation (clarification) of plasma proteins from blood cells. Methods are also divulged to replace widely used Cohn-type plasma protein fractionation which is based on sequential addition of up to 40% (v/v) ethanol and other precipitants, with simple sequential addition of a polyacid. The latter results in isolation of plasma protein fractions (i.e. fibrinogen, immunoglobulin, albumin) in sequence similar to that obtained with Cohn Fractionation and therefore may be suitable for use to reduce solvent use and solvent-related process complications in existing plasma protein purification processes.

Abstract: A rotary valve comprising a stator with an inner stator face, and a rotor with an inner rotor face arranged in sealing contact with the inner stator face, the rotor is rotatably movable to a plurality of rotor positions about a rotational axis relative to the inner stator face, the stator comprises a plurality of connection ports each being in fluidic contact with a corresponding valve orifice at the inner stator face and the rotor comprises two or more interconnection paths for selective fluidic interconnection of said valve orifices with respect to the rotor position, wherein the stator comprises, an inlet port, an outlet port, a component feed port, a component return port, and wherein the interconnection paths in the rotor are arranged to: —in a first rotor position interconnect the inlet port with the outlet port, —in a second rotor position interconnect the inlet port with the component feed port and the component return port with the outlet port, —in a third rotor position interconnect the inlet port w

Abstract: There is disclosed a biometric device (10), comprising a solid support (14) suitable for receiving biological material (S) and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit (16) including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. Also disclosed is a processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analyzing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to axial flow chromatography columns, methods for separating one or more analytes in a liquid by the use of such columns, and systems employing such columns. The column comprises a first port and a second port, the first port and said second port being at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space on the chromatography column.

Abstract: A bioreactor control system comprises a batch server for controlling a bioreactor system in response to a recipe, a batch software system for generating a control sequence for the bioreactor system via the batch server for implementing the recipe, and a recipe conversion system that inputs the recipe into the batch software system. Preferably, the recipe conversion system reads a word processor file containing the recipe and interprets styles applied to text in the word processor file as indicating equipment and phases of the recipe to the recipe conversion system. Generally, the bioreactor system includes one or more bioreactors and additional hardware to perform the upstream and downstream processing. The document properties of the word processor file containing the recipe are applied as header information for the recipe input into the batch software system.

Abstract: Various beam selectors for selectively placing one of at least two beams of light along the same output path are disclosed. In one aspect, a beam selector receives at least two substantially parallel beams of light. The beam selector includes a plate with an aperture so that when one of the at least two beams is selected for transmission, the beam selector directs only the selected beam along an output path through the aperture. The plate can also serve to block transmission of unselected beams. The output path through the aperture is the same for each of the at least two beams when each beam is selected. Beam selectors can be incorporated into fluorescence microscopy instruments to selectively place particular excitation beams along the same path through the microscope objective lens and into a specimen to excite fluorescence of fluorescent probes attached to a particular component of the specimen.

Abstract: An attachment arrangement for providing a sensor in a flexible bag, said attachment arrangement comprising: a sensor holding part adapted to be integrated with the flexible bag and comprising first locking part protruding out form the flexible bag, the sensor holding part holding an optical sensor inside the flexible bag; an adaptor part provided outside the flexible bag and adapted to hold an optical fiber, the adaptor part comprising second locking part adapted to mate with the first locking part to lock the first locking part and the second locking part together such that the optical fiber can communicate with the optical sensor inside the bag.

Abstract: A method for providing an aseptic chromatography column includes the steps of pre-sterilizing an empty chromatography column, pre-sterilizing a chromatography medium, introducing the pre-sterilized chromatography medium into the pre-sterilized chromatography column using aseptic equipment, thus providing an aseptic chromatography column comprising chromatography medium.