Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus according to the present invention for generating the motion of a tool, in particular for the work on biological cell material, in particular for performing ICSI, comprises at least one actuator element, an actuated member, a motion section, at which can be arranged a tool and which is linked to the actuated member, the actuated member being elastically deformable, the actuator element being linked to the actuated member such that an actuation by the actuator element elastically deforms the actuated member by a distance, which corresponds to a length change of the actuated member, wherein said length change causes said motion of the motion section. Further, a corresponding method for generating a tool motion is provided.

Abstract: The substrate 100 for use in the analysis of a nucleic acid according to the present invention has multiple analysis areas 12 which are partitioned on a substrate 10, and enables the measurement of the analysis areas 12 while interchanging the analysis areas 12 in turn, said substrate 100 being characterized in that each of the analysis areas 12 consists of an adsorption part 13 onto which a DNA fragment or a carrier having the DNA fragment carried thereon can be adsorbed and a non-adsorption part 14 which is a part outside of the adsorption part 13, and the non-adsorption part 14 has, formed on at least a part thereof, a marker part 15 that has a specified shape and helps to identify the positions of the analysis areas 12.

Abstract: A cell culture evaluation system includes a cell culture device 10 culturing a plurality of cell culture units of which arrangements are changed; and a cell quality evaluation device 60 including a cell quality evaluation portion 61 that performs image-evaluation on qualities based on images of the cell culture units and a cell arrangement-position storage unit 64 that stores respective arrangement-positions of the cell culture units before and after the arrangement change. When portion of the cell culture units among the plurality of cell culture units are selected to be subjected to image-evaluation, if cell culture units of which results of the image-evaluation do not satisfy predetermined conditions exist, cell culture units, which have been arranged in a predetermined distance range from the cell culture units that do not satisfy the conditions, are specified and evaluated to a point of time of the image-evaluation based on the stored respective arrangement-positions.

Abstract: Method for isolating microorganism from a sample likely contaminated by microorganism, including: (a) device for isolating microorganisms including a bottom waterproof layer, a nutritional layer, which is placed on the bottom layer and includes a dehydrated culture medium, an isolation layer which is pervious to elements included in the nutritional layer and is capable of retaining the bacteria on the surface and covering all or part of the nutritional layer, and a top protective layer; (b) depositing a volume of the sample on the isolation layer; (c) isolating the microorganisms by impoverishing or layering the sample using an isolating device; (d) incubating the device for an amount of time at a temperature to enable growth of microorganisms, method including at least one step of rehydrating the culture medium using a volume of liquid before or with step b) and/or c) and/or d), before or simultaneously with step b) and/or c).

Abstract: A method for optically reading information encoded in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including an input microchannel, microfluidic modules, and sets of nodes. Nodes of a first set connect the input microchannel to one of the microfluidic modules, and nodes of a second set connect the one of the microfluidic modules to another to form an ordered pair of the microfluidic modules, where the nodes of the first and second sets have different liquid pinning strengths. A liquid loaded into the input microchannel causes an ordered passage of the liquid through each of the microfluidic modules in an order determined by the liquid pinning strengths of the nodes. The passage of the liquid produces an optically readable dynamic pattern which evolves in accordance with the ordered passage of the liquid through the device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods configured to perform drug screening on cells. At least one embodiment relates to a lens-free device for performing drug screening on cells. The lens-free device includes a substrate having a surface. The lens-free device also includes a light source positioned to illuminate the cells, when present, on the substrate surface with a light wave. The lens-free device further includes a sensor positioned to detect an optical signal caused by illuminating the cells. The substrate surface includes a microelectrode array for sensing an electrophysiological signal from the cells.

Abstract: A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a device for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue comprising at least one recording chamber with a liquid permeable membrane supporting the organotypic tissue, at least one bottom electrode and at least one top electrode, wherein the liquid permeable membrane divides the recording chamber into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, wherein at least the bottom chamber contains culture medium for the organotypic tissue, and the bottom electrode(s) is/are located in the bottom chamber and the top electrode(s) is/are located in the top chamber, and wherein the organotypic tissue is located between the bottom electrode(s) and the top electrode(s). The present invention also refers to the use of the device according to the present invention for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue.

Abstract: A system for accelerating and/or inhibiting the migration of cells by applying a time-varying magnetic field to induce eddy currents that promote electrotaxis (galvanotaxis) of cells without the need for chemokines or glucose. The present invention can also be used to study and quantify the metastatic potential of different cell lines.

Abstract: A hydraulic cell stretching device comprising a source of variable pressured hydraulic fluid hydraulically coupled to a flexing chamber. The flexing chamber has at least one cell well. The cell well has a membrane subjected to the variable pressured hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The method for producing a three-dimensional artificial tissue is a method in which a three-dimensional artificial tissue extending in a predetermined direction is produced. The method includes: preparing a device including a culture tank having a culturing space surrounded by sidewalls, and a flow channel-forming member that penetrates through the sidewalls that face each other and is suspended in the culturing space along a predetermined direction; culturing cells in the culturing space and thereby forming a three-dimensional artificial tissue through which the flow channel-forming member penetrates; and removing the flow channel-forming member from the three-dimensional artificial tissue and thereby forming a perfusion flow channel that penetrates through the three-dimensional artificial tissue.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a cell culture apparatus includes a port and a snap cap. The port has an annular sidewall defining an opening in communication with a cell culture chamber of a cell culture apparatus. The sidewall has (i) external threads for cooperating with internal threads of a twist cap and (ii) an annularly protruding snap cap engagement feature. The snap cap has a top and an annular sidewall extending from the top. The sidewall of the snap cap has an inwardly annularly projecting element configured to engage with the annularly protruding snap cap engagement feature of the port such that, when fully engaged, the snap cap is not readily removed from the port by unaided human force.

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: Disclosed is a rotating culture vessel based on a rotating culture technology using an RWV, by which cell seeding, liquid medium exchange, quality control and so on can be automated and degassing can be conducted simultaneously with liquid medium exchange without disturbing the cells under culture. Also disclosed is an automatic cell culture apparatus using the same. A rotating culture vessel, which contains cells and a liquid culture medium, to be attached to a horizontal rotating shaft of a rotating culture device to three-dimensionally culture the cells, wherein one or more inlets/outlets for supplying cells and a liquid culture medium at the early stage and then taking out the cultured cells, are formed at appropriate position of a flat cylindrical culture container; at least one pair of a supply port and a discharge port for liquid medium exchange is provided on the outer circumferential cylindrical face of the culture container.

Abstract: Reader and plate methods, operations, and systems for observing a biological sample are shown and described. In one embodiment, a reader device includes selecting a plate type between at least two plate type selections on a user interface. One embodiment includes aligning a peel plate within a tray holder nest to define a semi-fixed processing position. One embodiment includes transporting a peel plate from a loading position into a focal alignment with an imaging device for monitoring biological growth, when present.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the controlled formation of structures, including tubular structures, using microfluidic devices. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device includes three or more microfluidic arrays that are provided in a stacking configuration, with an inner streaming layer and an outer streaming layer for flowing a streaming fluid, and at least one intermediate matrix layer for flowing a matrix fluid. Fluid flow in each layer is directed from a peripheral region towards, and distributed around, a common central outlet. Guided by the streaming fluid, a sheath of matrix solution is formed, which may be solidified to form a tubular material. Some embodiments allow for the controlled and continuous extrusion of tubular structures with tailored heterogeneities and/or predictable mechanical and chemical properties. Devices and methods are also provided for the on- and off-chip fixation and optional perfusion of tubular structures.

Abstract: A device is described having a first surface having a plurality of first areas and a second surface having a plurality of second areas. The first surface and the second surface are opposed to one another and can move relative to each other from at least a first position where none of the plurality of first areas, having a first substance, are exposed to plurality of second areas, having a second substance, to a second position. When in the second position, the plurality of first and second areas, and therefore the first and second substances, are exposed to one another. The device may further include a series of ducts in communication with a plurality of first second areas to allow for a substance to be disposed in, or upon, the plurality of second areas when in the first position.

Abstract: A hand-held molecular diagnostic test device includes a housing, an amplification (or PCR) module, and a detection module. The amplification module is configured to receive an input sample, and defines a reaction volume. The amplification module includes a heater such that the amplification module can perform a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the input sample. The detection module is configured to receive an output from the amplification module and a reagent formulated to produce a signal that indicates a presence of a target amplicon within the input sample. The amplification module and the detection module are integrated within the housing.

Abstract: A fluid transfer assembly for single use bioreactors includes a fluid transfer housing that can be mounted to the impeller shaft using a bearing that places the fluid transfer assembly directly below the lowest impeller but allows the impeller shaft to spin inside independently of the fluid transfer assembly. A fluid conduit connects the fluid transfer housing to a port in the single use bag wall which allows fluids to be introduced into the sparger and which also helps prevent the fluid transfer assembly from rotating with the impeller shaft.