Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a Disposable Bioprocess System including a Single-Use-Bioreactor, a Single-Use-Pump and a single-use micro-organism retention filter. Combined most suitable for cultivation of suspended micro-organisms in a liquid media at high micro-organism concentration in a perfusion mode continuous process for expression of biological material. The inlet port of the liquid Single-Use-Pump connects via a valve to the broth reservoir of the Single-Use-Bioreactor through a liquid conveying port. The outlet port of the liquid pumping Single-Use-Pump connects via a valve to a micro-organism retention filter. And a method for operating said sterile Disposable Bioprocess System in perfusion mode for continuously processing.

Abstract: A device (1) for accommodating a disposable container (44) has a receptacle (10) with at least one receptacle wall (16) that defines an interior of the receptacle (10) for accommodating the disposable container (44). The device includes a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the receptacle wall (16). A lighting device (50) is located on an inner face of the receptacle wall (16) that faces the interior of the receptacle (10) and that has the temperature controlled by the temperature control unit. The lighting device (50) is designed to emit light into the interior of the receptacle (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to tissue container systems that find use in the transport of tissues and methods of using the tissue container systems. In particular the present invention relates to systems that support the transport, thawing and use of cryopreserved human skin equivalents, and methods of their use by a health care provider.

Abstract: A cell stretching device including a cell chamber having upper and lower portions is disclosed. The lower portion has fixing means for fixing a deformable cell substrate (S) to the cell chamber and defining a stretching region inside the chamber at the lower portion. The upper portion has stretching means movable relative to the chamber and acting on the cell substrate (S) and a support element for holding the stretching means and a driving unit coupled to the upper portion of the cell chamber and engageable to the stretching means for mechanically controlling and regulating the movement of the stretching means relative to the cell chamber. The stretching means include clip members operating inside the stretching region which are configured to clamp the cell substrate (S) at a clamping contact point and to stretch the cell substrate (S) in response to the movement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shake-type culture apparatus which can perform large scale culture without using stirring blades and a culture method using the same. More particularly, there are provided a shake-type culture apparatus comprising: a culture bag made from a soft packaging material; an outer shell container being arranged to house the entirety of the culture bag to be able to perform adjustment of a temperature thereof; and a power source for shaking the outer shell container housing the culture bag, wherein the contents in the culture bag can be stirred and mixed by shaking the outer shell container housing the culture bag; and a culture method using the same.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a microfluidic chip for performing a microfluidic reaction. The microfluidic chip includes a rigid layer, a first polymer layer that forms a first surface of a microfluidic chamber within the microfluidic chip, a first adhesive layer disposed between the rigid layer and the first polymer layer, and a second polymer layer that forms a second surface of the microfluidic chamber, and a first port connecting an exterior of the microfluidic chip to the microfluidic chamber through at least the rigid layer, the first polymer layer, and the first adhesive layer. A first self-sealing valve is formed in the first polymer layer and disposed within the first port, the first self-sealing valve configured to seal directly against the rigid layer through a first gap in the first adhesive layer in response to pressure from thermal expansion of a fluid within the microfluidic chamber.

Abstract: An automatic in vitro cell culture platform includes a fluid storage device, a channel control panel, a cell culture chip and a fluid drive unit. The fluid storage device is for storing a cell culture medium and a waste liquid. The channel control panel is pipe-connected to the fluid storage device. The cell culture chip is disposed on the channel control panel and is for culturing a cell. The fluid drive unit is pipe-connected to the channel control panel and is for driving the cell culture medium and the waste liquid to flow between the fluid storage device and the cell culture chip through the channel control panel.

Abstract: An anaerobic digestion system for producing biogas from biomass, particularly biomass that is lignocellulosic, and includes two separate and interacting anaerobic reactor environments to solubilize lignocellulosic materials and make them available for conversion to biogas.

Abstract: A frame includes a ring-shaped body part locatable to surround the periphery of an organ, and at least one tube clamp part mounted on the body part. Each tube clamp part includes a tube holder that holds a tube. The tube clamp part is mounted so as to be movable in the circumferential direction of the body part. Thus, a tube connected to the organ can be fixed at an appropriate position to the tube clamp part. This stabilizes the relative positions of the organ and the tube. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the probability of the organ becoming damaged due to a strain on the organ.

Abstract: A method of treating a heavy metal contaminated soil including contacting the contaminated soil with a bioremediation mixture for a predetermined time such that the contaminated soil is anaerobically digested, wherein the contaminated soil contains one or more heavy metals, and wherein the anaerobically digested soil contains a lesser amount of the one or more heavy metals than the contaminated soil.

Abstract: There is described a variable-temperature reactor for hosting a predetermined reaction therein. The reactor comprises a reaction cell, a heater, and a heat sink. The reaction cell has a reaction volume with thickness Hv and width Wv where Wv>4Hv and is defined by faces with one of the larger area faces of the reaction volume being bounded by an outer wall with thickness Hw. The heater is in contact with the said outer wall. The heater comprises a heat-generating heater element located on the face closer to the reaction volume and a heater support on the opposite face. The heater support is in contact with a heat sink, such that the heater support provides a thermal resistance RT between the heater element and the heat sink. The reactor, when filled with reagents having thermal diffusion coefficient Dv has a diffusion time tv, in the thickness direction, tv=Hv2/Dv. tv is less than the reaction time constant tR.

Abstract: A system for aerobic fermentation includes a vessel, an aeration system including a gas sparger fluidly coupled to the vessel to introduce a compressed gas to an internal volume of the vessel, and a recirculation loop fluidly coupled to an outlet of the vessel. The recirculation loop includes an eductor fluidly coupled to an oxygen-containing gas source, a static mixer downstream of the eductor, a heat exchanger downstream of the eductor, and a distributor downstream of the heat exchanger. The distributor is fluidly coupled to the vessel. The aeration system provides mixing and oxygen mass transfer to the fermentation composition in the vessel. The fermentation composition passes through the eductor, static mixer, heat exchanger, and distributor of the recirculation loop, and back into the vessel. Oxygen is transferred from an oxygen containing gas to the fermentation composition and heat is removed from the fermentation composition in the recirculation loop.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a piezoelectric ultrasonic microinjection device based on a flexible hinge mechanism. The device includes: a cover, a flexible hinge mechanism, a base, a screw cap and an end cap fixedly assembled together, the base being provided with a pump interface; and a micropipette fixedly mounted in the base, the screw cap and the end cap and extending outward, the micropipette being in communication with the pump interface; wherein the flexible hinge mechanism comprises a housing, a piezoelectric ceramic package module encapsulated in the housing, a central shaft fixedly mounted with the piezoelectric ceramic package module and the base, and a vibration output shaft extending from the piezoelectric ceramic package module into the central shaft, a plurality of flexible hinge beams being disposed between the central shaft and the housing.

Abstract: A belt for an algal growth system includes a flexible sheet material configured to facilitate growth of a biofilm. The flexible sheet material is mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame such that a first height of the first mounted geometry is greater than a first width of the first mounted geometry, the flexible sheet material being in contact with a contacting liquid.

Abstract: A culture device and a culture method by which a substance to be cultured can be three-dimensionally cultured, and the substance thus cultured can be removed as an integrated product with multiple tubes; and a cultured organ produced by the culture method. The culture device comprises a sealed container (2) which contains the substance to be cultured (A) and is disassembled after the culture is completed; multiple ducts (3, 4, 5) arranged in the sealed container (2) and having a plurality of micropores formed on the outer peripheral surface; a culture medium-feeding device (6, 7) for feeding/circulating the culture medium (B) to at least one duct (3 or 5); an excretory device (8) connected to at least one duct (4) for excreting the waste product (C)permeating into the duct (4) through the micropores of the duct (4) from the substance to be cultured to the outside of the sealed container.

Abstract: Cell culture apparatus for emulating gastrointestinal tract conditions and comprising at least two adjacent, microfluidic, cell cultivation channels separated by a permeable or semipermeable membrane, a first channel carrying gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells or tissues and a second channel carrying luminal and preferably mucosal microbiota, and wherein said second channel comprises one or more dwell chambers capable of providing a location for unattached luminal flora to reside away from any direct flow in said second channel, permits modelling of multiple sections of the gastrointestinal tract and control of retention times.

Abstract: A sterile bioreactor is formed of a combination of a bag and a bubble diffuser retained in the bag. The bubble diffuser is formed of a microporous sheet material that produces substantially uniform micro gas bubbles for enhancing plant organism growth within the bag. The bag is made in a cost-effective manner and with desired sterility by sealing coupling devices and/or ports, the tube ends sealed and gamma irradiated. The coupling devices/ports are established in one side wall of the bag. Contents may be inserted into and removed from the bag through the coupling devices/ports, which may be surface mounted portals.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an adaptable microenvironment for cellular and biological processing in a traceable, transportable unit. In an illustrative example, an apparatus consists of one or more portable cell tissue containment modules that may be removably interconnected to perform a processing step and/or transfer the stored medium to another module. Associated apparatus and methods are proposed to ensure non-contaminating mechanical or fluid communication between a plurality of modules or between a module and peripheral equipment, to limit process errors such as steps performed out of order, and to intrinsically manage identification of tissue samples with accompanying process data in a manner that decreases risk of mislabeling or otherwise mishandling a sample at all stages of the production and treatment process.

Abstract: A bottle includes a body, a cap mounted to a cap neck of the body. The cap has an outer peripheral portion which is provided with a protrusion. Around the cap, there is provided a position indicator indicating whether the cap is at a correctly closed position, based on the positional relationship between the protrusion and the position indicator.

Abstract: 2D and 3D cell culture containers formed from blends of poly-L-lactide and poly-D-lactide provide growth surfaces for adherent cells and do not require surface treatment or coating to support mammalian cell growth. The cell culture containers are transparent, heat tolerant, and are environmentally degradable and suitable for composting in landfills.