Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a connector including a housing, a hollow needle, an actuating mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The housing including a first end and a second end. The hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing. A first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first receptacle and a second end of the hollow needle facing a pierceable seal. The actuating mechanism configured to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal. The locking mechanism, in a first configuration, prevents the actuating mechanism from causing relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal, and in a second configuration, permits the actuating mechanism to cause relative movement between the hollow needle and the pierceable seal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bioreactor for cell culturing. The bioreactor comprises a container comprising a base and a side wall defining an internal volume for holding a cell suspension. The container is rotatable during use about a rotational axis. The bioreactor also includes a sensor element disposed on an internal surface of the container for interaction with a sensor receiver positioned externally of the container and operable to interact with the sensor element to detect a characteristic of the cell suspension. The sensor element is offset from the rotational axis of the bioreactor and arranged to align with the sensor receiver in at least two rotational positions of the bioreactor during use.

Abstract: There is described an outlet valve for a container, for example, a bioreactor container. The outlet valve comprises a membrane and the outlet valve is attachable to a wall of the container such that the membrane is arranged to face an internal volume of the container. The outlet valve further comprises an actuator operable to move membrane from: a first position in which the membrane is substantially in a plane of the wall of the container, to a second position in which a part of the membrane is displaced from the plane of the wall of the container such that the membrane is frustum-shaped.

Abstract: A connector comprising a housing extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the housing comprising, at least at one end, a pierceable seal; a hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing, a first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first corresponding receptacle, and a second end of the hollow needle facing the pierceable seal at an end of the housing; and an actuating mechanism to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal, thereby forming a communication through the pierceable seal, such that material is able to transfer through the connector. The pierceable seal includes a distal and a proximal end, the second end of the hollow needle facing the distal end, and the proximal end comprising an engagement element engaging a portion of the hollow needle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a bioreactor for cell processing. The bioreactor comprises a container including a base section comprising a sensor window chosen from a transparent sensor window or a translucent sensor window, a top section arranged opposite to the base section and comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a sidewall extending between the base section and the top section and defining an internal volume of the container adapted to hold a cell suspension. At least one optical element disposed on the sensor window within the internal volume, the at least one optical element adapted to emit a fluorescence signal in response to incident light, the fluorescence signal associated with one or more parameters of the cell suspension.

Abstract: A cell culture container comprising a base section and a compressible wall element. The base section includes a substantially planar rigid base plate. The compressible wall element extends from the base section in an axial direction and defines an internal volume of the cell culture container. The compressible wall element is compressible in the axial direction. There is also disclosed a bioreactor that includes the cell culture container.