Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest, a head restraint, and a pump. The backrest is coupled to the seat base. The head restraint includes a rigid backing member, a padding, an inflatable bladder, and a cover. The backing member is coupled to the backrest. The padding is coupled to the backing member and disposed at least along a forward face of an upper portion of the backing member. The inflatable bladder is coupled to the backing member and disposed along a forward face of a lower portion of the backing member. The padding and the inflatable bladder are disposed between the backing member and the cover. The pump is coupled for fluid communication with the inflatable bladder. The bladder is selectively inflated or deflated to improve the comfort of the head restraint.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest, a head restraint, and a pump. The backrest is coupled to the seat base. The head restraint includes a rigid backing member, a padding, an inflatable bladder, and a cover. The backing member is coupled to the backrest. The padding is coupled to the backing member and disposed at least along a forward face of an upper portion of the backing member. The inflatable bladder is coupled to the backing member and disposed along a forward face of a lower portion of the backing member. The padding and the inflatable bladder are disposed between the backing member and the cover. The pump is coupled for fluid communication with the inflatable bladder. The bladder is selectively inflated or deflated to improve the comfort of the head restraint.

Abstract: An insert of the present invention for a tissue culture bottle with a neck includes a neck adapter with provision for mounting a suspending arm. One end of the suspending arm mounts in the insert and the other end has a holder for a specimen or a plurality of specimens. When the adapter is placed in the neck of the bottle, a specimen in the holder is suspended within the bottle. The neck adapter may also be incorporated into a cap for the bottle. In the case where the tissue culture bottle is a roller bottle with a longitudinal axis, the neck adapter may include rotatable elements so that the suspending arm and specimen holder remain in a substantially constant position with respect to the rotation of the bottle about the axis. In an alternate embodiment of the insert of the present invention, the insert may be a generally cylindrical member for placement on the interior surface of a tissue culture roller bottle for at least a portion of the cell growth period.

Abstract: A two piece co-culture device having receptacles for containing fluid on two sides of a porous membrane includes an insert with a passageway therethrough with a longitudinal axis. The insert has a first end, a second end and a sidewall, the second end has an outside diameter and a porous membrane with a first side and a second side bonded thereover substantially perpendicular to the axis. The membrane closes the second end of the insert forming a a first receptacle for containing fluid on the first side of the porous membrane within the insert that is open to the first end. The first end has a flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the sidewall substantially perpendicular to the axis for suspending the insert in a well. The device also includes an adapter for forming a second receptacle for containing fluid on the second side of the porous membrane. The adapter has an open end, an insert end and a passage with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough.

Abstract: An insert for trans-membrane co-culture includes a hollow housing with a passageway therethrough, a first end, a second end and a center section intermediate the first and second end. The passageway has an inside diameter at the first end and the second end that is larger than the inside diameter of the passageway at the center section so that the passageway tapers from each end to the center section. The center section includes a porous membrane having a first surface and a second surface attached across and obstructing the passageway. The membrane forms a first receptacle from the passageway toward the first end and forms a second receptacle from the passageway toward the second end. A method for using the insert of the present invention to grow cells on both sides of a porous membrane includes horizontally submerging the insert in liquid medium so that the air in the receptacles is displaced by the medium.

Abstract: A pipet for transferring fluids of the present invention includes a distal tip, a barrel portion with an exterior surface, and a proximal neck. The pipet has a hollow bore. There are graduation markings on the exterior surface of the barrel portion for determining a volume of a fluid contained in the pipet. The graduation markings have a longitudinal and a radial orientation about the barrel. The pipet of the invention further includes a proximal mark for indicating the radial orientation of the graduation markings on the barrel that allows an operator to mount the pipet in a pipetter with the packaging open only at the neck end of the pipet in the most favorable orientation for use.

Abstract: A roller bottle for trans-membrane co-culture of cells includes an exterior receptacle with a longitudinal axis having a first chamber surrounded by a sidewall. The exterior receptacle has a first neck at one end having an opening therethrough providing fluid access to said first chamber. The roller bottle further includes an interior container with a longitudinal axis and a second chamber, the interior container being located coaxially within the exterior receptacle. The interior container has a second neck at one end providing fluid access to the second chamber. The exterior receptacle is formed from a material that is substantially impermeable to gas and liquid and is sealed in a substantially fluid tight fashion forming the first chamber that has fluid access by the first neck. At least a portion of the interior container is formed from a microporous material.

Abstract: A removable cell culture insert support device is provided which allows the initial development of cell cultures on the bottom membrane surface of an inverted cell culture insert. Following successful cell culture development, the support device of the invention is discarded and the conventional insert is reoriented and then suspended in a conventional multi-well plate with the initially developed cells on the bottom surface of the insert membrane. The upper surface of the membrane is then available for developing a second cell type for transmembrane interaction as required. The removable support includes a cup-shaped chamber with a surrounding skirt to accommodate the cell insert of interest, with the removable support having appropriate cooperating attaching surfaces. A double-sided adhesive may be used to temporarily join the two parts together.

Abstract: A self-contained ready-to-use trans-membrane co-culture system of the present invention includes an insert having a tube with a longitudinal axis, a sidewall substantially parallel to the axis connecting a first open end and a second end. The second end has a microporous membrane bonded to it substantially perpendicular to the axis forming a well within the insert. The insert has a flange extending outwardly from the sidewall at the first end for suspending the insert as described hereinabove with a removable plug placed in the well of the insert to substantially prevent fluid flow through the microporous membrane. The insert with the plug is contained in a housing having a first end, a second end and a passageway therethrough. The housing has a longitudinal axis, a first diameter at the first end, a second diameter at the second end and an intermediate diameter between the first and second diameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for growing cells or tissue in vitro and for supporting, positioning and/or centering cell culture inserts that are used in such procedures. The apparatus comprises a body with a plurality of wells wherein a cell culture insert may be supported and centered without interfering with the growing of tissue culture in vitro.

Abstract: A vessel and closure assembly for culturing mammalian cells wherein a gas permeable membrane is provided in the closure to allow rapid and uniform equilibration of gases between the atmosphere of the vessel and the atmosphere of an incubator. Removable thin impermeable film labels are provided for allowing passage of gases through the gas permeable membrane for uniform equilibration between the atmosphere in the closure and the atmosphere of the incubator as well as for occluding passage of gases through the gas permeable membrane when the vessel is removed from the controlled atmosphere of the incubator.

Abstract: Apparatus for growing cells or tissue in vitro and for supporting, positioning and/or centering cell culture inserts that are used in such procedures. The apparatus comprises a body with a plurality of wells wherein a cell culture insert may be supported and centered without interfering with the growing of tissue culture in vitro.

Abstract: A combined dispenser tray and package is provided for pipettes. The tray is elongated with a stepped front wall which provides a dispensing position for sequentially dispensing individual pipettes, as required. The front wall includes a built-in curved wall portion for feeding the individual pipettes, one at a time, to the dispensing position for removal. A cooperating cover is provided with a hinged peel tab for gaining access to the dispensing position. A further feature of the tray of the invention is that the stepped configuration, as seen in cross-section, allows for stacking a plurality of trays in a compact fashion for shipping and storage.

Abstract: A roller bottle is provided with provision for increased internal surface area for cell growth by the use of a foamed, textured or woven liner or sleeve inserted into the bottle prior to use. The sleeve may be used in a single use roller bottle or a multiple use roller bottle. With the latter, the sleeve is discarded, the bottle sterilized, and a new sleeve or liner is inserted. The interstices of the foamed, textured or woven surface has the effect of increasing the actual surface area available for culturing cells in each single roller bottle, thus making the roller bottle of the invention cost effective.