Abstract: A cell culture and testing system provides a completely self-contained environment in which living tissues may be placed and where living tissues may be nutrified, oxygenated and maintained within a range of temperatures within which life may be sustained. The system includes aspects permitting administering of drugs or other substances to living tissues and monitoring of results accruing from such administration. In the preferred embodiment, the system is completely self-contained and sealed and may be operated both through use of an external power supply and an internal back-up power supply. The system is maintained at a positive pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure to prevent contamination from the surrounding environment. The system includes at least three levels of containment to completely isolate living tissues from ambient surroundings and the system has been successfully tested under conditions of zero gravity.

Abstract: A pump and a method for pumping liquid or fluid through a pair resilient es includes a shuttle block which partially compresses the tubes in a balanced, alternating manner. The resilient tubes are held in a parallel relationship with a predetermined space defined therebetween. Within the predetermined space, a shuttle block is oscillated along the linear axis to partially compress the tubes in an alternating fashion. As one of the two parallel tubes is compressed, fluid is pumped out of the tube and at the same time fluid is drawn into the second tube as the latter tube resumes its original shape. The resilience of both tubes also is used to assist the pumping action in a balanced fashion, thereby providing a pump that has low power consumption and is lightweight.