Abstract: Containers including internal mixers and actuators assemblies and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a container may include a mixer and an actuator, at least one of which may be located inside of the container. The actuator may actuate the mixer to induce flow within the container and mix the contents of the container with a low volumetric footprint and high mixing efficiency. In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to deform the mixer, which may include one or more features which may be deformed out of plane in a Kirigami or Origami fashion. The actuator and mixer may be arranged in series or in parallel. The actuator may be used without a mixer to induce flow within the container. The actuator may be driven pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically, and/or in any other suitable manner.

Abstract: Kirigami mixing systems and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a mixing system includes one or more grippers configured to deform a portion of a flexible container containing fluid when undergoing axial deformation. The grippers may include features including slots, hinges, and spines to aid in the transition of the grippers between a closed and retracted configuration when the one or more grippers are deformed. The compression of the container subsequently result in fluid flow within the container which may mix or agitate the fluid. In some embodiments, the described grippers may be formed integrally with the flexible containers. In some embodiments, the mixing system may include a plurality of grippers arranged around the flexible container.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing a physical and solution properties of liquids are described. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic interrogation signal may be emitted into a liquid such as a solubilized protein solution. A resulting ultrasonic spectrum may be sensed and provided to a trained statistical model of the solution. The trained statistical model may then determine one or more properties of the liquid. In some embodiments, the trained statistical model determines a viscosity of the liquid and/or a solubilized protein concentration of the liquid. In some embodiments, a trained statistical classification model configured to classify the liquid based, for example, on its contents or properties is used to improve modeling accuracy.

Abstract: Valves, systems, articles, and methods for controlling fluid flow are generally described. According to some aspects, valves that can move between an open configuration and a closed configuration in response to a change in magnetic field and/or voltage potential are provided. According to certain aspects, valves comprising elastic diaphragms comprising magnetic materials (e.g., an elastic composite material including magnetic nanoparticles or other magnetic materials dispersed in a matrix) and/or electroactive polymers are provided. In some aspects, magnetically actuated systems and/or voltage potential actuated systems comprising elastomeric valves are described. In some embodiments, valves and systems described herein are useful for liquid handling, dosing, and regulation of fluid flow, though embodiments in which the disclosed valves are used in different applications are also contemplated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing a plurality of particles suspended in a solution are described. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic interrogation signal may be emitted into a solution including a plurality of particles suspended in the solution. A resulting ultrasonic spectrum may be sensed and provided to a trained statistical model of the solution. The trained statistical model may then determine one or more properties of the plurality of particles.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a digital control unit of a bioprocess arrangement for controlling a bioprocess, wherein the digital control unit comprises a local data storage and a local processor unit, wherein the digital control unit comprises a bioprocess interface for sending and receiving bioprocess control data, wherein the digital control unit is configured to execute a bioprocess control routine via the local processor unit to control the bioprocess, wherein in the bioprocess control routine, the digital control unit generates bioprocess data from the actuator data and/or the sensor data and/or the user control command data. It is proposed that the digital control unit is configured to execute a signing routine via the local processor unit and that in the signing routine, the digital control unit digitally signs documentation data, derived from the bioprocess data, by generating a digital signature.

Abstract: A method for conducting a bioprocess with a digital control unit of a bioprocess arrangement, wherein the digital control unit comprises a local data storage and a local processor unit, wherein the digital control unit comprises a bioprocess interface for sending and receiving bioprocess control data, wherein bioprocess data are generated by the digital control unit, wherein a bioprocess control routine is executed by the local processor unit to control the bioprocess, wherein in the bioprocess control routine, the bioprocess data are generated by the digital control unit from actuator data and/or sensor data and/or user control command data. It is proposed that a signing routine is initiated by the local processor unit in the data safety routine to be executed by an external signing unit(s).

Abstract: A method for conducting a bioprocess with a digital control unit of a bioprocess arrangement, wherein the digital control unit comprises a local data storage and a local processor unit, wherein bioprocess data are generated by the digital control unit. It is proposed, that in a data safety routine, a documentation routine and a signing routine are executed, that in the documentation routine, documentation data are generated from the bioprocess data and that in the signing routine, a cryptographic private key is extracted from private key data and the documentation data are digitally signed with the cryptographic private key by generating a digital signature and that the documentation routine is executed continuously during the bioprocess and that the signing routine is executed discontinuously during the bioprocess in several signing cycles according to a signing strategy, which defines trigger events for initiating the signing routine.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for detecting foam on the surface of a liquid medium contained in a vessel is described. The method including the steps of receiving a sample image of at least a portion of the vessel comprising the liquid-gas interface and classifying the sample image between a first class and at least one second class, associated with different amounts of foam on the surface of the liquid. The classifying is performed by a deep neural network classifier that has been trained using a plurality of training images of at least a portion of a vessel comprising a liquid-gas interface. The plurality of training images may comprise at least some images that differ from each other by one or more of: the location of the liquid-gas interface on the image, the polar and/or azimuthal angle at which the liquid-gas interface is viewed on the image, and the light intensity or colour temperature of the one or more light sources that illuminated the imaged portion of the vessel when the image was acquired.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: A system for an automated production of high cell density seed culture, HCDC, preparations, for cryo-preservation comprising a cell expansion device for growing a HCDC in a medium inside a device volume of the cell expansion device, at least one sensor for collecting data by at least temporally monitoring at least one parameter being indicative of the physiological state of the HCDC; and a control unit for processing the collected data to determine whether at least one predetermined criterion is fulfilled by the monitored parameter to control, based on whether the at least one predetermined criterion is fulfilled by the monitored parameter, at least a partial exchange of the medium by a cryo-protective agent, CPA.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: A biochip for molecular detection and sensing is disclosed. The biochip includes a substrate. The biochip includes a plurality of discrete sites formed on the substrate having a density of greater than five hundred wells per square millimeter. Each discrete site includes sidewalls disposed on the substrate to form a well. Each discrete site includes an electrode disposed at the bottom of the well. In some embodiments, the wells are formed such that cross-talk between the wells is reduced. In some embodiments, the electrodes disposed at the bottom of the wells are organized into groups of electrodes, wherein each group of electrodes shares a common counter electrode. In some embodiments, the electrode disposed at the bottom of the well has a dedicated counter electrode. In some embodiments, surfaces of the sidewalls are silanized such that the surfaces facilitate the forming of a membrane in or adjacent to the well.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biochip comprising a plurality of wells. The biochip includes a membrane that is disposed in or adjacent to an individual well of the plurality of wells. The membrane comprises a nanopore, and the individual well comprises an electrode that detects a signal upon ionic flow through the pore in response to a species passing through or adjacent to the nanopore. The electrode can be a non-sacrificial electrode. A lipid bilayer can be formed over the plurality of wells using a bubble.

Abstract: A pump is disclosed. The pump may include at least one pumping mechanism. The at least one pumping mechanism may include a barrel formed of a substrate having a bore and a plunger formed of a substrate and slidably disposed within the bore in the barrel. The pump may further include a coating disposed on the plunger. The coating may include a main layer containing a tribological material and a sacrificial break-in layer disposed on the main layer, the break-in layer containing a tribological material.