Abstract: A sterile housing for the cultivation of micro-organisms has a container closed by a cover with a culture medium within the walls and base. The cover has a bottom forming a base and walls connected to the bottom, and the lid is set on the container and includes a peripheral sealing zone having a flat section recessed relative to the bottom of the container. A concave inner seal is fixed to the peripheral sealing zone of the lid to hermetically seal the box by enclosing the container, enabling the inner seal to be removed without exposing the culture medium.

Abstract: This concerns a device whose filtering membrane is gripped annularly at the periphery between a first member forming part of an intake body and a second member forming part of a drainage body with one out of the first member and second member having an elastomer seal by means of which it comes into contact with the membrane, and whose locking means are adapted to allow the opening of the device by requiring only a separation movement between said first member and said second member. The drainage method proposes directly placing the device on a vacuum flask, the sealing with regard to the stopper of said flask being obtained by a rib tapering towards its end.

Abstract: The invention concerns a box consisting of a container (2) designed to contain a culture medium (14), for example an agar medium, and closed with a lid (4). The container comprises a bottom (6) forming a base and walls (8) connected to the bottom (6). The lid (4) is set on the container and comprises a peripheral sealing zone (22) consisting of a flat section recessed relative to the bottom (6) of the container (22). A concave inner seal (24) is sealingly fixed to the peripheral sealing zone (22) of the lid (4), so as to close the box (1) hermetically by enclosing the container (2) and so as not to expose the culture medium (14) when the inner seal (24) is removed. The invention is applicable to micro-organism culture.

Abstract: This concerns a device whose filtering membrane (4) is gripped annularly at the periphery between a first member (9) forming part of an intake body (2) and a second member (32) forming part of a drainage body (3) with one out of the first member and second member having an elastomer seal (13) by means of which it comes into contact with the membrane (4), and whose locking means (7, 31) are adapted to allow the opening of the device by requiring only a separation movement between said first member (9) and said second member (32).

Abstract: This concerns a device whose filtering membrane is gripped annularly at the periphery between a first member forming part of an intake body and a second member forming part of a drainage body with one out of the first member and second member having an elastomer seal by means of which it comes into contact with the membrane, and whose locking means are adapted to allow the opening of the device by requiring only a separation movement between said first member and said second member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling microorganisms from the air is disclosed. The speed at which the sample is placed on to a growth medium is controlled, such as by controlling the speed of the turbine of the device, so as to compensate for any drying of the medium that may have occurred by the amount of air hitting the surface over time. This enhances the ability of the medium to retain microorganisms present in the air even as the medium dries from the flow of air over its surface.

Abstract: This apparatus has a sieve (4) with a wall (22) perforated with a multitude of holes, means (4, 5) for holding a removable receptacle (20) containing a layer of growth media (21) and means (7, 8) for sucking in air at the periphery of the receptacle (20) in order to cause to enter the apparatus (1), through holes in the wall (22), air which strikes the layer of growth media (21), the latter and the wall (22) being shaped so that their separation increases from their periphery towards their center.

Abstract: The method uses a culture receptacle including a layer of growth medium (3), a first end surface of which gives onto a first chamber (27) and the second end surface of which gives onto a second chamber (28), and includes a step of causing a higher pressure in the first chamber (27) than in the second chamber (28), with a view to allowing the diffusion, in the layer of growth medium (3), of the water which the latter contains and optionally of a rehydrating solution (29) deposited on the first end surface of the layer of growth medium.The cartridge has a body (2) with, between a grid (7) which the layer of growth medium (3) coats and an annular wall (8), a solid annulus (9) having towards the inside an extra thickness part forming a ridge (10).

Abstract: The cartridge has a body (2) with a grid (7) and an annular wall (8) oriented transversely to this grid and surrounding it, and having a layer (3) of growth media and a flexible fluid-tight film (4) tensioned over an end surface of the annular wall (8) and delimiting an end surface of the layer of growth media (3).According to the method, the surface of the layer of growth media (3) delimited at the time of manufacture by the tensioned film (4) is struck with air jets in order to impact on this surface the microorganisms present in the air.The apparatus has a positioning support common to a sieve for forming the air jets and to the body (2) of the cartridge (1).

Abstract: A filtration unit containing a filtering membrane, a cover upstream of the membrane, and a base downstream of the membrane, and joined together, characterized in that the filtering membrane has an elliptical shape. This elliptical shape facilitates the use for filtration and allows the unit to be reused without the formation of an air lock when the filtering membrane is partially hydrophobic.

Abstract: A process for potting hollow fibers within a body is disclosed wherein a bundle of hollow fibers is formed within a hollowed portion of the body such that the fibers are substantially aligned and uniformly spaced. A molten thermoplastic composition is dispensed into the body at a contact temperature below the melting point of the hollow fibers. The bundle and the body are both at a temperature which is sufficiently low enough to cause solidification of the molten composition substantially upon contact with the bundle. A pressure differential is applied to the body to assist the flow of the thermoplastic composition around each of the hollow fiber elements such that the bundle and the interior of the hollowed portion of the body are encapsulated by the thermoplastic composition thereby assuring reliable sealing between the hollow fiber elements and the interior of the hollowed portion of the body.

Abstract: The packaging is in the form of a tape comprising first and second films (4,6) between which are sandwiched objects (7) each placed in an envelope formed by a seal (8) between the films. The first method and the device (20) enable the envelopes to be opened and the objects (27) to be taken therefrom easily. The microbiological analysis method uses a tape with alternating filter membranes for the liquid to be analyzed and absorbent pads for a nutrient medium.

Abstract: The present invention describes a cartridge of hollow fibers intended principally for the refermentation in the bottle of sugar-containing wine according to the traditional so-called "champagne" method. The cartridge has a perforated tubular body in which are arranged microporous hollow fibers preferably hydrophilic and a few hydrophobic and which are folded in a U shape and which are filled with yeasts. The cartridge is of a size to be inserted in the neck of a bottle and allows refermentation to occur by ensuring the maintenance of an optimum exchange surface between the wine and the yeasts.

Abstract: A sterility testing device includes a container made up of upper and lower plastic parts between which is welded a hydrophilic microporous membrane filter. The device also includes a removable plastic lid with vent holes. The lid is adapted to be secured to the container in two different positions such that, during in-situ incubation of a culture medium after the filtration of the sample and rinsing, the lid is deformed to allow a passageway for excess pressurized air to be removed from the interior of the container while at the same time preventing ambient air from entering the container. The device thus operates with a single membrane filter and is more economical to manufacture than prior art devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for the microbiological testing of pressurized liquids is disclosed which includes a completely closed container, at the base of which a membrane filter is sealed. Fitted upstream from the membrane is a built-in reading window and included downstream from the membrane, is a flange comprising a lip seal and a female threaded part. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a microbiological testing process by screwing to the container a filtration support, taking and filtering the sample to be analyzed, and then substituting for the support an incubation cartridge for the subsequent development, in an incubator, of the colonies collected on the membrane.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the microbiological testing of liquids to identify and count living microorganisms contained therein includes a tubular sleeve for collecting the liquid sample to which there is attached at one end a microporous membrane filter. Each end of the sleeve has the shape of a female receptacle portion where into one end a container housing a culture medium can be nested by force for applying the medium to the underside of the filter and where into the other end a cover can be nested to provide a substantially tight sealing of the device. Preferably, the tubular sleeve is in the form of a bellows the convolutions of which can be either compressed or expanded to correspondingly alter the volume of the sleeve between minimum and maximum values.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a support apparatus for a filter membrane which comprises a central porous support section and a peripheral support section, said central porous support section adapted to support a central portion of a filter membrane and said peripheral support section adapted to support a peripheral portion of a filter membrane, a base support for said central support section and said peripheral support section, and means to separate said central porous support section from said peripheral support action thereby to separate said peripheral portion of said filter membrane from said peripheral support section.

Abstract: A container for one or more micro-organism culture mediums has a substantially cylindrical or frustoconical casing open at both ends. A transverse perforated support grid is joined to an inside wall of the casing at its circular edge. A base is fitted to a lower end of the casing and a lid is fitted in a liquid-tight manner onto the upper end of the casing. A culture medium at a raised temperature can thus be poured into the container while it is resting upside down on its lid with the base removed.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus suitable for use in peridural anesthesia formed of two mating sections and a membrane positioned between and supported by the sections. Each section has an liquid inlet or liquid outlet and are joined together to form a chamber therebetween. The membrane is positioned at an angle between about 5.degree. and 15.degree. relative to the axes of the inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A device particularly suitable for refermentation of sugared wine in a bottle according to the champagne method consists of a cartridge comprising a tubular body formed with grooves and perforations which provide fluid communication between the exterior of the cartridge and its inner bore. In one embodiment a portion of the perforations are covered by a hydrophilic membrane filter and another portion by a hydrophobic membrane filter, both of which are sealingly welded or glued to the exterior of the body. In a preferred embodiment, one of the ends of the tube is open and sealingly covered by the hydrophobic membrane filter while the hydrophilic membrane filter covers the perforations. The cartridge can be filled with yeasts and inserted into the bottle neck to allow fermentation to occur without the need for manipulation and disgorgement of congealed wine through the bottle neck.