Abstract: A storage container that includes a housing having a bottom surface, two side walls, a front wall, and a back wall that form an interior space in the housing. The storage container also includes a lid configured to enclose the interior space. The two side walls of the housing include a rim portion and the lid includes a rail portion configured to provide a non-destructive and deformable locking and unlocking engagement with the rim portion. The back wall of the housing includes a first segment and a second segment, the second segment being separated a distance longitudinally from the first segment and connected to the first segment by a secondary bottom surface such that the second section of the interior space has a greater volume than the first section of the interior space.

Abstract: An aseptic low-temperature coupling assembly includes a first connector, a second connector, and a gasket disposed in the first or the second connector. The first and second connectors include a first retaining feature and a second retaining feature configured to couple together the first and the second connectors and align openings in the first and second connectors. The gasket is formed to have no substantial deformation after being cooled to at least ?50° C. then heated to ambient temperature. A method of aseptically connecting a low-temperature fluid storage container includes coupling a first connector to a second connector via first retaining features and second retaining features of the connectors. The coupling compresses a gasket between the first connector and the second connector and aligns an opening in the first connector with an opening in the second connector.

Abstract: An aseptic closure assembly for a fluid container that includes a cap connectable to an opening of the fluid container and a fluid dispenser connectable to an outer surface of the housing of the cap. The fluid dispenser includes a main body and fluid lines provided within the main body, a shell housing provided around the main body, and an insert connectable to a second end of the main body. The main body includes apertures nearer the second end that are connected to the fluid lines and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid container when the fluid dispenser is connected to the cap. The fluid dispenser is configured such that a downward directed force towards the fluid container fits the insert into the support of the cavity and disconnects the insert from the main body of the fluid dispenser to seal the fluid container.

Abstract: An aseptic coupling assembly, includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first housing, a first valve member, and a first spring that biases the first valve member towards the second end of the first housing to a first closed position. The second connector includes a second housing, a second valve member, and a second spring that biases the second valve member towards the second end of the second housing to a second closed position. The first valve member is slidable away from the first closed position within the first housing to compress the first spring and the second valve member is slidable away from the second closed position within the second housing to compress the second spring. The coupling assembly further includes a seal that prevents fluid from contacting the first spring and the second spring.

Abstract: A bag assembly that includes a bag portion having first and second walls defining an interior and an opening. The interior is formed by the first and second walls of the bag portion being attached to each other along at least a portion of a perimeter of the bag assembly up to one end of the bag portion. Portions of the first and second walls of the bag portion that are not attached to each other form the opening. The bag assembly also includes an aseptic system for sterile connection and disconnection of the bag assembly from a sterile process, the aseptic system being continuously formed at an interface between the aseptic system and the one end of the bag portion. The aseptic system includes an internal passage to allow fluid communication with the interior of the bag portion and the sterile process.

Abstract: A transfer container for a fluid includes a tube, the tube including a conical portion at one end, the tube defining an interior space and one or more fluid passages configured to allow flow of fluid into or out of the interior space of the tube. The transfer container also includes a connector configured to seal the end of the conical portion when the connector is joined only to the conical portion and a pressure control mechanism configured to increase or decrease a pressure in the interior space of the tube. The transfer container can be used in a method including connecting fluid lines to the fluid passages, adding a fluid including cryoprotectant and cells, centrifuging the transfer container, and then connecting the transfer container to a second fluid transfer container containing another fluid. This allows the sterile transfer of fluids and separation of cells from cryoprotectant.

Abstract: A bag holder for supporting a bioprocess bag during freezing includes a cover, a bottom, a frame, and at least one bag support. The cover, the bottom, and the frame form an enclosed space. The at least one bag support is disposed in the space. The cover and the bottom are made of metal. The frame has a first side, a second side, a front end, and a back end. Each of the cover and the bottom has a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab configured to bend over the front end from a longitudinal direction to a thickness direction, and a first arm and a second arm extending in the thickness direction and then in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first side and the second side includes at least one recessed portion extending in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An aseptic low-temperature coupling assembly includes a first connector, a second connector, and a gasket disposed in the first or the second connector. The first and second connectors include a first retaining feature and a second retaining feature configured to couple together the first and the second connectors and align openings in the first and second connectors. The gasket is formed to have no substantial deformation after being cooled to at least ?50° C. then heated to ambient temperature. A method of aseptically connecting a low-temperature fluid storage container includes coupling a first connector to a second connector via first retaining features and second retaining features of the connectors. The coupling compresses a gasket between the first connector and the second connector and aligns an opening in the first connector with an opening in the second connector.

Abstract: A bag holder for a blast freezing process includes a bag tray. The bag tray is genderless and can be combined with an identical bag tray to form the bag holder. The bag holder includes a basin, side walls, and an end wall. The first and second side walls each include a set of alternating extended and recessed sections and a channel extending through at least a portion of the set of alternating extended and recessed sections. The alternating extended and recessed sections are offset from one another such that where a set on one side wall has an extended section, the set on the other side wall has a recessed section and vice versa. Methods include forming these bag trays, and placing a bag in one bag tray, then joining another bag tray to form the holder around the bag.

Abstract: Bag holders for plate freezing of bags containing fluids such as reactor bags, in particular bags containing biological or chemical reagents can include genderless bag trays. Each bag tray can include a basin defined in part by a first side wall and a second side wall. The basin can be configured to hold the bag. The first side wall can include a first retaining feature and the second side wall can include a second retaining feature having a shape complementary to the first retaining feature. The complementary nature of first and second retaining features allows identical bag trays to be joined by each of their respective first and second retaining features to one another. Methods include forming first and second bag trays, placing a bag within the first bag tray, joining the second bag tray to the first bag tray, and freezing the bag by a plate freezing process.

Abstract: A kit for a bioreactor includes a bioreactor bag, a connector, an impeller assembly, and a clamp. The connector defines an aperture. The connector also includes a welding surface extending between a first end and a second end, with the second end including an outwardly extending flange. The welding surface can be heat-sealable to the bioreactor bag. The impeller assembly includes a shaft and a blade configured to pass through the aperture. The impeller assembly includes an impeller flange configured to contact the flange of the connector when the impeller shaft is received in the aperture. The impeller assembly also includes a bearing supporting the impeller shaft. The clamp is configured to secure the connector flange to the impeller assembly. Preparing a bioreactor includes welding the connector to the neck of the bioreactor bag and then inserting the shaft and blade through the aperture into the bioreactor bag.