The method of growing a biopolymer material employs incubation of a growth media comprised of nutritive substrate and a fungus in containers that are placed in a closed incubation chamber with air flows passed over each container while the chamber is maintained with a predetermined environment of humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The air flows may be directed parallel or perpendicularly to the surfaces of the growth media.

The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.

The invention discloses a first connection unit having a plurality of sensor surfaces and which is adapted to be aseptically connected to a second connection unit mounted e.g. on a flexible bioreactor bag.

Digester (1) having an agitating device (10) and an agitating device (10) and a method for manufacturing an agitating device (10), the agitating device (10) comprising multiple agitator blades (21-29) which agitator blades (11-13) comprise a plurality of blade sections (21-29) angled relative to one another. The blade sections (21-29) of the agitator blade (11-13) are angled relative to one another such that the agitator blade gradient (11-13) decreases with the distance (30) from a central rotational axis (19) increasing to configure the agitator blade in a flow-optimized three-dimensional shape.

Bioreactors and components of bioreactors are described as may be beneficially utilized in development and conditioning of cellular materials for study or implant. The bioreactors are modular, and components of the bioreactors can be easily assembled with alternatives provided to develop specific, predetermined conditioning environments for cellular materials (e.g., implantable tissue). By selection of one of multiple alternative compliance chambers, a bioreactor can be utilized to condition tissue in a low-pressure circuit (e.g., a pulmonary heart circuit), and by utilization of an alternative compliance chamber, the bioreactor can instead condition tissue in a high-pressure circuit (e.g., an aortic heart circuit).

Containers for separating microcarriers from a cell culture fluid that offer a greater efficiency of filtration of cell culture fluids containing microcarriers relative to systems described in the art. The container may include a first compartment that may include a sterile collapsible bag, an inlet port providing a fluid path into the first compartment and an outlet port providing a fluid path exiting the first compartment; and a second compartment fluidly connected with the inlet port of the first compartment and including a plurality of independent or discrete microcarrier receiving regions defined by boundary walls which are partially or fully porous and having a porosity sufficient to retain the microcarriers inside the second compartment, while allowing the cell culture fluid to pass through the second compartment into the outlet port of the first compartment, where the cell culture fluid can be collected.

Bioreactors and components of bioreactors are described as may be beneficially utilized in development and conditioning of cellular materials for study or implant. The bioreactors are modular and components of the bioreactors can be easily assembled with alternatives provided to develop specific, predetermined conditioning environments for cellular materials (e.g., implantable tissue). By selection of one of multiple alternative compliance chambers, a bioreactor can be utilized to condition tissue in a low pressure circuit (e.g., a pulmonary heart circuit), and by utilization of an alternative compliance chamber, the bioreactor can instead condition tissue in a high pressure circuit (e.g., an aortic heart circuit).

A pH sensor for a single-use container includes a plunger sleeve configured to couple to a flange of the single-use container. A plunger is axially movable within the plunger sleeve between a storage position and an operating position. A pH sensing element coupled to the plunger wherein the pH element is disposed within a storage chamber in the storage position and is configured to be exposed to an interior of the single-use container in the operating position. In one example, a temperature sensitive element is disposed within the pH sensor and configured to sense temperature proximate the pH sensing element. In another example, a lock member is coupled to the plunger, where the lock member has a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock member being configured to inhibit movement of the plunger when in the locked position. In yet another example, the plunger includes at least one filling channel that allows access to a reference fill chamber when the plunger is in a filling position.

A pH sensor for a single-use container includes a plunger sleeve configured to couple to a flange of the single-use container. A plunger is axially movable within the plunger sleeve between a storage position and an operating position. A pH sensing element coupled to the plunger wherein the pH element is disposed within a storage chamber in the storage position and is configured to be exposed to an interior of the single-use container in the operating position. In one example, a temperature sensitive element is disposed within the pH sensor and configured to sense temperature proximate the pH sensing element. In another example, a lock member is coupled to the plunger, where the lock member has a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock member being configured to inhibit movement of the plunger when in the locked position. In yet another example, the plunger includes at least one filling channel that allows access to a reference fill chamber when the plunger is in a filling position.

The invention relates to a cultivation system comprising a cultivation container, in particular a hand-held cultivation container, preferably in the form of a shake flask, for holding a culture medium, the cultivation container having a neck and an opening extending through the neck, and a container attachment that can be placed on the neck of the cultivation container so as to close the opening of the cultivation container, in particular in a sterile manner, the container attachment having an inner side and an outer side, the inner side facing the interior of the cultivation container and the outer side facing the exterior of the cultivation container when the container attachment is placed on the neck of the cultivation container, wherein the container attachment comprises at least one sensor unit or a port for installing a sensor unit, the sensor unit being at least partially arranged or arrangeable on the inner side of the container attachment, to provide for parameter measurement in the interior of the cultivation container, and/or wherein the container attachment comprises at least one dispensing unit or a port for installing a dispensing unit, the dispensing unit being at least partially arranged or arrangeable on the inner side of the container attachment, to enable liquid to be dispensed into the interior of the cultivation container.