Method and apparatus for biomass cultivation (preferably using algae) incorporating photo bio-reactor (PBR) technology coupled with a heat sink to increase energy efficiency. An external PBR array is coupled to an indoor storage tank system with a volume equal to or greater than the volume of the PBR array. A controller can be used to optimize the growth of biomass by optimizing three key growth parameters: exposure to sunlight, temperature and nutrients. The indoor tank system serves as a reservoir where algae can be protected from harsh ambient conditions, minimizing the cost of energy for heating and cooling that would normally be incurred to accommodate ambient temperature swings caused by weather if the biomass is always stored in an outdoor PBR array. During cold winter nights, the biomass can be brought indoors to conserve thermal energy. High energy efficiency can be achieved when the heat sink consists of a second holding tank and a second tubing array, and the swings in the ambient temperature are exploited to add or reject energy from the biomass cultivation.

A sterile packaging unit includes a disposable bioprocessing component (20) and a packaging (30). The disposable bioprocessing component (20) has a component wall that encloses a processing space and on which is secured a sensor system (40) with at least one sensor head (T, P, I, L, D) and with attached sensor electronics (42) that include a memory unit (44). The packaging (30) hermetically encloses the disposable bioprocessing component (20) and has a flexible packaging wall. The disposable bioprocessing component (20) and the packaging (30). are sterilized by being jointly irradiated with ionizing radiation. The sensor electronics (42) are connected electrically to a contact unit (34) extending through the packaging wall.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

Disclosed herein is a transport device comprising a first section of an outer container comprising a shell on the inside having the shape of a spherical cap with an inner diameter and an opening, wherein the opening of the spherical cap faces upwards, and an inner container having an upper section, a lower section and an inner hollow volume defined thereby, wherein at least the lower section has a spherical shape on the outside, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the spherical cap of the outer container. The inner container is suitable to be arranged in the spherical cap of the outer container in a freely pivotable fashion, and is capable of accommodating a payload.

The invention concerns an installation for treating biological liquid by viral inactivation, comprising a main supply valve (4) for suppling biological liquid to treat, a first line (2) downstream of said valve and provided with a first main tank (7), a second line (3) downstream of said valve and provided with a second main tank (14), said second line being in parallel with said first line, and a third main tank (11) disposed at an outlet both from said first line and said second line and configured to be successively supplied by said first main tank and by said second main tank; said installation being configured such that in each of said first, second and third main treatment tanks, a determined volume of acid and a determined volume of base are introduced at least so as to adjust a pH of said biological liquid and to regulate a rate of drainage flow of said third main treatment tank so as to provide a continuous rate of flow of treated biological liquid at an outlet from said installation.

A culture apparatus including: a heat-insulated casing including an inner case surrounding a culture space, and an outer case, the heat-insulated casing having an opening; a box-shaped heat-insulated door to open and close the opening; and, one or more heaters provided to one or more inner surfaces of the inner case and an inner surface of an inner wall surface of the heat-insulated door, the inner wall surface facing the culture space when the door is closed; the heaters including one or more first heaters turned on when the interior of the culture space is at a first temperature to incubate a culture in the culture space and when the interior of the culture space is controlled at a second temperature to make the interior of the culture space, and second heaters to be energized when the interior of the culture space is controlled at the second temperature to sterilize the interior of the culture space.

The invention relates to a modular sterilizable system for organoid culture, which comprises a culture module with one or more sample wells and an stirring module that includes an air compressor with flow control means, a nozzle for each sample well, a pressure sensor and a controller that acts on the flow control means according to the pressure reading. The method for sterilizing the system consists in decoupling the two modules, removing the culture module and sterilizing it. The system can have a module for monitoring the growth of the organoids, as well as a module for controlling the physiochemical parameters of the culture.

A system for detecting the presence of biofilm on an inner surface of a body used for containing a fluid medium. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location external to the body, a receiver located at a second location external to the body, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic signal in a direction towards the body and receive, via the receiver, an attenuated signal that is the ultrasonic signal after passing through the body. The electronic controller is configured to determine a phase shift between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, determine an amplitude difference between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, and generate an indication of an amount of biofilm present on the inner surface of the body based on the phase shift and the amplitude difference.

Devices and methods for sampling, detecting and/or characterizing particles, for example, via collection, growth and analysis of viable biological particles such as microorganisms. Devices and methods of the invention include particle samplers and impactors including a sampling head comprising one or more intake apertures, a selectively removable cover, an impactor base connected to the sampling head, and one or more magnets fixed to the sampling head, the selectively removable cover and/or the impactor base. The one or more magnets allow for robotic manipulation of the impactor devices.

A sample preparation device (1) comprising a first chamber (2) containing a membrane support (30) on which a membrane (9) is placed or can be placed, an inlet (20) to the first chamber (2) and an outlet (21) from the first chamber (2), at least one second chamber (3) provided with or adapted to be provided with an anaerobic generation means (23) and/or an anaerobic detection indicator, wherein the at least one second chamber (3) is connected to the first chamber (2) by a communication path (8), wherein the communication path (8) is liquid-tightly closed by a tap device (4) in a first position (A) of the tap device (4) and is adapted to be opened to allow fluid communication between the first chamber (2) and the at least one second chamber (3) in that the tap device (4) is moved to a second position (B) of the tap device (4).