The present invention is directed generally to dry cell culture media or feeds in pellet formats which can be reconstituted into liquid media for culturing cells in vitro. Each pellet composition may comprise the same or a different composition; for example, different vitamins, amino acids, buffers, trace salts, pH, iron chelators, etc. The invention also relates to methods of making dry cell culture media by altering ratios of different pellet compositions, or, methods of making modular dry cell culture media, or customizing media formulations for growing a cell type using pellets. According to the invention, media pellets may be easier to handle either before reconstitution, during shipping and handling; and/or during reconstitution. Media pellets may be used in any container like bags including sterile, single use bags for preparing media formulations. The invention also relates to kits and culture systems using media pellets.

The invention relates to a holder (I O) for receiving and storing laboratory vessels for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures or the like, with a housing (14), at least one receptacle (20) for the laboratory vessels, which receptacle (20) extends along a loading axis (L) in the housing (14) and into which the laboratory vessels can be introduced and can be stacked on top of each other therein, wherein the receptacle (20) in the housing (14) has a loading opening (20a) to permit loading. On an underside (18) arranged remote from the loading opening (20a), the receptacle (20) has an unloading opening (20b), which can be closed by means of a closure mechanism (38) arranged in the housing (14). The invention is characterized in that the closure mechanism (38) is provided with a slide (40, 42), via which the slide (40, 42) is movable to the unloading opening (20b) to permit closure and is movable from the unloading opening (20b) to an opening position to permit opening.

This invention concerns methods of packaging and shipping stem cells. Also disclosed are related package products.

A single-use bag (32) and dispensing system (30) for storage of liquid or frozen media and for dispensing the media are disclosed. A single-use bag (32) is composed of materials that can withstand the temperatures required for dry heat sterilization and, further, includes specialized clamps (40, 140) that accommodate the materials and construction techniques necessary for constructing the single-use bag (32) for restriction and isolation of flow from the single-use bag (32). The single-use bag (32) includes an inner film (76) defining a bag interior (52) and an outer film (78) overlying the inner film (76), the inner film (76) and the outer film (78) being heat bonded together, the inner film (76) being composed of perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) and the outer film (78) being composed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the single-use bag (32) defining at least one exit port (62) on a bottom edge (48) thereof; and at least one closeable exit passage (34) depending from the bottom edge (48) of the single-use bag (32), each of the at least one exit passage (34) being coupled to a respective one of the at least one exit port (62), the at least one exit passage (34) being in fluid communication with the bag interior (52).

A culture medium preparator includes a cylindrical vessel that terminates at the low part in a substantially hemispherical cap, a lid and a stirrer placed in the vessel. The stirrer includes a vertical tube placed in the center of the vessel, a plurality of blades put into rotation about the tube and magnetic masses at the periphery so that they are placed in proximity to the internal wall of the vessel. The preparator furthermore includes a magnetic ring in rotation about the internal wall at the same height as the magnetic masses. The magnets attract the magnetic masses, the magnetic ring being moved in rotation by a motor. In this way, the stirrer is driven in rotation without requiring mechanical elements placed inside the vessel, the absence of such elements facilitating the cleaning.

A process and system for automated culture media preparation for microbiology testing includes providing a non-pressurized water tank having an air filter associated with the air vent thereof. Bacteria within the water is filtered, killed and/or disabled. The water is heated to a predetermined temperature. A predetermined amount of the purified and heated water is dispensed into a container for mixing with a culture media. The water dispensed into the container is weighed. Information relating to the temperature, volume and weight of the dispensed water and the culture media to be mixed with the dispensed water is electronically stored. A label having indicia, including the electronically stored information, is printed.

A separating system (1) comprises a housing (60) sized to receive a stack of articles having at least one first article (12) stacked on top of a second article (10). The system (1) also includes a lifter (20) movable into a contact position adjacent a surface (13) on the at least one first article (12). The lifter (20) is adapted to apply a lifting force to the surface (13) to lift at least a portion of the first article (12) above the contact position. An extractor (40) moves the second article (10) away from the stack of articles after the at least one first article (12) has been lifted above the contact position by the lifter (20). The housing (60) prevents the at least one first article (12) from moving with the second article (10) when the second article (10) is moved by the extractor (40) and guides the stack of articles downward after the second article (10) is moved away.

A cartridge for holding and dispensing streaking applicators for an automated streaking apparatus having a cartridge holder, the cartridge including: a case with a dispensing end, a longitudinal axis and an elongate slot generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the dispensing end including an applicator dispensing position where one applicator can be at least partially accessible from outside the case; and an applicator support member constrained within the case for longitudinal movement therein and being able to carry a stack of applicators;
the elongate slot being capable of operatively receiving a biasing member when the cartridge is in the cartridge holder to urge the support member towards the dispensing end and an applicator into the dispensing position.

A transport container for at least one nutrient medium carrier, wherein the transport container comprises a base element and a cover element, the base element and the cover element are connectable to each other, the base element and the cover element are connected to each other in a closed state of the transport container and enclose an interior space of the transport container, and the at least one nutrient medium carrier can be arranged in the interior space. Furthermore, a method for automated microbial monitoring in a barrier system is provided.

A cell culture device includes: an incubator part for accommodating a closed-system culture container; a cartridge for culture medium replacement use having a liquid supply flow path and a liquid collection flow path, the cartridge removably attachable to the culture container; a culture medium supply part for supplying a liquid culture medium to the liquid supply flow path; a culture medium replacement part for causing the liquid culture medium in the liquid supply flow path to flow into the culture container and causing the liquid culture medium in the culture container to flow out to the liquid collection flow path while the cartridge is connected to the culture container; and a culture medium collection part for collecting the liquid culture medium from the liquid collection flow path. The cartridge is movable between the culture medium supply part, the culture medium replacement part and the culture medium collection part.