Disclosed is an integrated biocontainment cell sorter that isolates portions of the cell sorter that can create contamination. Two containment systems are utilized. A main cabinet containment system contains input samples. An aerosol management containment area includes a nozzle chamber with a nozzle and a sort chamber with sort plates and collection media that collect a droplet stream from the nozzle. The main cabinet is maintained at a first low pressure and clean air is recirculated under a positive pressure. The aerosol management containment area is kept at a second low pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, so that contamination does not leak from the aerosol management containment area into the main cabinet containment area. A sliding sash window is located over an access opening in the main cabinet and can be moved to access different portions of the main cabinet without changing the substantially constant first low pressure in the main cabinet.

The present invention involves a fill needle system for aseptically dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid in an aseptic chamber comprises a fill needle tubing in fluid communication with a pharmaceutical fluid source via flexible tubing and extending through a fill needle hub; a fill needle dispensing tip disposed at a dispensing end of the fill needle tubing; a fill needle sheath shaped and arranged to removably mate with and seal aseptically to the fill needle hub to form an aseptically sealed volume enclosing the dispensing tip; and a fluid pressure pulse induction system disposed and configured to compress the flexible tubing in order to dislodge droplets of pharmaceutical fluid retained on the dispensing tip after halting dispensing of the pharmaceutical fluid. An associated method of dispensing pharmaceutical fluid comprises operating the fluid pressure pulse induction system to dislodge the droplets. The system may comprise a controller for automatically controlling the dispensing and droplet dislodging.

An incubator for cell and tissue culture under controlled atmospheric conditions has a primary air flow control device that forms a primary, preferably laminar flow, air veil across an opening that allows access to the cells or tissue cultures disposed within the incubator. Preferably, most if not all of the air in the primary (laminar flow) air veil is recirculated, and a secondary air flow control device is used that forms a secondary, preferably laminar flow, air veil between the primary (laminar flow) air veil and a user of the incubator.

Disclosed is an integrated biocontainment cell sorter that isolates portions of the cell sorter that can create contamination. Two containment systems are utilized. A main cabinet containment system contains input samples. An aerosol management containment area includes a nozzle chamber with a nozzle and a sort chamber with sort plates and collection media that collect a droplet stream from the nozzle. The main cabinet is maintained at a first low pressure and clean air is recirculated under a positive pressure. The aerosol management containment area is kept at a second low pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, so that contamination does not leak from the aerosol management containment area into the main cabinet containment area. A sliding sash window is located over an access opening in the main cabinet and can be moved to access different portions of the main cabinet without changing the substantially constant first low pressure in the main cabinet.

Thermal control devices and methods to provide improved control, speed and efficiency in temperature cycling are provided herein. Such thermal control device and methods can include one or more active elements, such a thermoelectric cooler device, that is controlled by an algorithm that regulates a temperature distribution of an adjacent reaction-vessel according to a temperature distribution command trajectory and estimated reaction-vessel temperature distribution. Some embodiments include two active elements that are bilaterally applied to opposing sides of the reaction-vessel. In some embodiments, the estimated reaction-vessel temperature is determined based on a state of power electronics of the element and a temperature output of one or more sensors of a portion of the element and/or an ambient environment of the reaction-vessel. Methods of calibration of such systems utilizing a thermal calibrator as a proxy for the reaction-vessel are also provided herein.

A system includes sample containers and a computing system. The sample containers include one or more data storage media configured to store sample information relating to the respective sample contained in each sample container. The sample information include data indicating a sample type, an intended use of the sample contained within the respective sample container, and a sample collection time. The computing system is configured to receive the sample information from the sample containers and determine, based on the sample information, an action for increasing a likelihood that one or more applicable samples of the plurality of samples will be viable for the intended uses of the applicable samples. The computing system is further configured to perform the action.

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath. The apparatus and method further allow for the use of a swab disposed in a swab holder that is aseptically and removably sealable to a swab cap to protect the swab against decontamination vapors.

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated, the method not requiring the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus similarly allows the fluid path to be unprotected for use without the use of gloves, the method not requiring the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontaminated is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath. The apparatus and method further allow for the use of a swab disposed in a swab holder that is aseptically and removably sealable to a swab cap to protect the swab against decontamination vapors.

Provided is a cell treatment apparatus that includes: an isolator; a disposal box that includes a storage part; and a decontamination unit, wherein the disposal box includes: a first opening and closing device that is configured to allow the isolator and the storage part to be communicated with each other at the time of disposal of the waste product and allow them to be shut off from each other after the putting-in of the waste product and before the disposal of the same; and a second opening and closing device that is configured to allow the storage part and the outside to be communicated with each other at the time of disposal of the waste product, which has been put into the storage part, and allow them to be shut off from each other after the disposal of the waste product.