The present invention relates to the use of warmers, or autonomous heat packs, for heating and maintaining a solution at a suitable temperature, for the period of time required to accomplish a chemical, biochemical or biological reaction, in particular in molecular biology or cell biology applications. Biology kits containing warmers are also part of this invention.

The present invention relates to a system for handling sensitive products, in particular for filling and sealing medicaments in containers, comprising an enclosed space (2) in which the sensitive products are handled, a device (3) for monitoring the air in the enclosed space (2) with a measuring point (6) and at least one Petri dish (30), wherein the Petri dish (30) comprises a lower receptacle (31) and a removable lid (32), and an automatic handling device (4), wherein the automatic handling device (4) is designed to automatically transport the Petri dish to the measuring point (6) and back and to remove the lid (32) from the lower receptacle (31) of the Petri dish (30) and put it back on.

A cell culture device includes a first culture dish and a second culture dish, the first culture dish has a first membrane on the bottom surface, the second culture dish has a second membrane on the bottom surface, and the first culture dish and the second culture dish are mounted with a gap of which a height is adjustable therebetween.

A petri dish holder and lid opener comprising a petri dish lower portion holder including a lower shelf for holding the lower portion of a petri dish and a petri dish lid holder pivotally connected to the petri dish lower portion holder, with the petri dish lid holder having an upper shelf for holding a lid of a petri dish. The lower shelf has a bottom surface for holding the petri dish. The upper shelf has a bottom lip configured to be smaller than the lid of the petri dish. Rotation of the petri dish lid holder relative to the petri dish lower portion holder is configured to remove the lid of the petri dish from the lower portion of the petri dish.

A culture system includes a dish and a lid. The dish comprises a base, a sidewall extending from the base, and a track extending outwardly from an outer surface of the sidewall. The lid comprises a central horizontal wall and a recess formed by two sidewalls and a top wall. At least one key extends downwardly from the recess. The sidewall of the dish extends into the recess of the lid, and the key engages the track. The track is shaped so that the lid rises or falls relative to the base of the dish when the lid is rotated relative to the dish.

2D and 3D cell culture containers formed from blends of poly-L-lactide and poly-D-lactide provide growth surfaces for adherent cells and do not require surface treatment or coating to support mammalian cell growth. The cell culture containers are transparent, heat tolerant, and are environmentally degradable and suitable for composting in landfills.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for culturing a buoyant target tissue. Embodiments include a first surface configured to culture a first layer of supporting cells, and a second surface configured to culture a second layer of supporting cells. The first layer of supporting cells may be formed on a portion of the first surface and the second layer of supporting cells may be formed on a portion of the second surface. The buoyant target tissue may be added to the first layer of supporting cells. The second layer of supporting cells may be placed on the first layer of supporting cells such that the buoyant target tissue is sandwiched between the first layer of supporting cells and second layer of supporting cells.

The present application relates to a transport packaging (20) for a plurality of petri-dishes (P), comprising a shell-like main body (21) with a compartment (22) for holding the plurality of petri-dishes (P) in a parallel orientation, the compartment (22) being accessible from an opening (23) at one side of the main body (21), and a rack-like structure (24) formed in the compartment (22) for supporting the petri-dishes (P) in a fixed position during handling and configured to allow insertion/extraction of the petri-dishes (P) into/from the rack-like structure (24) in a direction.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for monitoring a cell culture comprising a) one or more infrared sensors positioned adjacent to a cell culture, the one or more infrared sensors capable of recording an infrared heat signal from the cell culture; b) a power source in electrical communication with the one or more infrared sensors; c) a data storage and computation device configured to receive and analyze the infrared heat signal from the one or more infrared sensors; and d) a transmitter device in electrical communication with the storage and computation device; wherein the apparatus monitors the pattern of heat production in the cell culture. The present invention is also directed to methods for monitoring and analyzing the metabolic activity of cells using the above apparatus.

A culture material including a 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer for cells, tissues, or organs, the culture material having a water contact angle at a culture surface of 50° to 100°, a sagging distance by a test method described below of 0 to 5 mm, and an oxygen permeation rate at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 0% of 4500 to 90000 cm.sup.3/(m.sup.2×24 h×atm). A test piece having the same material as the culture material and the same thickness as the culture surface of the culture material and having a flat plate shape of 100 mm long and 10 mm wide is made. The test piece is fixed onto a test board in a state where the test piece protrudes lengthwise in a horizontal direction from a top surface of the test board, the top surface being horizontal.