The present disclosure provides an automated system for processing of tissue. The system comprises a plurality of containers for storing at least one of tissue samples, buffer solutions, enzymes and other reagents, tissue processing container for processing of the tissue, and a robotic assembly coupled to the tissue processing container. The robotic assembly is configured to: carry the tissue processing container towards each of the plurality of containers, and align an inlet port of the tissue processing container with an outlet port of each of the plurality of containers for collecting the liquids, and moves the tissue processing container in multiple-planes to perform at least one of the washing processes, digestion process, phase separation process and combination thereof. The system also comprises of a control unit interfaced with the robotic assembly for controlling operations of the robotic assembly while processing the tissue.

Processes for grinding corn, ground corn products, and processes for making ethanol from the ground corn products. In some examples, a process for making ethanol can include introducing a plurality of corn pieces into a mill. The process can also include milling the corn pieces in the mill to produce a ground corn product. Greater than 25 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of greater than 105 μm, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. Greater than 80 wt % of the ground corn product can have a particle size of 425 μm or less, as measured according to AOAC 965.22-1966. The process can also include processing the ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol and separating at least a portion of the ethanol from the fermentation mash to produce a stillage.

A system to process a waste food includes a housing; at least one drum enclosed in the housing where the waste food is mixed up and digested by microorganisms or dehydrated; and at least one cleaner incorporated in or on the machine to permit a jet of water to be turned on and off to clean the drum.

A device for mechanical fragmentation of tissues facilitates preparation of the composition of isolated cells from a tissue sample, the preparation including mechanical fragmentation of the tissue, the device including a motorized support and a container, the motorized support including a motor having a rotor secured to a coupling member, the container internally including a rotary shaft with radial arms sweeping the inside of the container as the shaft rotates, the motorized support and the container including a complementary securing unit that allow the container to be immobilized on the motorized support, the coupling member and the rotary shaft being configured in such a way as to allow axial rotation of the rotary shaft when the rotor of the motor is turning. The radial arms are of two types: rigid vane-type arms, and flexible filamentary-type arms, notably made of nylon or of metal. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

A tool for fixating and handling membrane-shaped tissue for research or clinical use includes a platform having a base plate with at least one positioning element for positioning a spanning element on the platform, at least one round shaped spanning element adapted for being positioned on the platform using the positioning element, at least one flexible element for positioning over the round shaped spanning element for spanning the membrane shaped tissue, and at least one handling means for handling the flexible element during positioning of the flexible element over the round shaped spanning element, and for handling the combination of the round shaped spanning element and the flexible element, when the membrane is spanned over the round shaped spanning element.

A fully integrated and disposable point-of-care device for detecting a target nucleic acid is provided. The device comprises: an extraction chamber adapted to receive a biological sample, wherein said extraction chamber comprises means to extract and lyse the sample to release nucleic acid; a first amplification chamber in communication with the extraction chamber, wherein said amplification chamber comprises means to trigger nucleic acid amplification of a target nucleic acid sequence to occur; and a detection chamber in communication with the amplification chamber, wherein said detection chamber comprises means to detectably label the target nucleic acid and means to detect a signal associated with labeled target nucleic acid, or a single chamber for amplification, detection and identification of multiple nucleic acid sequences.

The present disclosure includes systems and methods for hydrolyzing (e.g., pretreatment and/or enzymatic hydrolysis) lignocellulosic biomass into one or more sugars such as pentose and glucose sugars. The present disclosure includes configurations that incorporate flashing and/or liquid cooling so as to permit desirable throughput. The present disclosure also includes a liquefaction configuration so as to permit desirable (e.g., continuous high volume) throughput.

Material processing apparatus, systems, methods, and products are described. An example of a material processing apparatus includes a holding member, a base, a tensioning member, an actuator, and a first inner member. The holding member defines a holding member passageway. The base is attached to the holding member. The tensioning member is partially disposed within the holding member passageway. The tensioning member defines a tensioning member passageway. The tensioning member is moveable relative to the holding member between a first position and a second position. The actuator is attached to the tensioning member and is moveable in a first direction and a second direction. Movement of the actuator results in movement of the tensioning member between its first position and second position. The first inner member is adapted to be disposed within the tensioning member passageway.

A bone fragment and osteomedullary tissue harvesting system that includes a harvesting device, a collection vessel and tubing. The harvesting device includes a needle portion and a handle portion. The needle portion that has a needle bore that extends through at least part of the needle portion. The handle portion is operably attached to the needle portion. The handle portion includes a connection port and a vacuum control mechanism that are in communication with a handle bore that extends through the handle portion. The needle bore is in communication with the handle bore. The vacuum control mechanism includes a vacuum aperture that extends through a surface of the handle portion and is in communication with the handle bore. The collection vessel is capable of receiving aspirated bone fragments and tissue. The tubing operably connects the connection port and the collection vessel.

Provided is a cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device whereby cell walls and/or cell membranes of microorganisms, algae and the like contained in organic sludge and the like are disrupted, the device comprising a fixed disc, a rotating disc, a rotating shaft for driving of the rotating disc, a pressure reducing means and a housing, wherein at least one pair of the fixed disc and rotating disc are disposed facing each other, the center section of the fixed disc has a hollow section that is larger than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft passing through the center section, shearing force generated between the rotating disc and the fixed disc is applied to a target fluid having a water content of 89% or higher that has been loaded into the device, and the pressure inside the cell wall or cell membrane disrupting device is reduced to no greater than −0.08 MPa by the pressure reducing means. The device can contribute to increasing biogas, reducing sludge, culturing of algae, plant cultivation and culturing of marine products, and also to separation of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2, for example, as resources.