Patent classifications
C12M1/36
Pressure Manifold and Culture Module
A perfusion manifold assembly is described that allows for perfusion of a microfluidic device, such as an organ on a chip microfluidic device comprising cells that mimic cells in an organ in the body, that is detachably linked with said assembly so that fluid enters ports of the microfluidic device from a fluid reservoir, optionally without tubing, at a controllable flow rate.
A culture module is contemplated that allows the perfusion and optionally mechanical actuation of one or more microfluidic devices, such as organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices comprising cells that mimic at least one function of an organ in the body.
BIOREACTOR APPARATUS AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF
The present subject matter discloses a bioreactor apparatus. The bioreactor apparatus comprises a bioreactor vessel configured to culture cells. The bioreactor apparatus furthermore comprises a sensor configured to measure Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the bioreactor vessel. The DO measurements comprise a plurality of DO values recorded at, at least, a plurality of time instances during operation of the bioreactor apparatus. The bioreactor apparatus furthermore comprises a controller configured to obtain the DO measurements. The controller furthermore is to determine, in real-time or approximately real-time, an oxygen mass transfer co-efficient (kLa) associated with the operation of the bioreactor apparatus. Furthermore, the controller is configured to control, in real-time or approximately real-time, at least one cell culture parameter associated with the operation of the bioreactor apparatus based on the kLa.
PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING AN INOCULUM
A process and system for producing an inoculum for downstream cell production is disclosed. The inoculum is produced in a perfusion bioreactor in which the nutrient media feed is increased as the biomass concentration increases within the bioreactor. A biomass sensor can be used to periodically or continuously monitor biomass concentration. This information can be fed to a controller for automatically increasing nutrient media feed rates in a manner that is directly proportional to producing an inoculum with an increase cell density. The process and system can also include an automated subsystem for maintaining constant volume levels within the perfusion bioreactor during the process.
DRUG SCREENING PLATFORM SIMULATING HYPERTHERMIC INTRAPERITONEAL CHEMOTHERAPY
A drug screening platform simulating hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy including a dielectrophoresis system, a microfluidic chip and a heating system is disclosed. The dielectrophoresis system is used to provide a dielectrophoresis force. The microfluidic chip includes a cell culture array and observation module and a drug mixing module. The cell culture array and observation module are used to arrange the cells into a three-dimensional structure through the dielectrophoresis force to construct a three-dimensional tumor microenvironment. The drug mixing module is coupled to the cell culture array and observation module and used to automatically split and mix the inputted drugs and output the drug combinations into the cell culture array and observation module. The heating system is used for real-time temperature sensing and heating control of the drug combinations on the microfluidic chip to simulate high-temperature drug environment when performing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy on the three-dimensional tumor microenvironment.
Methods and apparatus to implement flexible bioreactor control systems
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein to implement flexible bioreactor control systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a processor coupled to a memory, the processor programmed to determine whether the map value included in the process task object is a valid map value, the process task object to correspond to a task executed by a bioreactor, a control device or a measurement device of the bioreactor control system configuration, in response to determining the map value is a valid map value, decode the map value to identify the source location of a first input of the process task object, pull a value from the source location to update the input value of the process task object, and facilitate execution of the process task with the input value.
Methods and apparatus to implement flexible bioreactor control systems
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed herein to implement flexible bioreactor control systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a processor coupled to a memory, the processor programmed to determine whether the map value included in the process task object is a valid map value, the process task object to correspond to a task executed by a bioreactor, a control device or a measurement device of the bioreactor control system configuration, in response to determining the map value is a valid map value, decode the map value to identify the source location of a first input of the process task object, pull a value from the source location to update the input value of the process task object, and facilitate execution of the process task with the input value.
Method and apparatus for keeping artificially created tissues alive
A device to aid in the production and regeneration of tissues and organs, standing alone, or on or inside of the human body, with a method of fabrication of tissues and organs and use of the device.
Control system and method for a fluid mixing apparatus
The present set of embodiments relate to a system, method, and apparatus controlling a cell culture media mixing system. The control system includes an integrated control unit capable of controlling a broad ranges of peripheral devices commonly used in bioproduction through a graphical user interface displayed on a touch sensitive screen. The bioproduction system is designed to be highly customizable through process modification and recipe creation by user with little or no knowledge of programming and is capable of controlling a wide variety of devices using a single unit. The bioproduction system allows for auto-detection, auto-calibration, and automatic of device related processes into a bioproduction workflow.
ARRAY PLATFORM FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CELL CULTURING AND DRUG TESTING AND SCREENING
An array platform for three-dimensional cell culturing and drug testing and screening is disclosed. In the array platform, a hydrogel-cell mixture injection area is configured to inject a plurality of kinds of hydrogel-cell mixtures. Cell observation areas are connected to the hydrogel-cell mixture injection area. Electrodes are disposed under the cell observation areas and automatic cell quantification and three-dimensional cell co-arrangement of the plurality of kinds of hydrogel-cell mixtures in the cell observation areas through the electrodes to imitate a structure of body's tissues. A drug injection area is configured to inject a plurality of kinds of drugs. Drug combination generators respectively correspond to the cell observation areas and are connected to the drug injection area. Each drug combination generator has a microfluidic channel structure and configured to generate drug combinations according to the plurality of kinds of drugs.
System and method for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an incubation chamber
A method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of a chamber. The method includes altering a temperature of air in the chamber from an initial temperature to a sterilization temperature over a first time period. The method also includes injecting vaporized hydrogen peroxide into air in the chamber to alter a relative humidity of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the chamber to a sterilization level over the first time period. The method also includes maintaining the temperature at the sterilization temperature and the relative humidity at the sterilization level over a second time period. The method also includes reducing the relative humidity from the sterilization level to a safe level over a third time period. In one embodiment, the method is provided for vaporized hydrogen peroxide cleaning of an interior chamber of an incubation container. In other embodiments, the incubation chamber featured in the method is provided.