In some aspects, the invention relates to selectively permeable cell culture vessel storage containers and their methods of use. In some embodiments, the containers comprise a gas-permeable membrane that is selectively impermeable to water vapor.

A method of screening for at least one biological entity of interest using a microfabricated device which has a top surface defining an array of microwells. A sample is loaded onto the microfabricated device such that at least one microwell of the array of microwells includes at least one cell and an amount of a nutrient. A membrane is applied to the microfabricated device to retain the at least one cell and the nutrient. A plurality of cells are cultured from the at least one cell in the at least one microwell of the array of microwells. The plurality of cells is then analyzed to determine a presence or absence of a biological entity of interest.

A method of screening for at least one biological entity of interest using a microfabricated device which has a top surface defining an array of microwells. A sample is loaded onto the microfabricated device such that at least one microwell of the array of microwells includes at least one cell and an amount of a nutrient. A membrane is applied to the microfabricated device to retain the at least one cell and the nutrient. A plurality of cells is cultured from the at least one cell in the at least one microwell of the array of microwells. The plurality of cells in the at least one microwell of the array of microwells are split into a first portion of the plurality of cells and a second portion of the plurality of cells. The plurality of cells is analyzed to determine a presence or absence of a biological entity of interest.

A microfluidic device for processing particles, including: an elongated chamber including elongated segment(s), input seeding channel(s) and one output seeding channel defining a seeding flow transverse to the longitudinal direction of the segment, input harvest channel(s) and one output harvest channel defining a harvest flow in the longitudinal direction, wherein, for the segment, a single input seeding tree defines input seeding channels and a single output seeding tree defines output seeding channels, junctions of the input seeding channels and output seeding channels with the processing chamber being distributed along the segment on both sides of the chamber, wherein:

[00001]$\mathrm{Rs\_input}\frac{S_{21}}{\left({.Math.}_k{V}_k*S_k\right)/V_{\mathrm{TOTs}\_\mathrm{inpu}t}}$

is higher than 50, S.sub.21 being the segment cross section perpendicular to the transverse direction, (Σ.sub.k V.sub.k*S.sub.k)/V.sub.TOTs_input being, the sum of the products of the volume and the cross section of the input seeding channel, divided by the total volume V TOTs_input of the input seeding channels.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to an optimizable cellular growth chamber, where growth conditions are optimized by adjusting gas pressures through a gas permeable membrane. In an illustrative example, an apparatus may provide a volume to contain growth medium and the cells under propagation, where the volume has limited but non-zero pneumatic communication with a pressure-controlled chamber via a gas-permeable membrane. Associated apparatus and methods are proposed to manage desired growth conditions via deliberate control of parameters, such as partial pressures, for example.

There is described a live cell chamber generally having a body having walls defining a sealed cavity, a sample area inside the cavity, a measurement device configured to perform one or more measurements on the sample area and a controller configured to generate a signal based on said one or more measurements. In one embodiment, the sealed cavity has a thicker inlet area and a thinner sample area, allowing to approach the focal plane of a microscope objective in the sample area. In one embodiment the sample area has a plurality of spaced-apart sample receiving regions having a hydrophilic material, and a sample repelling region surrounding each of the plurality of spaced-apart sample receiving regions and having a hydrophobic material. In another embodiment, a platform is provided to receive the sample in the cavity, and a provided mechanism allows movement between the top and bottom wall.

This invention relates to methods and devices that improve cell culture efficiency. They include the use of gas permeable culture compartments that reduce the use of space while maintaining uniform culture conditions, and are more suitable for automated liquid handling. They include the integration of gas permeable materials into the traditional multiple shelf format to resolve the problem of non-uniform culture conditions. They include culture devices that use surfaces comprised of gas permeable, plasma charged silicone and can integrate traditional attachment surfaces, such as those comprised of traditional tissue culture treated polystyrene. They include culture devices that integrate gas permeable, liquid permeable membranes. A variety of benefits accrue, including more optimal culture conditions during scale up and more efficient use of inventory space, incubator space, and disposal space. Furthermore, labor and contamination risk are reduced.

Scalable biomaterial-based bioreactors are described. In one embodiment, the bioreactor may comprise perforated plates stacked such that the assembled bioreactor has the necessary manifolds and chambers to transport gas and liquids to a biomaterial contained within the bioreactor, and to remove the reaction products. In another embodiment, single use bioreactors are described. Methods of operating the bioreactors are also described.

A thin film culture device for enumerating mold colonies is provided. The device comprises water-resistant first and second substrates with a growth region disposed therebetween, a dry, cold water-soluble gelling agent disposed in the growth region, and an effective amount of a calcium-chelating compound disposed in the growth region. The effective amount of calcium-chelating compound is capable of reducing a rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit growing in the culture device relative to the rate of lateral enlargement of a colony of the same mold species growing in an otherwise identical culture device that does not contain the effective amount disposed in the growth region, wherein reducing the rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit does not substantially delay detection of the colony. A corresponding method is also provided.

The present invention provides a culture vessel with which cells can be aseptically cultured and aseptically transferred to a place where the cells are to be used (such as an operating room) and from which the cells can be simply taken out. The present invention provides a closed culture vessel including an openable airtight vessel, and a cell culture member disposed in the airtight vessel and including a cell culture surface, in which the cell culture member is provided detachably from the airtight vessel.