A large-type horizontal device and a method for continuous methane fermentation belong to dry biogas fermentation technology. The whole distribution of a fermentation compartment uses a U-shape plane layout which is a snap-back type and uses a material propeller. The material propeller has two axes and two blades and is constantly occluded with counter rotation. The irreversible propulsion of materials can be realized through counter rotation of two occluded blades. The propeller is set at the bottom of the main partition of the fermentation compartment. Since the impeller blades adopt a long side design in rotation axis directions, a large amount materials can be propelled. The propel ability of propeller can be changed through changing of rotation speed. Counter rotation of two occluded blades can realize material propeller without material reverting. The inlet and outlet entrances of the reactor in the disclosure are near to the ground and can be operated conveniently to, therefore, save energy. The homogeneous output of materials and entire plug-flow can be realized at the same time without material mixing in the whole process. This makes fermentation more complete.

The cell culture chip includes a bottom substrate and a base body part. The base body part includes a plurality of first portions for forming the culture space, and a cavity penetrating the base body part in a region where the first portions are not formed. The first portions each include a recessed region and a plurality of opening grooves that are formed through the base body part from a plurality of places inside the recessed region. In the cavity, at least a part of an end is positioned inside an outer edge of the base body part. The bottom substrate and the first surface of the base body part are bonded together to form the culture space in which the recessed region is sandwiched between the bottom substrate and the base body part.

The present invention relates to the field of bio-artificial liver technology. Particularly, the invention provides an integrated hybrid bio-artificial liver support system that provides the features of artificial liver assist devices with that of bio-artificial liver support systems.

Provided are multi-layer bioreactors for growing, maintaining, stimulating, monitoring and testing organoids and tissues derived from or representing hollow organs in organoid chambers. Also provided are uses of those bioreactors in modeling a disease process for monitoring disease progress and/or for assessing a biological effect, such as therapeutic efficacy and/or toxicity, e.g., organotoxicity. Also disclosed are bioreactors comprising organoid chambers that are useful as systems for measuring the volume, pressure, contractility, pump function, or electrophysiology of an organoid chamber as well as systems for controlling the pressure experienced by an organoid or tissue in an organoid chamber.

The present disclosure provides methods for generating an in vitro model of cholestatic liver disease and uses of the same. In some embodiments, the methods involve an in vitro culture system for producing hepatocyte-like cells from pluripotent stem cells.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for creating within a cell assembly a cell-free area, comprising at least one cell chamber, wherein the at least one cell chamber comprises: —a fluid inlet for introducing fluid into the cell chamber, —a first area, —a second area, —at least one mechanical excluding means for excluding cells from the first area of the chamber and being operable between an excluding position and a releasing position optionally via an actuation line, wherein the second area of the cell chamber is outside of the operation range of the mechanical excluding means.

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.

There is provided a connector, for introducing or extracting a material to or from at least one receptacle, comprising a housing extending between a distal end and a proximal end, the housing comprising, at least at one end, a pierceable seal; a hollow needle mounted, at least partially, within the housing between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing, a first end of the hollow needle being connected or connectable to a first corresponding receptacle, and a second end of the hollow needle facing the pierceable seal at an end of the housing; and an actuating mechanism acting on the housing or the hollow needle to enable the hollow needle to pierce the pierceable seal thereby forming a communication through the pierceable seal, such that material is able to transfer through the connector.

A device includes a first unit for skeletal muscle tissue formation; a second unit for motor neuron culture; a third unit for causing the first and second units to communicate with each other; and a pillar serving as a scaffold for skeletal muscle tissue formation. The first unit includes a first base material and a first culture tank formed in the first base material. The second unit includes a second base material and a second culture tank formed in the second base material. The third unit includes a third base material and an axon channel formed in the third base material, through which a bundle of axons passes. One end of the third unit is connectable to the second unit and cause the axon channel and the second culture tank to communicate with each other. A first opening part is formed to the other end of the third unit.

The application relates to methods and systems for culturing individually selected cells in relative isolation from the rest of a population of cells, under physiologically relevant and controllable environmental conditions that can be designed to mimic specific environments, e.g., within a human body.