A device (20) for creating cell-exclusion zones comprises a baseplate (21) having a first major face from which a plurality of exclusion reliefs (22) project, each exclusion relief (22) having at least one distal end (23) configured for contact with a bottom (11b) of a respective well (11) of a multi-well cell-culture plate (10). The baseplate (21) and the plurality of exclusion reliefs (22) are defined at least in part by an elastic or flexible material in such a way that at least the baseplate (21) is elastically deformable at least during removal thereof from a multi-well cell-culture plate (10), the elastic or flexible material preferably being an elastomer.

Disclosed is a device (100, 200) for the disaggregation of tissue samples into individual cells or cell clumps in a closed flexible tissue sample bag (10); the device including two or more resilient feet (134/136, 234/236) which tread sequentially a tissue sample bag receiving area (148,248). Also disclosed is a heat transfer plate (150, 250) for transferring heat energy to or from the area (148,248), the plate having one plate surface (151,251) adjacent the area (148,248) and an opposing surface (152,252) exposed to external thermal influence which faces away from the area (148,248). Further disclosed is a tissue sample receiving bag (10) comprising one or more flexible plastics cavity (12) formed from two layers of the plastics sealed around their edges to form a generally rectilinear periphery with the cavity or cavities (12) within the periphery, and at one side of the periphery is formed one or more sealable access ports (16). One part of the bag is left unsealed to provide a tissue sample receiving opening.

A gel tray for a bacterial transformation lab exercise has a plastic body with four parallel gel channels and four filling ports, one for each channel into which unmodified bacteria and heat-shocked bacteria can be injected by students along with appropriate reaction constituents to demonstrate transformation of the bacteria under visualization. A seal may be provided to seal the tops of the gel channels and a lid can cover the gel tray during incubation.

The present invention relates to novel modules for transferring magnetic beads, an automated system comprising the same and a method for extracting nucleic acids using the same. The specifically designed magnet module and cover module of the present invention can be employed in the automated liquid handling apparatus by means of pre-existing moving modules (e.g., pipettor module) of the apparatus. The present invention enables a bead transfer-type method for extracting nucleic acids to be performed in an automated manner on the automated liquid handling apparatus. The present invention provides advantages of higher level of automation, more reduced cost and no need for another separate liquid handling apparatus compared to the conventional bead transfer-type method usually performed in the small apparatus designed to be used only for this bead transfer-type method. Also, the present method has the merits of more shortened reaction time compared to the conventional liquid transfer-type method.

A collection system including a storage tray and a swab positioned in the storage tray, wherein the swab is configured to collect a sample comprising one or more microorganisms. The system further includes a generally elongate storage device positioned in the tray. The storage device is configured to contain a culture medium therein and configured to receive therein at least part of the one or more microorganisms collected by the swab. The storage tray includes a first recess configured to receive the storage device in a longitudinal configuration, and a second recess configured to receive the storage device in an axial configuration oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal configuration.

Provided herein is a tissue culture device and a method of forming a tissue culture device. The tissue culture device includes a microfluidic layer including at least one hydrophobic microchannel and a reservoir portion over the at least one hydrophobic microchannel, the reservoir portion including an opening aligned with the at least one hydrophobic microchannel. The method of forming a tissue culture device includes providing a microfluidic layer mold, a reservoir layer mold, and a removable lid mold, filling each of the molds with a device material, curing the device material within the molds, removing the cured device material from the molds to provide a microfluidic layer, a reservoir layer, and a removable lid, and bonding the microfluidic layer to the reservoir layer. A method of culturing tissue with the tissue culture device is also provided herein.

A method and apparatus for biogas extraction. The method includes obtaining a set of images that includes a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the flexible roof and a background; generating a sample region having a first end overlapping only the flexible roof and a second end overlapping only the background; determining an average pixel color of an end slice located at the first end or the second end of the sample region; determining, based on the average pixel color of the end slice of the sample region, a fill percentage of the sample region attributed to an object overlapped by the end slice; estimating an amount of inflation of the flexible roof based on the fill percentage and a correlation between fill percentages of the sample region and predetermined amounts of inflation included in calibration data; and controlling extraction of the biogas based on the estimation.

A method for carrying out a reaction process, in particular for setting the mixing and/or aeration of a reaction liquid while the reaction process is being carried out, which includes filling at least one reaction vessel with at least one reaction liquid, wherein an internal volume of the reaction vessel is not completely filled by the at least one reaction liquid at all times during the reaction process, and changing the internal volume of the reaction vessel in the course of the reaction process, in particular in a targeted manner, which causes a movement of the at least one reaction liquid.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe bioreactor systems that integrate phototrophic organism cultivation with energy harvesting, methods of using said bioreactor systems, and the like. The bioreactor systems can comprise a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor is configured to cultivate a phototrophic organism in a liquid growth medium, and at least one transparent photovoltaic panel positioned between the bioreactor and a light source, where the transparent photovoltaic panel transmits select wavelengths of light and absorbs select wavelengths of light.

A system with reusable components and methods are disclosed for culturing, forming, perfusing, and maintaining a perfusible-tissue construct. The system uses a production container comprising a floor, a wall extending from the floor, wherein the floor and wall define a production reservoir, a formation section defined in the floor, wherein the formation section comprises at least one well, and a grip extending outwardly from the formation section; wherein the production container is made of a biocompatible material that remains stable when autoclaved.