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.

The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and methods for microorganism isolation, characterization and identification based on oxygen, pressure, culture media gradients and metabolites. In each embodiment, the apparatus of the disclosure is particularly useful for the purpose of novel isolation of never before cultured species of microorganisms and their by-products.

A cell cultivation apparatus for cultivating microorganisms and growing cells at high density is provided. The apparatus includes a membrane comprising multiple surface features on a first side of the membrane for cell placement. The surface features comprising one or more compartments within which a cell can be located. The membrane includes a material that is at least partially permeable to gas. A second side of the membrane defines a gas region. The second side of the membrane is separated from the first side of the membrane by the membrane. The apparatus further includes a media region for receiving media. The compartments are configured to at least partially reduce media flow shear forces on one or more cells in the compartments. The surface features may be ridges, protrusions, fins, wells, and/or posts.

A method for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator having a transfer lock, the method comprising the steps: first providing at least one nutrient medium carrier holder at, in each case, a first position within the isolator; second providing at least one nutrient medium carrier within the transfer lock; first robot-assisted transferring of an individual nutrient medium carrier from the transfer lock to a free nutrient medium carrier holder; and first robot-assisted placing of the transferred nutrient medium carrier in the free nutrient medium carrier holder. Further, a system for automated microbial monitoring in an isolator and a computer program are also disclosed.

A microorganism sampling device includes: a head part that has a water supply channel to which a water supply pipe for supplying sample water can be connected; a housing part to an upper part of which the head part can be detachably attached; a frame-structured tube; a tubular filter that is arranged within the tubular body; a cup that communicates with the tubular filter and is attached to one end of the tube body; and a cap that has a channel communicating with the tubular filter and is attached to the other end of the tube body. The microorganism sampling device further includes a filter part housed in the housing part, in which a bottom part of the cup is supported by a bottom part of the housing part. The head part is attached to an upper part of the housing part.

An aspect of the present invention makes it possible to easily observe both surfaces of a cell sheet in a condition in which the cell sheet is at a stable position in a culture medium. A cell sheet production device (100) includes: a container (20); and a support unit (10) removably held in the container (20), the support unit (10) including a mesh sheet (2) and a base (3) which holds the mesh sheet (2) such that the mesh sheet (2) floats from a bottom surface of the container (20), the support unit (10) being held in the container (20) such that the support unit is at a fixed position in vertical and horizontal directions in a culture medium.

The invention relates generally to methods, apparatus and systems for cells in culture. More specifically, the invention relates to novel multiwell plates and concentrator masks. This invention also relates to using the multiwell plates and concentrator masks for cell seeding and for cellular assays.

The purpose of the present invention is to embody an inspection device wherein dew condensation in a sample container, in particular, in the lid thereof can be prevented or quickly removed without giving heat shock to a sample in the sample container. For this purpose, provided is an inspection device comprising an isothermal part 110 which comprises a rack 111 and maintains a sample container 150 storing a sample in a temperature-controlled environment, said sample container 150 comprising a plate and a lid, a detection part 120 which comprises an optical device for observing and inspecting the sample stored in the sample container, and a transportation part 130 which transports the sample container from the isothermal part to the detection part and vice versa, wherein at least one of the isothermal part, detection part and transportation part is provided with a member by which the lid of the sample container is held in a state lifted from the plate.

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 sample storage apparatus includes: a lid member; a sample storage container; first and second fluid sucking sections; first and second fluid discharging sections; first to fourth flow paths; and a first fluid identification sensor. The first flow path is connected to the first fluid sucking section, the second flow path is connected to the second fluid sucking section, the third flow path is connected to the first fluid discharging section, and the fourth flow path is connected to the second fluid discharging section. The first fluid identification sensor for identifying a fluid is disposed in the first flow path.