Embodiments described herein generally provide for the expansion of cells in a cell expansion system using an active promotion of a coating agent(s) to a cell growth surface in some embodiments. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber in a bioreactor, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended, by changing flow rates, by changing flow directions, by rotation of the bioreactor, and/or combinations thereof.

A device is provided, comprising a cell trap comprising a plurality of micro-chambers, each micro-chamber configured to hold a cell. The device can further comprise a manipulator array comprising a plurality of manipulators, each manipulator in spatial communication with a respective micro-chamber, wherein each manipulator comprises a needle, a stage, and an actuator, wherein the needle is mounted to the stage, and the actuator is operable to apply force to the stage in a direction to move the needle to penetrate a cell in the respective micro-chamber.

A bioreactor system includes a sample chamber capable of receiving a specimen and a cover which can be placed on the chamber to enclose the specimen within the chamber. A first member is movable between (i) a closed position in which the member restricts the cover from being moved away from the chamber in a first direction, and (ii) an open position in which the member does not restrict the cover from being moved away from the chamber. When the first member is in the closed position there is a substantially liquid proof seal between the cover and the chamber.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for the expansion of cells in a cell expansion system using an active promotion of a coating agent(s) to a cell growth surface in some embodiments. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber in a bioreactor, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended, by changing flow rates, by changing flow directions, by rotation of the bioreactor, and/or combinations thereof.

Embodiments for coating a bioreactor with a reagent are described. The embodiments may provide for changing flow rates, direction of flow, and/or bioreactor rotation to enhance the coating of the bioreactor prior to growing cells in the bioreactor.

Disclosed is a bioreactor including a rotation device that rotates a reaction container while a reference direction is taken as an axial direction thereof, and an angle adjusting device coupled to the rotation device to adjust an angle defined by the reference direction, which is dependent on an arrangement posture of the rotation device, with respect to a ground surface, by changing the arrangement posture of the rotation device.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for transferring specimen containers between detection instruments. The method may include transporting a specimen container in a locator well to a container transfer station in a first automated detection apparatus; sensing the specimen container at the container transfer station using a first sensor; transferring the specimen container from the container transfer station of the first automated microbial detection apparatus to an automated loading mechanism of a second automated microbial detection apparatus; detecting that the specimen container is positioned over the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus using a second sensor; and releasing the specimen container onto the automated loading mechanism of the second automated microbial detection apparatus.

A cell culture apparatus comprises at least one storage space, at least one barrier, a working space, a sterilization space, and a control space. The at least one storage space comprises a container shelf, an upright track, a rotatable holder, and a light tube. The working space comprises a filling station and an inspecting station. The filling station comprises a first delivering device, an open-close device, and a filling mechanism. The inspecting station comprises a first inspecting mechanism and a second delivering device. Also provided is a method of using the cell culture apparatus including steps of filling, inspecting, or collecting cell cultures, therefore, the cell culture apparatus performs multiple cell culture processes automatically.

Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In one embodiment, methods are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.

An apparatus for conveying a plurality of articles includes a transport belt, a bumper stopper, and a rotator. A motor moves the transport belt which is adapted to rotate the rotator as the belt conveys the plurality of articles. The stopper can move between first and second positions relative to the transport belt wherein the bumper stopper guides one article toward the rotator when the bumper stopper is in the first position. The bumper stopper allows the article to be conveyed to another location when the bumper stopper is in the second position. The transport belt can continue to convey other articles while the one article is temporarily held in place by the bumper stopper. The rotator is configured to rotate the article conveyed by the transport belt. The article can remain in contact with the transport belt while the rotator is rotating the article.