The present application relates to a transport packaging (20) for a plurality of petri-dishes (P), comprising a shell-like main body (21) with a compartment (22) for holding the plurality of petri-dishes (P) in a parallel orientation, the compartment (22) being accessible from an opening (23) at one side of the main body (21), and a rack-like structure (24) formed in the compartment (22) for supporting the petri-dishes (P) in a fixed position during handling and configured to allow insertion/extraction of the petri-dishes (P) into/from the rack-like structure (24) in a direction.

Transfer mechanism/device (40) transferring one or more objects (O) through a transfer port (R), having a supporting base (41), a shuttle (42) with a mount (43) for a holder (47) for the one or more objects (O) or with a holder (47) and a container (44) accommodating the base (41) and the shuttle (42) and accommodating the objects (O), and having at least one opening (45) at an end portion in an axial direction (X) of the container (44).

The application relates to a cartridge for a plurality of petri-dishes, comprising a cylindrical cartridge housing configured to receive the plurality of petri-dishes in a stack aligned with an axial direction of the cartridge housing in an interior space of the cartridge housing such that the stack of petri-dishes can be moved in the axial direction within the interior space. An axial end portion of the cartridge housing has a first opening dimensioned so that the petri-dishes can be exposed from the cartridge housing by sliding in the axial direction. Another axial end portion of the cartridge housing has a second opening dimensioned to prevent removal of the petri-dishes through the second opening and so that a piston can be inserted into the interior space of the cartridge housing for moving the stack of petri-dishes (P) in the axial direction towards the first opening.

Described herein are bioreactor support structures configured to be used with containers having different designs, and methods for making and using such bioreactors. The support structures described herein may include two or more agitator motors and control systems or an adjustable-position agitator motor, a removable spacer and/or lid, multiple configurations for ports and probes, and multiple exhaust filter heating blankets. Also described herein are methods of manufacturing a multi-agitator motor or adjustable-position agitator motor bioreactor, as well as methods of modifying an existing support structure to be used with a container not originally designed to be used with the existing support structure, and methods for operating these bioreactors.

The invention provides systems, modules, bioreactor and methods for the automated culture, proliferation, differentiation, production and maintenance of tissue engineered products. In one aspect is an automated tissue engineering system comprising a housing, at least one bioreactor supported by the housing, the bioreactor facilitating physiological cellular functions and/or the generation of one or more tissue constructs from cell and/or tissue sources. A fluid containment system is supported by the housing and is in fluid communication with the bioreactor. One or more sensors are associated with one or more of the housing, bioreactor or fluid containment system for monitoring parameters related to the physiological cellular functions and/or generation of tissue constructs; and a microprocessor linked to one or more of the sensors. The systems, methods and products of the invention find use in various clinical and laboratory settings.

A scalable biodigester plant for generating biogas from livestock liquid manure is provided having a concentration tank with a stirrer associated with a pretreatment tank and treatment tanks, a liquid manure pipe, with a heating pipe communicating the tanks with a heater/generator, a biogas pipe communicating the tanks with the heater/generator, and a discharge pipe communicating the tanks with the solid/liquid separator, the tanks being movable and consisting of 20′ or 40′ maritime transport containers open in the upper part, and an expandable rubber dome that seals the upper part allowing only the passage of the biogas pipe, the containers being covered internally with a thermally insulating layer that is, in turn, covered with a reinforcement layer.

A method for mixing a fluid includes: dispensing a first volume of a fluid into a flexible container, the flexible container being at least partially disposed within the chamber of a support housing; repeatedly moving the support housing and the flexible container contained therein so as to mix the first volume of fluid within the flexible container; adding further fluid into the flexible container after moving the support housing to form a second volume of fluid; and manipulating a mixing element within the flexible container so as to mix the second volume of fluid.

Disclosed herein is a transport device comprising a first section of an outer container comprising a shell on the inside having the shape of a spherical cap with an inner diameter and an opening, wherein the opening of the spherical cap faces upwards, and an inner container having an upper section, a lower section and an inner hollow volume defined thereby, wherein at least the lower section has a spherical shape on the outside, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the spherical cap of the outer container. The inner container is suitable to be arranged in the spherical cap of the outer container in a freely pivotable fashion, and is capable of accommodating a payload.

A multi-layer culture vessel operation system capable of easily performing a multi-layer culture vessel handling operation is provided. A multi-layer culture vessel operation system includes: a cart device 20 movable with a multi-layer culture vessel 30 mounted thereon; and an operational device 10 capable of holding and rotating the multi-layer culture vessel 30, wherein the cart device 20 includes: a cart 21 having wheels 22; and a fixing part 23 that is removably mounted on the cart 21, and fixes the multi-layer culture vessel 30 to the cart, wherein the operational device 10 includes: a rotating portion 11 that holds the multi-layer culture vessel 30 and performs a rotation operation of rotating the multi-layer culture vessel 30 around a first rotation axis and/or a second rotation axis; a shaking portion 13 that holds the multi-layer culture vessel 30 and performs a shaking operation of shaking the multi-layer culture vessel 30 in a horizontal direction; and a control portion 15 that causes the shaking portion 13 to perform the shaking operation following the rotation operation by the rotating portion 11, without returning the multi-layer culture vessel 30 to the cart 21.

A configurable device arrangement for performing at least one unit operation in a biopharmaceutical process includes a base rack and a plurality of holders for releasable direct or indirect attachment of process components, in particular single-use process components, for the unit operation. The holders are in turn adapted to be releasably attached directly or indirectly to the base rack. The device arrangement further includes a positioning system which defines specific positions for the holders relative to the base rack.