A connector for flexible tubing comprises a first hollow insert for allowing fluid flow, having a proximal end configured to fit inside the tubing, a first outer part, a joining member rigidly connecting the first insert to the outer part at a region spaced from the proximal end of the first insert and a generally annular gap between the first insert and the first outer part, which forms a tubing accepting opening at or adjacent the proximal end of the insert, the first outer part further comprising plural resilient protrusions extending into the gap, allowing the tubing to be inserted, but resisting removal of the tubing once inserted and wherein at least the insert, the joining member and the outer part are formed as a single integral molding.

A biological culture unit comprises a chamber body and a valve plate. The chamber body has defined therein a growth chamber and an aliquot chamber. The valve plate is disposed on the top surface of the chamber body and is movable to define selectable configurations of the biological culture unit for: (1) loading the growth chamber; (3) transferring an aliquot from the growth chamber to the aliquot chamber via a path defined within the biological culture unit in the transfer position; and (4) extracting the aliquot from the aliquot chamber. The selectable positions may further include (2) a growth position, and (5) a termination position for putting a termination agent into the growth and aliquot chambers. The valve plate may further include a neutralizer port that is aligned with the aliquot chamber in the loading position, for loading a neutralizing agent into the aliquot chamber.

Apparatus for processing life-based organic particles, including particles selected from the list comprising cells, cellular spheroids, tissues, eukaryotes, micro-organisms, organs or embryos, comprises a hollow volume (10) that (a) is internally divided into at least first (14), second (16) and third (17) sub-volumes by at least two phaseguides (12, 13) formed inside the volume and (b) includes parts that are relatively upstream and relatively downstream when judged with reference to the movement of a meniscus or a bulk liquid in the volume (10). The apparatus includes at least first, second and third fluid conduits (19, 21, 22) connected to permit fluid communication between the upstream exterior of the volume (10) and a respective said sub-volume (14, 16, 17); and at least one further conduit (24) connected to permit fluid communication between the downstream exterior of the volume (10) and a said sub-volume. The first sub-volume (14) contains one or more life-based particles supported in or by a gel or gel-like substance; and the second sub-volume (16) communicates with the first sub-volume so as to permit transport of substances between the first and second sub-volumes (14, 16) and contains at least one gel or gel-like substance.

Provided herein according to some embodiments is an in vitro construct useful as a model for a hematopoietic microenvironment, which may include: a microfluidic device having multiple chambers; and two or more populations of cells (e.g., 3 or 4 populations of cells) (or niches) selected from: 1) mesenchymal cells (e.g., Stro-1+; MSC); 2) osteoblasts (OB; optionally said osteoblasts provided by differentiating mesenchymal cells to differentiated osteoblasts); 3) arterial endothelium (e.g., CD146+NG2+; AEC); and 4) sinusoidal endothelium (CD146+NG2; SEC), wherein each of said two or more populations of cells are provided in a separate chamber of the microfluidic device. Methods of making and using the construct are also provided.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide fluid flow coordinators, passive flow field modifiers, or even inwardly protruding helical spines which can be used in continuous, scalable, low energy usage, bioreactor systems perhaps to provide optimal mixing of microorganisms with nutrients, gases, or the like or even to move microorganisms, such as algae, in and out of light for effective and optimal growth.

A biological cell preservation or culturing arrangement (20) comprises a chamber defining a fluid retaining space (30) for retaining in use a body of fluid (34) and a deformable membrane (36) in communication with the fluid retaining space, and being manipulable by an electroactive polymer actuator arrangement (38) to undergo a defined topology change to induce in the fluid a pattern of fluid flow by which fluid is exchanged between a sub-region (46) immediately proximal the deformable membrane and a sub-region (48) removed from the deformable membrane.

A cell culture system having a cell culture vessel, a composition controlling fluid storage vessel, a culture fluid composition controlling means having an inlet and an outlet for a cell culture fluid, an inlet-connected fluid feeding circuit from the cell culture vessel to the inlet of the culture fluid composition controlling means, an outlet-connected fluid feeding circuit from the cell culture vessel to the outlet of the culture fluid composition controlling means, a means which perfuses the cell culture fluid from the inlet-connected fluid feeding circuit to the outlet-connected fluid feeding circuit through the culture fluid composition controlling means, and a means which controls the amount of fluid in the cell culture vessel, in which compositions of the cell culture fluid in the cell culture vessel and compositions of the composition controlling fluid in the composition controlling fluid storage vessel can be controlled in a continuous manner.

To provide a cell treatment container, including: a first member having a flow path in which a cell suspension including a liquid and cells dispersed in the liquid flows through, the flow path formed on a surface of the first member; a second member arranged to face the surface of the first member; and a damming formed in one or both of the first member and the second member, in which the damming is provided with a protrusion part protruding from the first member into the flow path to form a gap for allowing the liquid in the cell suspension to pass through the gap and for damming up the cells in the cell suspension, and a pillar extending from the protrusion part at a first end and being joined to the second member at a second end.

Provided is a bag gripping clip, in which, in a case where a bag that forms an accommodation space between a first film and a second film facing the first film is gripped by the clip, a pressing force for bringing the first film and the second film into partially close contact with each other is applied to the bag, and a partition that divides the accommodation space into a plurality of spaces communicating with each other via a communication part is formed.

The present invention relates to a microtissue compartment device, comprising a compartment structure (1) having an upper surface (2) and a lower surface (3) essentially coplanar thereto, and at least two wells (4) suitable for accommodating one or more microtissues (5) in a liquid volume, each well having a lower section (4a) with a given diameter, coaxially oriented thereto an upper section (4b) with an extended diameter, and at least one conduit (6) fluidically connecting at least two wells to one another, and at least one space (13) arranged above a well. At least one well has, in its upper section, a relief structure (9) that prevents spreading or overflow of a liquid volume comprised in said well into space (13).