An image capturing device for observing a sample housed in a container to which identification information is attached, from below the container, includes: an image capturing unit including an image pickup element; a light guide unit that guides light from an identification surface to the image capturing unit, the identification surface being a surface of the container which differs from a bottom surface of the container and to which identification information is attached; and a mobile unit that changes a relative position of the image capturing unit with respect to the container. After the mobile unit changes the relative position to a first relative position in which the optical axis of the image capturing unit deviates from the container, the image capturing unit images the identification surface via the light guide unit, and, after the mobile unit changes the relative position to a second relative position in which the optical axis of the image capturing unit intersects the container, the image capturing unit images the sample via the bottom surface.

System, including methods and apparatus, for identifying and picking spectrally distinct colonies. In an exemplary method, a filter may be received in an optical path extending from a light source to a grayscale image detector. The filter may be configured to increase an intensity difference between a first type of colony and a spectrally distinct second type of colony. Colonies including both types may be received in the optical path. An image of the colonies may be obtained with the grayscale image detector. At least one of the types of colony may be identified in the image. One or more colonies of the at least one type may be picked robotically.

The present disclosure relates to a scalable experimental workflow that uses a culture system to maintain a steady state in a biological system, and techniques for identifying values for parameters in a in silico model based on experimental data obtained from the biological system. Particularly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to obtaining measurement data for one or more characteristics of a biological system developed in a culture system, where the measurement data is indicative of each of the one or more characteristics at a physiological steady state where growth of the biological system is occurring at a substantially constant growth rate, determining a value for a parameter of a model of the biological system based on an growth formula, the measurement data, and the substantially constant growth rate, and parametrizing the model with at least the value determined for the parameter.

The invention relates to a microfluidic poration device having narrow channels slightly smaller than the width of a target cell, wherein the channels are lined with a plurality of nanospikes in a row extending down the middle of the channel, i.e. in a row parallel to the sides of the channel. In one embodiment, one channel may have 2 nanospikes (or 2 nanolancets). Thus, in particular embodiments, the invention provides microfluidic poration devices capable of simultaneously squeezing cells while piercing holes in their membranes for allowing foreign molecules into cells. The holes in porated cells spontaneously close after exiting the channels, thus entrapping the foreign molecules inside of the target cells. This porated cell population has approximately a 95% viability with greater than 50% containing at least one foreign molecule.

Assemblies, systems, and methods for isolation of target material are provided. In various embodiments, an assembly for target material isolation includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion together defining an inner chamber. The inner chamber includes a semi-toroidal shape and the semi-toroidal shape defines a longitudinal axis. The assembly further includes one or more fluidic connection from the exterior of the housing to the inner chamber. An isolation material (e.g., polymer wool and/or magnetic beads) may be disposed within the inner chamber. A system includes a configured to fit at least a portion of the housing and releasably couple the assembly. Upon activation of the motor, the assembly may rotate about the longitudinal axis. An angle of the platform may be adjustable to thereby change the angle of the longitudinal axis about which the assembly rotates.

A culture apparatus includes a culture unit which cultures cells under a predetermined culture environment, and an imaging unit which captures an inspection image showing a state of a culture container which holds the cells or a state of the cells, further includes a carrying unit and a determining unit. The carrying unit delivers the culture container between at least one peripheral device to be used in a culture operation of the cells and the culture apparatus. The determining unit detects completion of the culture operation of the peripheral device, controls the imaging unit to capture the inspection image, and analyzes the inspection image to determine whether or not the culture operation by the peripheral device is appropriate.

Provided is a technique for detecting a cell-derived substance with high sensitivity without destroying cells. A cell detection device of the present disclosure includes: a medium adding device configured to add a part of a prepared culture medium to a culture container holding cells to be detected; a medium collection device configured to collect the culture medium from the culture container; and a detection device configured to detect light from the luminescent reagent mixed with the collected culture medium.

An imaging system and method for microbial growth detection, counting or identification. One colony may be contrasted in an image that is not optimal for another type of colony. The system and method provides contrast from all available material through space (spatial differences), time (differences appearing over time for a given capture condition) and color space transformation using image input information over time to assess whether microbial growth has occurred for a given sample.

A stable and efficient system that determines a multinucleated state of myoblast cells, the system including a storage unit that stores a cell culture substrate containing the myoblast cells, a measurement unit that measures a shape of the myoblast cells, and an analysis unit that calculates the number of nuclei in the individual myoblast cells based on a parameter.

Provided herein is technology relating to processing biological samples and particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and apparatuses for dissociating biological tissues into viable cells.