A collection system including a storage tray and a swab positioned in the storage tray, wherein the swab is configured to collect a sample comprising one or more microorganisms. The system further includes a generally elongate storage device positioned in the tray. The storage device is configured to contain a culture medium therein and configured to receive therein at least part of the one or more microorganisms collected by the swab. The storage tray includes a first recess configured to receive the storage device in a longitudinal configuration, and a second recess configured to receive the storage device in an axial configuration oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal configuration.

Means which enables preparation of a thick cell aggregate by a simple process without an operation of detaching and stacking of cells is disclosed. The method for preparing a three-dimensional cell aggregate by the present invention comprises: a cell encasing step of placing a cell suspension in a cell container; and a pressure application step of applying pressure to cells in the container. The cell encasing step and the pressure application step may be carried out a plurality of times. By the present invention, a thick, robust cell aggregate can be obtained by a simple operation of applying pressure to a cell suspension or a medium containing cells.

Since the method does not require an operation of stacking a plurality of cell sheets, the cells are hardly damaged, and the conditions of the cells can be favorably maintained, so that the cells can be advantageously used as a tissue piece for transplantation.

The present invention provides a connective tissue body formation substrate which can form a film-like connective tissue having a desired thickness and both surfaces in a desired surface condition without prolonging the time required for formation of the connective tissue. Specifically, two tissue formation surfaces 2a and 2b are faced with each other with a tissue formation space 3 being interposed therebetween. A slit 9 is formed in the tissue formation surface 2b so that the tissue formation space 3 communicates with an outside of the substrate. A connective tissue body formation substrate 1 is installed in an environment where a biological tissue material is present. A connective tissue intrudes into the tissue formation space 3 from the slit 9. Both surfaces of the film-like connective tissue are formed so as to match the substrate surface.

The invention relates to a separator for retaining and recirculating cells in a continuous-flow or batch-flow type plastic bag or bottle, which can preferably be operated outside of a bioreactor. Additionally, the invention relates to a method for retaining and recirculating cells within or outside a bioreactor. The invention further relates to a method for producing the separator according to the invention.

A configurable system for repeatably performing processes related to tissue growth in a controlled environment, possibly part of an industrial production line. The system can accommodate various sizes and shapes of culture vessels, and can maintain the cells at a desired temperature in the culture vessels, thus enabling a plug and play system that can produce consistent and repeatable results. The system includes gas management, fluid management, and control of multiple processes simultaneously, and can be automatically operably coupled with a variety of supporting technologies that can enable tissue-related processes. The system can communicate with supporting technologies upstream and downstream on a manufacturing line, enabling fully automated process control, centralized data historization, and centralized control.

The apparatuses described herein relate to preparation of a meat product. Apparatuses, systems comprising the apparatuses, and methods of making and use the systems and apparatuses are described herein. These are useful for controlling one or more of growth on and separation of a meat product from an enclosed substrate. The apparatuses and systems are configured to receive fluid and grow the meat product and/or separate the meat product from the substrate in a scalable manner.

A viral inactivation device including at least one experimental continuous viral inactivation reactor having at least an inlet, an outlet, and a tubular flow path and a computer system that, based on the experimental continuous viral inactivation reactor can design, select, make, and/or manufacture a scaled actual reactor. The tubular flow path includes a set of alternating turns that form a serpentine or an interwoven pattern between the inlet and the outlet.

A continuous flow reactor having a plurality of interwoven flow paths in fluid communication to form a single continuous flow reactor tube having a single flow path.

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 viral inactivation device including at least one continuous viral inactivation reactor having an inlet, an outlet, and a tubular flow path. The tubular flow path includes a set of alternating turns that form a serpentine pattern between the inlet and the outlet.