This invention relates to methods and devices that improve cell culture efficiency. They include the use of gas permeable culture compartments that reduce the use of space while maintaining uniform culture conditions, and are more suitable for automated liquid handling. They include the integration of gas permeable materials into the traditional multiple shelf format to resolve the problem of non-uniform culture conditions. They include culture devices that use surfaces comprised of gas permeable, plasma charged silicone and can integrate traditional attachment surfaces, such as those comprised of traditional tissue culture treated polystyrene. They include culture devices that integrate gas permeable, liquid permeable membranes. A variety of benefits accrue, including more optimal culture conditions during scale up and more efficient use of inventory space, incubator space, and disposal space. Furthermore, labor and contamination risk are reduced.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to novel apparatuses, methods and systems employing said novel apparatuses, and sensors for use with said apparatuses and systems. In some embodiments, apparatuses and systems described herein are used to culture cells and/or detect changes in pH levels or dissolved oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels in a cell culture sample resulting from the growth of living cells contained within a reaction vessel such as a flask. In some embodiments, said novel apparatuses may be used in combination with a rocker or shaking device or apparatus. The systems and methods may be used to detect changes in pH and dissolved gas levels in a liquid contained in the reaction vessel due to growth of living cells.

Assemblies of a cap and a tube fixed to the cap are provided in which at least a portion of each assembly has a visual coding of color and/or indicia for use with one of different sizes of bottles at least in accordance with a height of the bottles from a closed bottom end to an open top end for engaging the cap of the assembly. In each assembly, the cap has a tube mounted to, or through, an aperture extending through the cap to extend a selected length enabling one end of the tube to reach or extend along at least a portion of an interior surface of the bottom end of any of the bottles of the height to which the assembly is coded for use therewith. Each of the caps has another tube or port to another aperture of the cap to provide an air vent.

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.

A gas supply device for operation in an incubator allowing treatment of a culture within a shaker flask with gas independently of the composition and humidity of the gas atmosphere within the incubator individually supplies each shaker flask of the incubator with gas using a gas supply clamp detachably connected to the closure cap of each flask. The gas supply clamp has at least two elastic clamping jaws and a web connecting the clamping jaws to one another. The clamping jaws exert a clamping force on the side wall of the closure cap. The clamp is held in place by the elastic clamping jaws. Above a sterile filter in the closure cap, an individual gas atmosphere for treatment of the culture in the shaker flask is produced in a recess of the web above a gas passage in the closure cap.

This disclosure provides a cell culture media extending material capable of releasing nutrients into the cell culture environment slowly over time. In embodiments, this material is a part of a cell culture vessel. In embodiments, the material is a coating or a film on a surface of a cell culture material. In additional embodiments, the material is a surface upon which cells are cultured, such as a cell culture vessel or a microcarrier.

The invention relates to a biocompatible scaffold for three dimensional cultivation of cells, said scaffold comprise one or more fibers randomly oriented to form a scaffold with open spaces for cultured cells. The one or more fibers are also coated with a bio-active coating and have a diameter of 100-3000 nm.

The present invention relates to collapsible and/or foldable fermentation and/or culture vessels fabricated of an adjustable frame including sections of gas permeable material or in the alternative a non-rigid gas permeable polymeric container or bag fabricated of either a gas permeable or non-gas permeable material with the further benefit of more efficient inventory space and disposal space, wherein the gas permeable material or non-gas permeable material comprises an analyte or pH sensing material integrated or impregnated into at least one section of the material.

An intelligent bacteria collection system includes a bottle opening module and a peristaltic pump module opposite to each other, wherein a guide rail is arranged between the bottle opening module and the peristaltic pump module, and a tray module is placed on the guide rail; a manipulator module and the peristaltic pump module are fixed on an infusion operation platform; a control infusion module is placed on the tray module, which can be moved to and fixed on the infusion operation platform by the manipulator module. The present invention replaces the conventional artificial bacteria collection process, makes the bacteria collection process more rapid, reduces the possible secondary pollution in the manual detection operation process, improves the accuracy of the bacteria collection detection, and improves the work efficiency. The present invention provides high degree of automation, wherein no manual operation is required in the bacteria collection process.

A device for seeding cells includes a container with a wall, a bottom and a lid. The wall extends between the bottom and the lid. The container can be equipped to be loaded with cells, in particular with cells form a cell suspension. The container defines a rotation axis. The device is further equipped to rotate the container around the rotation axis. The container includes a structured surface that can be arranged at the inner surface of the container. The structured surface has structures equipped to receive the cells. The rotation exerts a (g-)force in direction of the structured surface, such that the g-force acts perpendicular to the structured surface. The exerted force in the direction of the structured surface resembles a g-force required for sedimentation of the cells into the structures.