An automatic processing device of culture plates (2) for microbiological samples, wherein the processing device (1) includes a support frame (3); a slide (4) provided with a seating (5) configured for removably housing a culture plate (2) and movably mounted on the support frame (3) so as to be selectively displaceable between a first loading position, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and a first unloading; a camera (6) of a linear type, provided with an optic (7) of a telecentric type and a trilinear sensor, and arranged according to a vertical axis (8) such as to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linear images of corresponding linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate (2), during the displacing of the slide (4); a first lighting device (11) orientated such as to illuminate the linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate (2); an advancing device (14) of the slide (4) configured such as to enable obtaining a constant and substantially vibration-free advancing speed of the slide (4) in the image-acquiring zone; and an electronic control device (9) of a functioning of the camera (6), of the lighting device and of the advancing device (14).

A method and apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and identifying microorganisms in said selected colony using MALDI. The method comprises the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of said selected colony of microorganisms; depositing at least some of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms on a target plate; and transferring said target plate with said sample in an apparatus for performing MALDI for identification of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms. A sample of a colony of microorganisms is automatically deposited on a depositing spot such that the sample covers at most approximately half of said one of the depositing spots of the target plate. A suspension of a sample of microorganisms is automatically prepared by automatically picking the sample with a picking tool and submerging the picking tool with said sample in a suspension, after which the picking tool is vibrated in vertical sense only to release the sample from the picking tool.

A microcavity dish (10) for cultivating cells includes a dish body including a sidewall (16) that encloses a cell culture chamber within the dish body. The dish body has a top and a bottom (12). The bottom includes a cell culturing substrate comprising an array of microcavities (46). The sidewall includes a transition portion (30) that divides the sidewall into an upper portion and a lower portion that is offset inward relative to the upper portion defining a liquid medium delivery surface (26) that extends at least partially along an interior surface (28) of the sidewall and slopes toward the bottom.

The present invention relates to a tissue cell culture device which includes a tissue cell culture body. The porous material used as the tissue cell culture body is a porous metallic material which is formed by pore cavities classified by a pore size of the material and cavity walls surrounding to form the classified pore cavities. The cavity wall surrounding to form an upper level of large pore cavity is provided with a lower level of small pore cavity. The pore cavities in the same level are in communication with each other. The pore cavities in different levels are also in communication with each other. This device is particularly beneficial for cell cultivation and allows tissue cells to grow freely and normally in a three-dimensional space.

The present invention relates to a Petri dish comprising a dish body which comprises a bottom wall and a side wall which extends along an outer circumference of the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the side wall of the dish body form an upper opening space adapted to accommodate cultures; a dish lid adapted to cover the upper opening space from above the dish body, the dish lid comprises a top wall and a side wall which extends along an outer circumference of the top wall, wherein the dish body and the dish lid are two independent members that are detachable, and the side wall of the dish body is formed on the outer side thereof with a ring for gripping that extends circumferentially, and the ring for gripping having an outer diameter larger than that of the dish lid. The Petri dish according to the present invention has a simple structure. Through the ring for gripping on the dish body, the user can easily hold the dish body without accidentally dislodging the dish lid or sliding it off the dish body.

The invention provides a device for growing cellsreferred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.

A transparent specimen slide on which the range and the magnitude of the near-surface electrostatic forces can be influenced and set during a process of producing the specimen slide. The specimen slide has a surface on the supporting side and a surface facing away from the supporting side and at least three layers: an electrically insulating first layer, a silicon-containing second layer arranged on the first layer, and an electrically insulating third layer arranged on the second layer. An interface is formed between the first and second layers and between the second and third layers with a first surface charge density. The interface between the second and third layers has a second surface charge density. The first and second surface charge densities have the same or different signs.

A microchip includes a first chamber and second chamber formed to a predetermined depth in a member made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); and a channel (microchannel) connecting the first chamber to the second chamber. These components mimic in vivo organs which produce by selecting capacitated motile sperm from semen and causing the selected sperm to meet mature oocyte, and these components are capable of effectively producing motile capacitated good-quality sperms from sperms ejaculated outside the body.

When detachment of a cell sheet from a culture dish has started at an unintended timing, immediately detach the cell sheet from the culture dish while preventing generation of wrinkles and the like in the cell sheet. A cell culture device captures an image of cells in the culture dish, and controls a cooling mechanism and a shaking mechanism based on the image so as to shake the cells while cooling them.

A cell culture article comprises virgin polystyrene disposed over at least a portion of a surface of an article main body. The article main body may be formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) such as reground or recycled polyethylene terephthalate. Methods of making such a cell culture article include applying a composition to a surface of an article main body, where the composition comprises virgin polystyrene having a thickness of 1 to 500 microns and the article main body is formed from glass, ceramic, metal or polymer.