An illuminated container for the growth of biological entities is provided. The container is illuminated by a flexible light diffusing fiber. The light diffusing fiber includes a core formed from a silica-based glass and a cladding in direct contact with the core. The light diffusing fiber also includes an outer polymer coating layer surrounding the cladding, the outer polymer coating layer being the cured product of a liquid polymer blend including a scattering material and a luminophore.

The present invention includes a composition comprising a tissue engineered axonal tract, as well as a method of making it. The invention also includes methods for treating nerve injury in a subject by contacting the site of nerve injury with a tissue engineered axonal tract, wherein the axons from the tissue engineered axonal tract fuse with axons from the subject.

Method for isolating microorganism from a sample likely contaminated by microorganism, including: (a) device for isolating microorganisms including a bottom waterproof layer, a nutritional layer, which is placed on the bottom layer and includes a dehydrated culture medium, an isolation layer which is pervious to elements included in the nutritional layer and is capable of retaining the bacteria on the surface and covering all or part of the nutritional layer, and a top protective layer; (b) depositing a volume of the sample on the isolation layer; (c) isolating the microorganisms by impoverishing or layering the sample using an isolating device; (d) incubating the device for an amount of time at a temperature to enable growth of microorganisms, method including at least one step of rehydrating the culture medium using a volume of liquid before or with step b) and/or c) and/or d), before or simultaneously with step b) and/or c).

The invention features devices and kits for capturing and culturing microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, or protists) and methods of using the devices and kits to detect microorganisms in environmental and other samples. The device includes a nutrient media having a flat growth area on which microorganisms can grow. Samples are collected by contacting the device with any environmental sample, e.g., rolling device on a work surface or exposing device to air, or by filtering a sample through a membrane. Microorganisms deposited on the membrane derive nutrients from the underlying media and grow into colonies that can then be detected using methods known in the art. The detected colonies can be imaged digitally or with film.

A cell culture system or assembly, flask, plate and dish for growing, viewing and evaluating cells; and methods of use.

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.

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.

An apparatus for conveying a plurality of articles includes a transport belt, a bumper stopper, and a rotator. A motor moves the transport belt which is adapted to rotate the rotator as the belt conveys the plurality of articles. The stopper can move between first and second positions relative to the transport belt wherein the bumper stopper guides one article toward the rotator when the bumper stopper is in the first position. The bumper stopper allows the article to be conveyed to another location when the bumper stopper is in the second position. The transport belt can continue to convey other articles while the one article is temporarily held in place by the bumper stopper. The rotator is configured to rotate the article conveyed by the transport belt. The article can remain in contact with the transport belt while the rotator is rotating the article.

A locating method and system of determining a microorganism concentration of a fluid in a Petri dish is disclosed. The Petri dish includes a culture medium on which a seeding device is rotatable relative to the Petri dish. The seeding device distributes the fluid and includes at least one point of contact with the culture medium. The point of contact is associated with a contact zone.

A separating system (1) comprises a housing (60) sized to receive a stack of articles having at least one first article (12) stacked on top of a second article (10). The system (1) also includes a lifter (20) movable into a contact position adjacent a surface (13) on the at least one first article (12). The lifter (20) is adapted to apply a lifting force to the surface (13) to lift at least a portion of the first article (12) above the contact position. An extractor (40) moves the second article (10) away from the stack of articles after the at least one first article (12) has been lifted above the contact position by the lifter (20). The housing (60) prevents the at least one first article (12) from moving with the second article (10) when the second article (10) is moved by the extractor (40) and guides the stack of articles downward after the second article (10) is moved away.