The disclosure relates to devices, solutions and methods for collecting and processing samples of bodily fluids containing cells (as well as embodiments for the collection, and processing and/or analysis of other fluids including toxic and/or hazardous substances/fluids). In addition, the disclosure relates generally to function genomic studies and to the isolation and preservation of cells from saliva and other bodily fluids (e.g., urine), for cellular analysis. With respect to devices for collection of bodily fluids, some embodiments include two mating bodies, a cap and a tube (for example), where, in some embodiments, the cap includes a closed interior space for holding a sample preservative solution and mates with the tube to constitute the (closed) sample collection device. Upon mating, the preservation solution flows into the closed interior space to preserve cells in the bodily fluid. The tube is configured to receive a donor sample of bodily fluid (e.g., saliva, urine), which can then be subjected to processing to extract a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells can be further processed to isolate one and/or another cell type therefrom. The plurality of cells, as well as the isolated cell type(s), can be analyzed for functional genomic and epigenetic studies, as well as biomarker discovery.

The present invention relates to a device for transport and preservation of an ex vivo biological sample and corresponding method. The device (1) comprises a chamber (2) for containing the biological sample (100), delimitated by walls (4) made of a thermal insulating material. The device, furthermore, incorporates cooling means (6) that keep the temperature inside the chamber (2) below the temperature outside the device (1). Finally, an ultrasound system suitable for generating and applying ultrasound on the biological sample (100) is provided. The invention also proposes a method for transport and preservation which combines applying cooling and ultrasound to reduce cell damage in the biological sample.

An apparatus includes a flexible container and a port. The container includes a first layer coupled to a second layer to define a storage volume within which a tissue specimen can be contained. The first layer has a first stiffness and the second layer has a second stiffness. An edge of the first layer is spaced apart from an edge of the second layer to define an opening into the storage volume. The edges of the first and second layer form a peelable seal that hermetically seals the storage volume such that the first layer can be peeled away from the second layer to expose the storage volume. The port is coupled to the flexible container and allows fluid communication between the storage volume and an external volume.

A bag holder for supporting a bioprocess bag during freezing includes a cover, a bottom, a frame, and at least one bag support. The cover, the bottom, and the frame form an enclosed space. The at least one bag support is disposed in the space. The cover and the bottom are made of metal. The frame has a first side, a second side, a front end, and a back end. Each of the cover and the bottom has a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab configured to bend over the front end from a longitudinal direction to a thickness direction, and a first arm and a second arm extending in the thickness direction and then in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first side and the second side includes at least one recessed portion extending in the longitudinal direction.

The invention is that of systems of methods for preserving vital assets such as human organs in transit. An exemplary system may include a central software application and processor for storing vital asset identifying information in a database and displaying real-time transit information in relation to the asset to authenticated users. Application programming interfaces are provided to allow authenticated users to monitor location and environmental data transmitted from the proximity of the asset to the central software application for processing and display on graphical user interfaces. An exemplary system enables methods of reallocating freight from a first to a second transportation asset to avoid delays and prolonged exposures to adverse environmental conditions. In certain embodiments, unmanned aerial systems may be deployed to intervene in the transit channel and overcome such delays or exposures. In preferred embodiments, historical data is collected and analyzed to help predict human organ transplant outcomes.

A remote system for monitoring and controlling one or more devices for use in the cryogenic processing of a sample is provided. A remote server capable of transmitting freezing profile data to one or more freezers, transmitting transportation profile data to one or more transportation devices, and transmitting thawing profile data to one or more thawing devices. The remote server is also capable of receiving detected data from the one or more freezers relating to the freezing of a sample in accordance with the freezing profile data, receiving detected data from the one or more transportation devices relating to the transportation of a sample in accordance with the transportation profile data, and receiving detected data from the one or more thawing machines relating to the thawing of a sample in accordance with the thawing profile data.

An organ container has a pouch-shaped body having contraction and expansion properties and an opening. In a no-load condition, a maximum width of the opening is less than a maximum width of the body. On the other hand, the opening is expandable to a state in which the maximum width of the opening becomes greater than the maximum width of the body. Thus, the organ container covers the surface of an organ along the surface of the organ. Accordingly, when an organ is placed in the body cavity of a recipient, the organ container does not expand around the organ. For this reason, the organ container is less likely to hinder work during operation. Moreover, the organ container covers most part of the organ and thereby suppresses a temperature rise in the organ.

Disclosed herein are ex-vivo cardiac perfusion systems that can support the metabolic function of an ex-vivo heart and also have the capacity to test the functions of the heart. For example, an ex-vivo heart can be placed within and connected to a cardiac perfusion system, as disclosed herein, resuscitated and supported medically, and also tested to determine cardiac recovery. Further, these systems can also be used for research purposes to study the pressure, work, and mechanical function of many types of hearts (e.g., failed hearts that are explanted at the time of heart transplant). Some embodiments include a detachable sub-system that includes a heart chamber and components for operating in a Langendorff mode while transporting an ex-vivo heart, and the sub-system can be coupled to a differential perfusion system to form a larger, full service system for supporting, recovering, testing the heart.

The disclosure provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions. The present application describes, for example, a method for using lactate measurement in the arterial and the venous blood lines of the Organ Care System Heart perfusion device to evaluate, for example, the: 1) overall perfusion status of an isolated heart; 2) metabolic status of an isolated heart; and 3) overall vascular patency of an isolated donor heart. This aspect of the present disclosure may use, for example, the property of myocardial cell’s unique ability to produce/generate lactate when they are starved for oxygen and metabolize/utilize lactate for energy production when they are well perfused with oxygen.

A shock absorbing container to protect cryogenically frozen biological material includes an outer case, which includes a first outer panel and a second outer panel, the first outer panel and the second outer panel movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, the first outer panel and the second outer panel defining a storage space in the closed position, the first outer panel having a first side facing the storage space, the second outer panel having a first side facing the storage space, wherein moving the first outer panel and the second outer panel into the open position creates or enlarges an opening to access the storage space. A first foam panel is on the first side of the first outer panel, and a second foam panel on the first side of the second outer panel.