A method for separating motile organisms from other organisms. The method comprises controlling a fluid delivery unit to provide a fluid flow to a sample separating device (302). The fluid flow has a sample introduction flow velocity set so that a sample may be introduced into a sample introduction zone of the device. The sample introduction flow velocity is sufficiently high such that an organism in the sample is unable to exit the sample introduction zone. The method comprises controlling the fluid delivery unit to reduce the fluid flow velocity from the sample introduction flow velocity to an operational flow velocity lower than the sample introduction flow velocity (303). The operational flow velocity is selected such that motile organisms in the sample are able to swim against the fluid flow and enter a sample collection zone of the device.

A device for homogenizing a multicomponent fluid including a main channel, a first and a second buffer channels, a collector connected to the main channel with a main conduct, to the first buffer channel with a first fiber and to the second buffer channel with a second fiber. The collector further includes a flow separation point aimed at dividing the main conduct into the first and second fibers, a pumping unit configured to move the multicomponent fluid from the main channel to the first or the second buffer channels through the collector and move the multicomponent fluid from the first or the second buffer channels to the main channel through the collector.

A somatic cell production system comprising a preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 through which a preintroduction cell-containing solution passes, a factor introducing device 30 that is connected to the preintroduction cell solution-feeding channel 20 and introduces a somatic cell inducing factor into preintroduction cells to prepare inducing factor-introduced cells, and a cell preparation device 40 in which the inducing factor-introduced cells are cultured to prepare somatic cells.

A flow path cassette includes superimposed first and second flexible sheets, where a plurality of flow paths are disposed therebetween and detection channel portions are disposed at one or more points along one or more of the plurality the flow paths. Each of the detection channel portions includes a first bulging portion and an opposing second bulging portion. A plate member is aligned with the second bulging portion, and a deformation preventative member is aligned with the first bulging portion. The plate member may move with the second bulging portion, while the deformation preventative member prevents deformation of the first bulging portion.

Ultrasonic devices comprise a housing comprising an ultrasonic surface, an ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic horn to provide and focus energy from the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic surface. Methods of removing trapped air bubbles from a cell culture container comprise positioning a cell culture container comprising air bubbles trapped in liquid within microcavity wells of the cell culture container at an ultrasonic surface of an ultrasonic device. Mechanical agitation is generated by the ultrasonic device and applied to the cell culture container to remove the trapped air bubbles from the microcavity wells. Methods of releasing cell aggregates from a cell culture container comprising positioning a cell culture container comprising cell aggregates in microcavity wells at an ultrasonic surface of an ultrasonic device. The cell aggregates are released from the microcavity wells by applying mechanical agitation from the ultrasonic device to a surface of the cell culture container.

The present invention relates to a method of changing culture medium of a suspension culture, the suspension culture comprising cells suspended in the culture medium, the method comprising: (i) transferring a fraction of the suspension culture into a container, wherein the container comprises at least one opening at the bottom; (ii) allowing the cells comprised in the fraction of the suspension to settle at the at least one opening at the bottom of the container by gravitation, thereby forming a supernatant; (iii) dispensing the cells settled at the bottom of the container (back) into the suspension culture; (iv) discarding the supernatant.

A method of improving volumetric productivity from a cell culture includes filtering a cell culture through an ultrafilter or a microfilter operating in tangential flow filtration mode or alternating flow filtration mode, and filtering the cell culture concurrently or intermittently through a tangential flow depth filtration system to remove cellular debris and/or to harvest cell product. A system for filtering biological materials includes a primary filtration system, and a secondary filtration system, where the secondary filtration system comprises a tangential flow depth filtration filter.

Structures and methods for tissue engineering include a multicellular body including a plurality of living cells. A plurality of multicellular bodies can be arranged in a pattern and allowed to fuse to form an engineered tissue. The arrangement can include filler bodies including a biocompatible material that resists migration and ingrowth of cells from the multicellular bodies and that is resistant to adherence of cells to it. Three-dimensional constructs can be assembled by printing or otherwise stacking the multicellular bodies and filler bodies such that there is direct contact between adjoining multicellular bodies, suitably along a contact area that has a substantial length. The direct contact between the multicellular bodies promotes efficient and reliable fusion. The increased contact area between adjoining multicellular bodies also promotes efficient and reliable fusion. Methods of producing multicellular bodies having characteristics that facilitate assembly of the three-dimensional constructs are also provided.

A process and system for efficiently producing reference data that can be fed into a predictive model for predicting quality attribute concentrations in cell culture processes. A perfusion bioreactor is operated at pseudo-steady-state conditions and one or more attribute influencing parameters are manipulated and changed over time. As the one or more attribute influencing parameters are manipulated, one or more quality attributes are monitored and measured. In one embodiment, multiple quality attributes are monitored and measured in parallel. The quality attribute information is recorded in conjunction with the changes in the attribute influencing parameters. This information is then fed to the predictive model for propagating cell cultures in commercial processes and maintaining the cell cultures within desired preset limits.

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus for positioning and securing an excised biological tissue specimen for imaging and analysis. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a sample bag defining an inner volume configured to receive a biological tissue sample, and a sealing member coupled to the sample bag. An imaging window is disposed and configured to be placed in contact with at least a portion of the biological tissue sample, and a positioning member is coupled to the imaging window and is configured to be disposed against the sealing member to substantially seal the inner volume. The positioning member includes a vacuum port disposed and configured to be aligned with a vacuum source to withdraw air from the inner volume of the sample bag.