A bioreactor for the cultivation of cells, comprising at least one vessel which is designed to accommodate cells to be cultivated and at least one culture medium in a vessel interior enclosed at least partially by walls of the vessel in relation to an environment, and comprising a movement device which can be connected to a drive unit and at least partially moves the cells to he cultivated or applies a force to same. An elastic element is arranged in the vessel interior, which is configured such that at least one part of the culture medium can he received at least in a region of the elastic element and the cells to he cultivated at least intermittently adhere in and/or on at least sections of the elastic element, and the movement device is designed to at least intermittently deform the elastic element.

A flexible lid may include a body including an upper portion connected approximately perpendicular to a cylindrical sidewall, the body defining a recess and inner wall constructed and arranged to facilitate the attachment of the flexible lid to a container. The flexible lid may include a plurality of ribs integrally formed with the cylindrical sidewall constructed and arranged to facilitate the elastic attachment of the approximately cylindrical sidewall to a container. A floating ball valve may be disposed within the upper portion being constructed and arranged to function as a one-way valve such that escape gases and fluids may escape the container while also preventing environmental fluids and contaminants from passing through the flexible lid into a container.

The invention discloses a first connection unit having a plurality of sensor surfaces and which is adapted to be asepetically connected to a second connection unit mounted e.g. on a flexible bioreactor bag.

The present approach relates to the design and use of a functionally closed bioreactor designed to immobilize, culture, and mature tissue on a loading platform. The bioreactor may be equipped with sensors for tissue monitoring which in conjunction with stiffness data can provide closed-loop control of tissue maturation. Based on a relationship between cartilage stiffness and tissue maturity, measurements of stiffness can be acquired and used as a surrogate for cartilage maturity without the need for destructive tests.

A single-use bioreactor is provided. The single-use bioreactor may include a bioprocess container, a shell, at least one agitator, at least one sparger, at least one gas filter inlet port for the sparger(s) and headspace overlay, at least one fill port, at least one harvest port, at least one sample port, and at least one probe. In examples, at least one controller may monitor and control one or more parameters associated with the single-use bioreactor A method to cultivate and propagate mammalian cells is also provided. The method may include cultivating under suitable conditions and in a suitable culture medium in a first single-use bioreactor, transferring the medium containing the cells obtained by propagation from the at least one mammalian cell is into a second single-use bioreactor, transferring the medium containing the cells obtained by propagation from the at least one mammalian cell is into a third single-use bioreactor, and cultivating the cells in the third bioreactor.

An apparatus for draining a bioreactor vessel includes a tubular body portion having an interior passageway, and at least one aperture in the tubular body portion providing for fluid communication with the interior passageway, the tubular body portion being configured for positioning at a bottom of a vessel, and a suction tube having a first end configured for fluid coupling with the tubular body portion, and a second end configured for fluid coupling with a port in a sidewall of the vessel.

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.

Cell culture apparatus is disclosed comprising: a cell culture container comprising a flexible tube; a support table; and a pair of opposed holders for holding opposed portions of the tube in a fluid tight manner such that fluid cannot pass through the respective portion inside the tube, the spacing between the said pair being adjustable to provide an adjustable sealed volume in the tube between the holder pair.

An expandable array and methods of maintaining a biological sample within an expandable array are provided. The expandable array includes a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a biological sample and a plurality of beams comprising a programmable material. Each beam of the plurality of beams is located between and connects at least two receptacles. The programmable material can be a shape-memory polymer or a magnetoactive material that transitions the plurality of beams from an extended state to a contracted state upon application of a stimulus.

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.