This cell production device comprises: a cell production plate that includes a fluid circuit in which a plurality of functional sites are integrated; and a closed type connector that connects the fluid circuit to an external space in a closed manner, wherein the fluid circuit comprises, as the plurality of functional sites, an injection and discharge unit that injects or discharges a fluid into or out of the fluid circuit via the closed type connector, a variable volume unit that stores a fluid that is extruded or withdrawn by the injected or discharged fluid, and a cell induction and culture unit that performs at least one of induction and culture of cells based on the injected fluid.

An apparatus, that relates to the field of in vitro fertilization, is provided for the combined incubation and vitrification of a biological material. The apparatus can be configured to allow for automatic incubation and vitrification of a viable biological material. Thereby predetermined protocols for handling the biological material can be performed precisely and accurately thus avoiding errors and deviations from the intended protocol, as caused by manual human intervention.

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 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 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.

The invention relates to a method for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising the steps of providing a liquid sample (S) in a barrel (10) of a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, passing the liquid sample (S) through a first filtering membrane (40) such that microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) are retained at a first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40), contacting said first side (41) with a first growth medium (210) capable of supporting growth of microorganisms, incubating the first filtering membrane (40) and the first growth medium (210) at an incubation temperature, arranging a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) in fluid connection with a second side (42) of the first filtering membrane (40), detecting a metabolic gas released by the microorganisms by means of the gas sensor (50). The invention further relates to a device (1) for culturing and detecting microorganisms, comprising a barrel (10) enclosing a barrel compartment (13) for receiving a liquid sample (S), a first piston (20) which (20) is movable in said barrel (10), wherein said barrel compartment (13) is configured to be brought in fluid communication via a first filtering membrane (40) with a sensing surface (51) of a gas sensor (50) configured to detect a metabolic gas released by microorganisms, wherein the first filtering membrane (40) is configured to retain microorganisms contained in the liquid sample (S) at the first side (41) of the first filtering membrane (40). Furthermore, a sensor cartridge (4) and a kit of parts comprising the device (1) are provided.

A device and a method for clinically providing a preparation of autologous phages, namely, those that can verifiably be traced back to originating from a very specific person and preferably are also only intended for use in this one specific person includes a phage culturing device which is a fluid line system that is sealed off with respect to the outside environment The phages in the fluid line system obtained after at least one-time culturing are separated from bacteria by way of filtration, and preferably by way of tangential flow filtration. The phages separated by way of filtration are transferred into a collection vessel that is connected to the fluid line system and are preferably removed from the fluid line system, using the collection vessel, as a usable, preferably autologous preparation.

The present invention provides cell assay systems and its use in cell based assays.

A method for producing a cell-containing extracellular matrix is provided, the method including preparing an extracellular matrix solution which contains (i) an extracellular matrix precursor and (ii) cells or a cell mass inside a pipette having a tip opening portion; discharging the extracellular matrix solution to form a drop of the extracellular matrix solution at the tip opening portion of the pipette; bringing the tip opening portion of the pipette close to a culture surface of a cell culture container to place the drop on the culture surface while avoiding bringing the tip opening portion of the pipette into contact with the culture surface; moving the tip opening portion of the pipette away from the culture surface to separate the drop from the tip opening portion of the pipette; and gelating the extracellular matrix solution to form a cell-containing extracellular matrix.

An apparatus for washing an array plate includes one or more dispensers and one or more aspirators that are distinct from the one or more dispensers. A respective dispenser of the one or more dispensers is configured to dispense a first liquid on the array plate, and a respective aspirator of the one or more aspirators is configured to aspirate liquid on the array plate. A method for washing particles is also disclosed.