The present invention concerns a single use aseptic kit comprising: a disaggregation module for receipt and processing of material comprising solid mammalian tissue; and a stabilisation module for storing disaggregated product material, wherein each of said modules comprises one or more flexible containers connected by one or more conduits adapted to enable flow of the tissue material there between; and wherein each of said modules comprises one or more ports to permit aseptic input of media and/or reagents into the one or more flexible containers. The invention further relates to an automated device for semi-automated aseptic disaggregation and/or enrichment and/or stabilisation of cells or cell aggregates from mammalian solid tissue comprising a programmable processor and the single use aseptic kit. The invention further relates to a semi-automatic aseptic tissue processing method.

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a cell suspension with a low concentration of cryoprotectant. This method of preserving cells used comprises the steps of (a) enriching cells from a cell suspension containing the cells and a cryoprotective solution to generate an enriched fraction, and (b) freezing the enriched fraction to prepare a frozen material. It is also possible to use a method of producing a cell suspension, comprising the steps of (a) enriching cells from a cell suspension containing the cells and a cryoprotective solution to generate an enriched fraction, (b) freezing the enriched fraction to prepare a frozen material, (c) thawing the frozen material to prepare a thawed material, and (d) mixing the thawed material and a solution to produce a cell suspension.

A specimen holding and positioning apparatus operable to substantially non-movably maintain a specimen (e.g., an excised tissue specimen) in a fixed or stable orientation with respect to the apparatus during imaging operations (e.g., x-ray imaging), transport (e.g., from a surgery room to a pathologist's laboratory), and the like for use in facilitating accurate detection and diagnosis of cancers and/or other abnormalities of the specimen.

Vial assemblies comprise a tubular body and a cap, the cap including a first portion configured to abut a lip of an open end of the tubular body, a threaded portion configured to couple to threading on an internal surface of the tubular body, and a second portion protruding from the threaded portion and extending into a cavity of the tubular body. Methods for storing and removing frozen samples from such vial assemblies are also described.

A stem cell manufacturing system for manufacturing stem cells from somatic cells includes: one or more closed production device(s) configured to produce stem cells from somatic cells; one or more drive device(s) configured to be connected with the production device(s) and drive the production device(s) in such a manner as to maintain the production device(s) in an environment suitable for producing stem cells; one or more cryopreservation device(s) configured to cryopreserve the produced stem cells; a first memory device configured to store whether or not somatic cells have been introduced to the production device(s), as a first state; a second memory device configured to store whether or not the production device(s) is/are connected with the drive device(s), as a second state; and a third memory device configured to store whether or not the produced stem cells can be placed in the cryopreservation device(s), as a third state.

Devices for the propagation or storage of microorganisms are provided including a first layer that has a first portion of a surface of the first layer, to which a first water-swellable gelling agent comprising a first clay is affixed. The devices further include a second layer that is separable from the first layer and has a first portion of a surface of the second layer, to which a second water-swellable gelling agent is affixed. Methods for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample are provided. The methods include providing a device, separating the first layer from the second layer, adding an aliquot of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first or second water-swellable gelling agent to form an inoculated device, laminating the first layer back to the second layer, and incubating the inoculated device. Kits and methods of making the devices are also provided.

The present invention concerns a single use aseptic kit comprising: a disaggregation module for receipt and processing of material comprising solid mammalian tissue; and a stabilisation module for storing disaggregated product material, wherein each of said modules comprises one or more flexible containers connected by one or more conduits adapted to enable flow of the tissue material there between; and wherein each of said modules comprises one or more ports to permit aseptic input of media and/or reagents into the one or more flexible containers. The invention further relates to an automated device for semi-automated aseptic disaggregation and/or enrichment and/or stabilisation of cells or cell aggregates from mammalian solid tissue comprising a programmable processor and the single use aseptic kit. The invention further relates to a semi-automatic aseptic tissue processing method.

The invention relates to a temperature-control element (4) for a multiwell plate (1), which comprises a plurality of cavities (2) arranged in rows and columns for freezing and/or thawing biological samples. The temperature-control element (4) comprises a base body (6) which is made of a thermally conductive material and is flown through by a temperature-control fluid; and a plurality of protruding temperature-control fingers (5) arranged in rows and columns on an upper side of the base body (6), which are connected in a thermally conductive manner to the base body (6), wherein a grid spacing of the temperature control fingers (5) corresponds to a grid spacing of the cavities (2) of the multiwell plate (1). The invention further relates to a device and method for freezing biological samples, in particular for cryopreservation, and/or thawing biological samples, in particular a cryopreserved sample.

The present invention relates to a hybrid aseptic connection system and aseptic connection method for manufacturing an antibody pharmaceutical. In a hybrid system employing a medium storage tank made of a SS material and a bioreactor made of an SU disposable tube, to ensure a completely aseptic connection between the medium storage tank and the bioreactor, the completely aseptic connection between the medium storage tank and the bioreactor may be made by interconnection of the SU disposable tube through a welding process and the advantages of both the SS system and the SU system may be obtained at the same time. As a discharge line, an SU disposable tube and a steam trap tube are formed in a “Y” shape, the flowability in a medium transfer line may be improved and thus it is possible to prevent impurities such as a condensate from remaining in the medium transfer line.

A stem cell manufacturing system for manufacturing stem cells from somatic cells includes: one or more closed production device(s) configured to produce stem cells from somatic cells; one or more drive device(s) configured to be connected with the production device(s) and drive the production device(s) in such a manner as to maintain the production device(s) in an environment suitable for producing stem cells; one or more cryopreservation device(s) configured to cryopreserve the produced stem cells; a first memory device configured to store whether or not somatic cells have been introduced to the production device(s), as a first state; a second memory device configured to store whether or not the production device(s) is/are connected with the drive device(s), as a second state; and a third memory device configured to store whether or not the produced stem cells can be placed in the cryopreservation device(s), as a third state.