808results about "Biochemistry apparatus" patented technology

A mixing bag usable in chemical and bioprocessing procedures that is hermetically sealed about a tube that is closed within the bag but extends out through a seal and adapted to receive a rotatable rigid rod of a predetermined shape for mixing the materials in the bag.

A mixing bag usable in chemical and bioprocessing procedures that is hermetically sealed about a tube that is closed within the bag but extends out through a seal and adapted to receive a rotatable rigid rod of a predetermined shape for mixing the materials in the bag.

The present invention is directed to a microwell array chip made of silicon and having multiple microwells. Each microwell is used to store a single specimen organic cell. Each microwell is of a size and shape holding just one organic cell, and the interior surface of the microwells are coated with a fluorocarbon film.

In a vessel, such as a flexible bag, a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device and supported by a bearing, such as a roller bearing.

A disposable mixing vessel comprising a flexible container, a centrally disposed shaft having first and second ends with one or more impellers thereon and a magnetic element associated with a first shaft end, a first flange adapted to rotatably engage the first shaft end and a second flange adapted to rotatably engage the second shaft end.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optical cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light, an optics system including an optical reader and a thermal controller; an optical analyzer; a cooling system; and an improved spectrometer. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optical cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer.

Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated sensors are provided. The sensor comprises a disposable fluid conduit or reactor bag and a reusable sensor assembly. An optical bench or inset optical component is integrated within the disposable fluid conduit or bioreactor bag, which provides an optical light path through the conduit or bag. These sensors are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the disposable fluid conduit or bag and on the reusable sensor assembly. Methods for calibrating the sensor and for determining a target property of an unknown fluid are also disclosed. The devices, systems and methods relating to the sensor are suitable for and can be outfitted for turbidity sensing.

Ex vivo and in vivo methods of expansion of renewable stem cells, expanded populations of renewable stem cells and their uses.

The present invention provides a system and method for measuring physical, chemical and biological properties of a manufacturing system comprising embedding a plurality of RFID sensors in a plurality of corresponding single use components wherein each of the plurality of RFID sensors is configured to provide multi-parameter measurements for at least one single use component from the plurality of single use components, and each of the plurality of RFID sensors is further configured to provide simultaneous digital identification for the single use component and for its respective RFID sensor and further comprises reading the multi-parameter measurements and the digital identification for the plurality of single use components using at least one RFID writer / reader, processing the measurements using a processor, and controlling subsequent process steps by comparing the measurements of at least one parameter to a predetermined value.

The present invention provides a novel method for culturing cells as well as a novel method for producing a recombinant protein by culturing cells at large scale (up to 1,500 L nominal volume and 750 L working volume), whereby an inflated bag provides a sterile, disposable cultivation chamber. The inflated bag is partially filled with liquid cultivation media and cells, and placed into a containment vessel. The containment vessel is positioned onto an orbitally shaken platform. The orbital shaking moves the containment vessel and thus the bag and induces thereby motion to the liquid contained therein (“shake mixing”). This motion (caused by orbital shaking) induces a dynamic force field that ensures cell suspension, bulk mixing, and oxygen transfer from the liquid surface to the respiring cells without damaging shear or foam generation.

Microfluidic devices are provided for trapping, isolating, and processing single cells. The microfluidic devices include a cell capture chamber having a cell funnel positioned within the cell capture chamber to direct a cell passing through the cell capture chamber towards one or more a cell traps positioned downstream of the funnel to receive a cell flowing. The devices may further include auxiliary chambers integrated with the cell capture chamber for subsequent processing and assaying of the contents of a captured cell. Methods for cell capture and preparation are also provided that include flowing cells through a chamber, funneling the cells towards a cell trap, capturing a predefined number of the cells within the trap, interrupting the flow of cells, flowing a wash solution through the chamber to remove contaminants from the chamber, and sealing the predefined number of cells in the chamber.

A method of mixing including providing a flexible container which comprises at least two components, assembling the components from outside the flexible container to form a centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with at least one impeller, whereby the integrity of the flexible container is maintained, filling the flexible container having the centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with one or more ingredients of the contents to be mixed; engaging a magnetic element of the centrally disposed magnetic driven shaft with an external magnetic drive element; analyzing the contents of the flexible container using at least one sensor or a sampling line on the flexible container; and draining the contents of the flexible container through a drain port at the bottom of the flexible container.

A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.

An exhaust system suitable for high volume exhaust from flexible disposable bags is described that prevents nutrient media volume loss and prevents cross-contamination without using any filters. The invention described here allows the use of disposable two-dimensional bioreactors for the cultivation of bacterial and other organisms and cells require high aeration.

A single-use biobag provided with at least two none invasive florescent-optical sensors. The sterile sensors inside the biobag secured by an adhesive backing or secured by a CLASS VI fitting assures the sterile environment of the fluids in the bags. The sensors detectors are located outside the bag and secured in a position to align the sensors with the detectors. Either Velcro on the detector and outside of the bag has been used for sensor / detector alignment or the detector is mounted on the containment vessel and biobag straps are used to assure position of the bag for sensor / detector alignment. The process variables to be measured by the fluorescent optical disposable sensors are: DO, pH, CO2 and temperature. The biobag film is CLASS VI material and should be optically clear and free of interfering florescent compounds.

A system including an apparatus is presented for treatment of biomass that allows successful biomass treatment at a high solids dry weight of biomass in the biomass mixture. The design of the system provides extensive distribution of a reactant by spreading the reactant over the biomass as the reactant is introduced through an injection lance, while the biomass is rotated using baffles. The apparatus system to provide extensive assimilation of the reactant into biomass using baffles to lift and drop the biomass, as well as attrition media which fall onto the biomass, to enhance the treatment process.

A flexible pouch has a mixing apparatus, the mixer shaft of which is adjustable in length for use as a bioreactor for culturing microorganisms and cells.

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a disposable and flexible mixing tank having a sealed sleeve therein for arrangement of a mixing device. The volume of the mixing tank is defined by an inner wall of the mixing tank and an inner wall of the sleeve. The mixing tank may be used to mix, store, reconstitute and / or dispense materials therein.

Disclosed is a spotter device and methods for the formation of microassays, biochips, biosensors, and cell cultures. The spotter may be used to deposit highly concentrated spots of protein or other materials on a microarray a slide, wafer, or other substrate. The spotter uses microfluidic conduits and orifices to deposit proteins, other biomolecules, or chemicals on a spot on a substrate. Each orifice is part of a fluid pathways that includes an inlet and outlet conduit. When the spotter contacts a substrate a seal is formed between the orifices and the substrate.

A well plate of non-unitary construction. The well plate is constructed from a first part of interconnected tubes that define the side walls of each well and a second part defining the well bases. The hydrophobicity of the first part is selected to suppress meniscus formation in the wells, thereby assisting optical characterization of samples in the wells, in particular by phase contrast microscopy. This can be achieved by using a natural cycloolefin copolymer (COP) which is not subjected to the usual plasma treatment to improve its wetting. The second part is formed of a single transparent sheet of hydrophilic material, such as a COP, which is bonded to the first part, for example ultrasonically.

In one aspect of the invention, an integrated bio-object microfluidics chip includes a fluidic network having a plurality of inlets for providing a plurality of fluids, a plurality of outlets, a bio-object chamber for accommodating at least one bio-object, a plurality of fluidic switches, and one or more pumps, coupled to each other such that at least one fluidic switch operably and selectively receives one fluid from a corresponding inlet and routes the received fluid, through the one or more pumps, to the bio-object chamber so as to perfuse the at least one bio-object therein, and one of the downstream fluidic switches selectively delivers an effluent of the at least one bio-object responsive to the perfusion to a predetermined outlet destination, or to the at least one fluidic switch for recirculation.

The enumeration of cells in fluids by flow cytometry is widely used across many disciplines such as assessment of leukocyte subsets in different bodily fluids or of bacterial contamination in environmental samples, food products and bodily fluids. For many applications the cost, size and complexity of the instruments prevents wider use, for example, CD4 analysis in HIV monitoring in resource-poor countries. The novel device, methods and algorithms disclosed herein largely overcome these limitations. Briefly, all cells in a biological sample are fluorescently labeled, but only the target cells are also magnetically labeled. In addition, non-magnetically labeled cells are imaged for viability in a modified slide configuration. The labeled sample, in a chamber or cuvet, is placed between two wedge-shaped magnets to selectively move the magnetically labeled cells to the observation surface of the cuvet. An LED illuminates the cells and a CCD camera captures the images of the fluorescent light emitted by the target cells. Image analysis performed with a novel algorithm provides a count of the cells on the surface that can be related to the target cell concentration of the original sample. The compact cytometer system provides a rugged, affordable and easy-to-use technique, which can be used in remote locations.

Described herein are substrates, sensors and systems related to measuring the concentration of an analyte such as hydrogen ion in a sample. Redox active moieties whose reduction and / or oxidation potentials are sensitive to the presence of an analyte are immobilized onto a silicon surface. Immobilized redox active moieties whose reduction and / or oxidation potential are insensitive to the analyte can be used for reference. Voltammetric measurements made using such modified silicon surfaces can accurately determine the presence and / or concentrations of analytes in a sample of interest. The silicon electrochemical sensors of the invention are robust and can be made so as not to require calibration or re-calibration.

The present invention provides a cell culture data and cell image capturing and remote monitoring system that includes an imaging sensor pod having one or more cameras to capture multiple color still and / or motion images of cell cultures and cells located on a support and / or in a liquid located in a culture vessel within an incubator. The images can be taken at varying magnifications, and from different discrete locations on the support or in the vessel round the clock. The captured data and images are wirelessly transmitted to a management control unit, and / or another wirelessly connected and remotely located data transmission device such as PDA, for a researcher to review and analyze to determine the health and viability of cells, and the status of the cell culture. The image capturing and remote monitoring system taught herein alleviates the need for a researcher to be in the physical presence of a biological sample in order to visually ascertain and analyze the health and viability of the sample and status of the cell culture.