68results about How to "Minimize risk of contamination" patented technology

A system for the extraction, collection, processing and transplantation of cell subsets, including adult stem cells and platelets, in particular for tissue repair in regenerative medicine, comprises a set of disposable fluid-transport elements that are pre-connected or that include aseptic connectors for making interconnections between them in an aseptic manner or are adapted to be aseptically connected. The set usually includes three kits of disposable sterile elements, a collection kit, a processing kit, and a transplantation kit packaged in a blister pack on a support such as a tray, having one compartment for receiving each inter-connectable kit of the set. The set includes an extracting device, for example including a needle for bone puncture or vein puncture, for extracting bone marrow or other sources of cell subsets from a patient.

Flexible metamaterials and three-dimensional metamaterials operable in the terahertz range are disclosed. Methods are disclosed for fabricating terahertz response metamaterials using microfluidic-jetted techniques. Layers of material including substrate and deposited material are stacked to form three dimensional bulk metamaterials. The fabricated metamaterials act as left-handed metamaterials in the range 0.1 to 3.0 THz.

The invention provides systems, modules, bioreactor and methods for the automated culture, proliferation, differentiation, production and maintenance of tissue engineered products. In one aspect is an automated tissue engineering system comprising a housing, at least one bioreactor supported by the housing, the bioreactor facilitating physiological cellular functions and / or the generation of one or more tissue constructs from cell and / or tissue sources. A fluid containment system is supported by the housing and is in fluid communication with the bioreactor. One or more sensors are associated with one or more of the housing, bioreactor or fluid containment system for monitoring parameters related to the physiological cellular functions and / or generation of tissue constructs; and a microprocessor linked to one or more of the sensors. The systems, methods and products of the invention find use in various clinical and laboratory settings.

A disclosure is made of various apparatus and methods for culturing and preserving cells and tissue in ways that minimize contamination potential, direct cells to reside in desired areas, allow uniform cell distribution during seeding, provide optimal growth conditions by controlling the amount of medium residing in proximity of cells, allow desired compounds and molecules to reside in proximity of the cells, allow co-culture, provide for efficient scale up, allow a desired shape of tissue to be created while retaining a closed system, and allow cryopreservation and reconstitution of cell and tissue while retaining a closed system. The apparatus and methods can be combined to prevent the need to remove the tissue from the enclosure at any point during the sterilization, seeding, culturing, cryopreservation, shipping, or restoration process. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method of pipette interface with a container in a manner that blocks contaminants from entering the container.

The invention provides systems, modules, bioreactor and methods for the automated culture, proliferation, differentiation, production and maintenance of tissue engineered products. In one aspect is an automated tissue engineering system comprising a housing, at least one bioreactor supported by the housing, the bioreactor facilitating physiological cellular functions and / or the generation of one or more tissue constructs from cell and / or tissue sources. A fluid containment system is supported by the housing and is in fluid communication with the bioreactor. One or more sensors are associated with one or more of the housing, bioreactor or fluid containment system for monitoring parameters related to the physiological cellular functions and / or generation of tissue constructs; and a microprocessor linked to one or more of the sensors. The systems, methods and products of the invention find use in various clinical and laboratory settings.

A reaction vessel includes a receiving portion and a capillary portion. The capillary portion has a first end having an opening in fluid connection with the receiving portion, and a second end closed by a plug portion formed as an integral one-piece member with the capillary portion. The capillary portion is optionally detachable from the receiving portion of the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel simplifies many processes involving small volume chemical reactions, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) determinations.

An improved centrifuge system having a single means for both feeding and collecting liquid streams aseptically from rotating components is provided. Also methods and apparatus for centrifugal separation of cells from cell culture media of large cell culture batches by processing a large volume within a few hours, using pre-sterilized, single-use fluid path components. The apparatus uses a sealing approach that improves reliability while avoiding air contamination as well as shedding from mechanical seals. The risk of process liquid leaks is minimized.

A device for cell culture capable of automatically performing operations for cell culture over several days to several months while minimizing the risk of contamination. A new medicine can be supplied to an incubator means by using a medicine supply means or unnecessary wastewater can be discharged from the incubator means by using a wastewater discharge means without taking out the incubator means disposed in heat insulation box means from a heat insulation box, and the state of the cell culture can be observed with the incubator means formed in the heat insulation box means. Accordingly, the outside air does not enter directly into the incubator means during culturing, and the risk of contamination is completely eliminated. As a result, the culturing operations can be automatically performed over a long period.

A system for generating an image of ultrastructural biomarkers from a biological sample is provided. The system includes a grid onto which a sample to be imaged may be placed and a cryogenic reservoir into which the grid and sample may be immersed for vitrification of the sample. The system also includes a stage onto which the grid and sample may be situated for subsequent imaging in a high contrast imager to permit identification of ultrastructural biomarkers therein. A method for generating an image of ultrastructural biomarkers from a biological sample is also provided. The generated image of ultrastructural biomarkers may be used subsequently for screening and monitoring diseases, evaluating drug and therapeutic efficacy, and assessing risks associated with a drug or therapeutic candidate, among other things.

This invention is an automatic sprout vending machine which provides racks for seeds to rest upon for automatically sprouting or germinating such seeds. In one embodiment, the automatic sprout vending machine comprises a housing having, preferably, an upper compartment, a lower compartment and a middle section. The middle section has a plurality of racks which are adapted to slidably receive and release a corresponding plurality of modules. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of modules includes at least on seed germinating tray having seeds mounted in the bottom thereof.

The invention relates to a microfluidic device for detection of a substance in a sample fluid, and to a cartridge for performing a biological assay, containing such a device. The microfluidic device comprises two housing parts (52, 54) with a porous membrane (50) there between. Each housing part has recesses, or channel parts, (56-1, 56-2, 56-n, 58-1, 58-2, 58-n) that are connected via a recess of the opposite housing part, and through the membrane (50), such that an unbranched channel is defined for the sample fluid. At one or more of the positions where the channel crosses the membrane (50), a spot (48-1, 48-2, 48-n) with an immobilized indicator substance is present, to which a target substance in the sample fluid may bind. An advantage of the present device is that in principle all of the sample fluid passes each spot. Hence there is no need to recirculate and / or mix the sample fluid, as is the case in devices with parallel flow-through paths for the fluid. The device will therefore be simpler, and give a more reliable detection result.

The present invention relates to the field of gynecological instruments. A disposable speculum is provided with a cylindrical filament containing an optical fiber fitted with a small aligning wing nut (3) at the distal end thereof for fitting and coupling the optical fiber to the aperture (4) in the cap (5) of the head (6), with an automatically actuated illumination system consisting of an actuating disk (7), a spring (8), a pin (9), a lens (10), a light-emitting diode / LED (11), a circuit (12), a diffuser (13), a diffuser shell (14), a cable (15) and a power source (16) with pins (17) for connecting the device to the power grid at the site of use. The head (6) can be coated with a protecting film (18) in order to prevent direct contact with the speculum (1) and the cylindrical filament (2).

In a fluid pump and cartridge assembly, a cartridge includes a material inlet port, a material outlet port, and a feed screw. The feed screw delivers fluid to be dispensed from the fluid inlet to the outlet port. The fluid inlet is preferably elongated in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw to enhance consistency in material flow through the cartridge. The feed screw is preferably driven by a closed-loop servo motor to achieve high-performance dispensing resolution. The assembly is preferably compatible with fixed-z and floating-z cartridges. A optional vented dispense tip, in combination with the fluid pump, allows for repeatable deposit of fillet patterns while maintaining optimal consistency. A dispense controller allows for reverse-compatibility such that the fluid pump of the present invention can be mounted to, and controlled by, conventional pump position controllers.

An identification device comprising an ultrasound transmitter unit (16) and an outer housing (6) which receives said transmitter unit (16), said outer housing (6) comprising one or more apertures (32) which are sealed by a membrane, said membrane being substantially transparent to ultrasound when compared to the rest of the housing.

A device for cell culture capable of automatically performing operations for cell culture over several days to several months while minimizing the risk of contamination. A new medicine can be supplied to an incubator means by using a medicine supply means or unnecessary wastewater can be discharged from the incubator means by using a wastewater discharge means without taking out the incubator means disposed in heat insulation box means from a heat insulation box, and the state of the cell culture can be observed with the incubator means formed in the heat insulation box means. Accordingly, the outside air does not enter directly into the incubator means during culturing, and the risk of contamination is completely eliminated. As a result, the culturing operations can be automatically performed over a long period.

A device and process are provided for identifying characters inscribed on a semiconductor wafer containing an orientation mark. A semiconductor wafer having characters inscribed on a surface near its periphery is supported about its periphery between three rotary supports mounted on a grasping arm. An orientation mark on the periphery of the wafer is located adjacent the inscribed characters. At least one of the three rotary supports is rotatably driven to orient the wafer such that the orientation mark is placed in a determined position. An optical reflector is positioned in a spatial zone in proximity to and above the characters to be identified. The characters to be identified are illuminated by a light beam reflected by the optical reflector. The characters reflect the light, which may be observed by an optical imager, such as a camera. An optical recognition subsystem may then be used to identify the characters.

The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and / or analyte analogues.

A radiolucent patient table top including a first face sheet, a second face sheet, and a honeycomb core is provided. The first face sheet includes carbon fibers in a first radiolucent plastic matrix. The second face sheet includes carbon fibers in a second radiolucent plastic matrix. The honeycomb core is disposed between the first face sheet and the second face sheet, where the first face sheet and the second face sheet sandwich the honeycomb core. The honeycomb core includes carbon fibers embedded in a third radiolucent plastic matrix.

A semiconductor window which is transparent to light in the infrared range and which has good electrical conductivity is formed of a prefabricated semiconductor sheet bonded to a substrate material by optical contact. The sheet is a substantially uniformly doped wafer sufficiently thin that inherent absorption bands do not affect transmission. The sheet is contact bonded to the surface of an undoped transparent substrate without diffusion, growth or deposition on the surface. Windows having particular optical band pass characteristics are formed utilizing a zinc selenide substrate and a gallium arsenide sheet.

The present invention relates to an implant system comprising implantable material in at least partially uncured form, contained in a closed casing, under vacuum and sterilised, and a closed bag containing the casing. The system is characterised in that at least 5% of the surface of the casing comprises sheet-like material having a thickness of 0.05-5 mm and having an original form, the sheet-like material being selected from the group consisting of metallic materials, polymers, bioceramic materials and composites thereof, provided that the material, once deformed from its original form to a changed form, is capable of maintaining that changed form unless subjected to external forces.

Pressure volume regulator (20) for control of supply and pressure of barrier fluid for pumps and compressors subsea, comprising an inlet (18) for barrier fluid at an inlet pressure, a first outlet (19) and a second outlet (15), the inlet pressure is higher than the first outlet pressure that is higher than the second outlet pressure. The pressure volume regulator is distinctive in that the inlet and the second outlet are interlocked between a movable longitudinal interlock member (5) with valve elements operatively arranged at either end, the length of the interlock member plus said valve elements is shorter than the distance between an open-close valve mechanism of the inlet and an open-close valve mechanism of the second outlet.

An integrated injection device with pre-packaged medication is disclosed. The integrated injection device includes an ampule that is filled with a fluid medication and a collar with hypodermic needle. The collar includes an axial valve that is positioned between a first end of the collar a second end that includes an exit aperture that is connected to the hypodermic needle. The valve is movable from a first position where the valve blocks fluid communication between the first end and the second end and a second position where valve provides fluid communication between the first end and the exit aperture in the second end. The valve cooperates with a frangible webbing that extends over the second end of the collar and causes the valve to move to the second position when twisted to separate the frangible webbing from the injection device to expose the hypodermic needle.

The present invention relates to a surgical microscope (1) with a field of view (9) and comprising an optical imaging system (3) which images an inspection area (11) which is at least partially located in the field of view (9), and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope (1) having an optical imaging system (3). Surgical microscopes (1) of the art have the disadvantage that an adjustment of the microscope parameters, for instance the working distance, field of view (9) or illumination mode, requires the surgeon to put down his or her surgical tools, look up from the microscope's eyepiece (5) and perform the adjustment by operating the microscope handles. Also foot switches and mouth switches where proposed, whereas those are not intuitively operated, require training and are less accurate than hand control of the microscope handles. Thus, the surgeon may lose his or her focus, is confronted with inconveniences and delays and bears an increased risk of contamination. In order to overcome the above disadvantages, the present invention provides a surgical microscope (1) which is characterized in that the surgical microscope (1) further comprises a gesture detection unit (17) for detection of a movement (65) of an object (29) such as at least one of a finger and a tool, and in that the gesture detection unit (17) is connected to the optical imaging system (3) via a signal line (76) and in that the gesture detection unit (17) is configured to output a control signal (77) via the signal line (76) to the optical imaging system (3) depending on the movement (65) of the object (29), the optical imaging system (3) being configured to alter its state depending on the control signal (77). The invention further provides a method for gesture control of the inventive surgical microscope (1).

A disclosure is made of various apparatus and methods for culturing and preserving cells and tissue in ways that minimize contamination potential, direct cells to reside in desired areas, allow uniform cell distribution during seeding, provide optimal growth conditions by controlling the amount of medium residing in proximity of cells, allow desired compounds and molecules to reside in proximity of the cells, allow co-culture, provide for efficient scale up, allow a desired shape of tissue to be created while retaining a closed system, and allow cryopreservation and reconstitution of cell and tissue while retaining a closed system. The apparatus and methods can be combined to prevent the need to remove the tissue from the enclosure at any point during the sterilization, seeding, culturing, cryopreservation, shipping, or restoration process. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method of pipette interface with a container in a manner that blocks contaminants from entering the container.

A disposable holder for use with urine specimen collection cups has a cup grasping extension incorporated and molded into it. The elongated extension is formed within a recess defined within the overall holder. The holder may be held firmly with one hand and the grasping extension actuated with the other hand. The holder is configured to be held and operated by right and left handed persons. In use, the cup grasping portion of the holder is urged downwardly onto a portion of the perimeter of a cup edge. The specimen is firmly grasped thereby. Upon collection of the specimen, the extension is urged toward the handle so as to open cooperating and opposing cup holding members. In this fashion, the specimen cup and collected specimen are released and the holder is disposed of.

The invention relates to automatic taking of fluid samples from a sample site (SS) of the living. A system comprises catheter means (CA,CB) having a junction (CJ) configured to be located in proximity to the sample site (SS). The junction is connected to first and second catheter means (CA,CB) and a sample-taking end (CTE). A valve (VA2) is connected to the first catheter means (CA) and has an inlet (VI) for an immiscible fluid to be aspirated into the first catheter means. Pumping means (PA,PB) are connectable to said catheter means and configured to aspirate and move said amount of said fluid (AB) to said junction. A first part (AB1) of said immiscible fluid (AB) is arranged in said second catheter means and a second part (AB2) in said first catheter means, whereby said first (AB1) and second (AB2) parts being configured to separate a taken sample (TS).