Stackable shake flask

Abstract

A disposable orbital shaker cell culture flask includes a vessel body, cap / s and a locking mechanism. The vessel body is conical, or urn-shaped and includes access ports and a cap / s for preventing bacteria, viruses and fungi from passing therethrough while allowing air to flow between the vessel chamber and a surrounding environment. The flask has a locking mechanism that may be integral to the top and bottom part of vessel body or split between the bottom part of vessel body and the top part of the cap depending on the desired configuration. The action of top and bottom part locking results in a stable stack of vessels for use in orbital shaker environments.

Description

STACKABLE SHAKE FLASKFIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to laboratory vessels. More particularly, a modified orbital shaker stackable suspension culture flask.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In vitro cell culture serves as a fundamental process in both research and industry, facilitating advancements in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cancer research, cell therapy, toxicology, virology, and the food and beverage industry. This versatile technique enables scientists to study cellular behaviour, develop new products, and explore therapeutic strategies in a controlled environment.

[0003] Most prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell organisms grow in suspension, whilst some multicellular eukaryotic organisms depend on a suitable substrate for growth. These substrate dependent cells have been shown to adapt to suspension culture environments with a litany of processes and have profound uses in industry.

[0004] Growing cells in suspension culture alleviates some of the disadvantages of adherent cell culture. Cell suspension culture is mainly used for batch harvesting and bulk biomolecule production in research and industry. It is easier to maintain and passage, but it requires agitation and daily monitoring to follow growth patterns respectively. Agitation is beneficial for suspension cell culture because it ensures even distribution of nutrients and growth factors, enhances gas exchange between the medium and the surrounding air, maintains consistent pH by preventing localised accumulation of basic or acidic byproducts, disperses waste products minimizing potential toxicity, and maintains a homogenous suspension to allow cells access to nutrients and oxygen. Finding the right balance between sufficient mixing and avoiding shear stress is crucial. There is a variety of agitation mechanisms to choose from, including magnetic stirring, orbital shaking, and impeller-driven systems.

[0005] There are various suspension culture formats, including multi-well plates, Erlenmeyer flasks on orbital shaker platforms, roller bottles, wave bags, stirred tank reactors, and lateral vessel reactors. To date, Erlenmeyer flasks remain the most versatile low-cost culture system and are used in combination with orbital shaker systems in an incubator.

[0006] Disposable and stackable cell culture vessels have previously been described in the prior art for use in the cultivation of cells in sterile sealed vessel. The application of these vessels in the laboratory is primarily for the use of adherent cell culture on large flat and geometrically square culture surfaces (EP0524610 Al, US5924583 A, US2006 / 0205065 Al, DE 19827875 Al, GB 2185997 A, CN 219239649U, CN 21846730 U and CN 213809891 U). These vessel types are sometimes used for stationary suspension cell culture with the vessel oriented with the vents pointing upwards, to avoid culture media reaching the high contamination risk area of the neck. However, the square container shape prohibits their use with shaker systems, and their stacking direction in this orientation is lateral relative to the orbital motion.

[0007] These patents include the application of passive features to ensure gripping of a plurality of vessels to form a stable stack for transferring processes. Two of these patents describe an active locking / latching mechanism to maintain the stability of the similar stacked vessels (CN 21846730 U and CN 213809891 U). EP 1400584 A2 contains a design for a stackable roller bottle, these systems are used in a horizonal format specifically utilising a roller bed apparatus. It is conceivable that these bottles could be utilised in a vertically stacked orientation with an orbital shaker system, however, the mixing of the liquid would be sub-optimal for suspension cell culture due to the significant depression required at the base of the vessel for interlocking.

[0008] Designs presented in all patents aforementioned, would be unsuitable for cell culture in an orbital shaker environment and would result in suboptimal / heterogeneous mixing, increased cell death or in growth medium liquid contact with the vessel cap / membrane. This could lead to culture failure by insufficient gas exchange, high shear stress or contamination of the vessel.

[0009] The main culture vessels used on orbital shaker platforms for suspension cell culture are Erlenmeyer flasks. These flasks were originally designed for chemical applications rather than cell culture, and as such, have several drawbacks when adapted for modem cell culture requirements.

[0010] Currently used disposable Erlenmeyer flasks for shaker cell culture cannot be stacked, meaning they are limited to a monolayer within these incubators. The use of these flasks on an orbital shaking platform within an incubator often leads to considerable inefficiencies due to their conical shape. Compounding this inefficiency, they are commonly used at l / 5th to l / 3rd their total volume. This design results in substantial wasted space within the incubator, leading to an ineffective utilization of valuable laboratory real estate. Notably, theseincubators are expensive and occupy a significant footprint within the laboratory, incurring additional expenses for maintenance and energy consumption.

[0011] The challenge is further exacerbated by the fact that the space available within the incubator varies based on the size of the Erlenmeyer flask being used. This inconsistency can lead to underutilized space or, conversely, difficulty fitting larger flasks into the available incubator slots. Such limitations can hinder the scalability of cell culture experiments and compromise the efficiency of laboratory workflows.

[0012] From a handling perspective, the non-stackable nature of these flasks complicates their manipulation within the confined space of a biological safety cabinet. Laboratory personnel must navigate around the vessels’ awkward shape, increasing the risk of toppling and reducing ergonomic efficiency. This, in turn, impacts overall laboratory productivity and creates an additional safety hazard.

[0013] Adding to these concerns, it is worth noting that a common practice among users is to opt for pouring liquids directly from Erlenmeyer flasks. This approach is often chosen with the intention of saving time and minimizing the consumption of disposable transfer consumables. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned strategy can inadvertently introduce an elevated risk of contamination into the cell culture process. The open pouring of liquids from one container to another via the only sampling port greatly increases the potential for contaminants to infiltrate the culture medium, compromising the integrity of the cell culture.

[0014] The inadvertent introduction of contaminants not only poses a threat to the purity of the cultured cells but can also have broader implications for experimental reproducibility and the validity of experimental or manufacturing results. As a result, the pursuit of time and cost savings through such practices can ultimately lead to significant setbacks in the form of compromised data quality and the need for additional resources to rectify these issues.

[0015] In summary, the prior art fails to provide a vessel format suitable for efficient, spacesaving, and contamination-reducing cell culture on orbital shaker systems, leading to unnecessary expenses, inefficiencies, and potential risks in laboratory environments. Currently suboptimal vessel formats for orbital shaker cell culture are used and there is no solution for vertical stacking on existing orbital shaker platform system.SUMMARY

[0016] In aspects of the present disclosure, an orbital shaker cell culture vessel is provided, with a minimum of one neck with filtered / unfiltered caps and locking mechanism features on a top and bottom. The top and bottom of the culture vessel provides a system to lock fasten two or more culture vessels together when vertically stacked. The culture vessel may have two necks coming out from the top. The one neck is for entering labware, e.g., pipettes, and the other is for pouring.

[0017] In aspects of the present disclosure, an orbital shaker cell culture vessel of the is provided that includes a shaker vessel, a minimum of one neck with filtered / unfiltered caps, and locking mechanism features on a top and bottom. The top and bottom of the shaker culture vessel provides a system to lock fasten two or more shaker culture vessels when vertically stacked. There are two exemplary iterations of the vessel disclosed herein. The one has one a single main port on the top and the cap has the top part of the locking mechanism. This is a solution for cultures that are less prone to contamination (e.g. bacterial). In the second iteration (multi-port), the shaker culture vessel has a minimum of two necks coming out from the mid top part of the vessel walls. The one neck is used for entering labware, e.g., pipettes, and the other is isolated for terminal processes (pouring). This is ideal for long-term cultures that are prone to contaminations (e.g. mammalian cells).

[0018] The vessels described herein maintain the vessel chamber characteristics of the industry standard Erlenmeyer flask, whilst providing the enhanced stacking and procedural efficiency features.

[0019] The vessels described herein can provide a culture vessel that improves sterility, time- and cost-efficiency, and is user friendly. Also, the fact that the culture vessels are stackable, increases the utilisation of shaker incubators. Consequently, increasing culture volume and byproducts from existing culture infrastructure.

[0020] In another aspect, a polymeric, pre-sterilised vessel for culturing cells is provided. The vessel comprises a vessel body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical sidewall. The vessel has two necks that are closed with vented caps. The vessel has features on the top surface and on the bottom surface that allow two or more vessels to be stacked and secured for functional operation on orbital shaking platforms. The vessel may include baffles capable of creating turbulence required for nurturing cells in suspension.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Fig.l is a front perspective of the multi-port culture vessel with L-shaped locking mechanism.

[0022] Fig.2 is an explosive view of Fig.l.

[0023] Fig.3 is a top plan view of Fig.l

[0024] Fig.4 is a bottom plan view of Fig.l.

[0025] Fig.5 is a side plan view of Fig. l.

[0026] Fig.6 is a right and frontal cross-section of three stacked multi-port culture vessels with L-shaped locking mechanism.

[0027] Fig.7 is a front view of the multi-port culture vessel with universal lock.

[0028] Fig.8 is an explosive view of Fig.7.

[0029] Fig.9 is a top plan view of Fig.7.

[0030] Fig.10 is bottom plan view of Fig. 7.

[0031] Fig.11 is side view of Fig.7.

[0032] Fig.12 is a right and frontal cross-section of three stacked multi-port culture vessels with universal locking mechanism.

[0033] Fig.13 is a right and frontal cross-sectional view of three stacked multi-port culture vessels with universal locking mechanism with different sizes.

[0034] Fig.14 is a front view of the single-port culture vessel with universal lock.

[0035] Fig.15 is an explosive view of Fig.14.

[0036] Fig.16 is a top plan view of Fig.14.

[0037] Fig.17 is bottom plan view of Fig. 14.

[0038] Fig.18 is a right and frontal cross-section of three stacked single-port culture vessels with universal locking mechanism.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Referring to Fig. l to 18, three design embodiments of a vessel for cell culture are disclosed. In Figs.l to 6, a multi-port vessel with a male-female twist lock mechanism is shown, in Figs. 7 to 12, a multi-port vessel with alternative lock design is shown, and in Figs.13 to 18, a single-port vessel is depicted. These design embodiments comprise a vessel body 100, 200 and 300, necked access port / s 103, 203 and 303 and optionally vented cap / s 101, 201 and 301, respectively.

[0041] In all embodiments, the vessel body 100, 200 and 300 includes a convex bottom disc portion 117, 218 and 313 at the base of the vessel that is adjacent to a curved base wall 114, 214 and 311 connecting 113, 213 and 310 to the bottom portion layer of the wall 112, 212 and 309. This wall 112, 212 and 309 extends upwards and gradually narrows with the narrowest part of the body 111, 211 and 308.

[0042] All embodiments of the vessel body retain this rounded based, frustrum of a cone shape with the opening at the narrowest section. This shape retains traditional orbital shaker culture vessel features allowing culture liquids to flow and evenly.

[0043] The single-port body 300 embodiment has a vertically oriented port 303 extending from the narrowest part 308 forming the top of the vessel body. In this embodiment, the optionally vented cap 301 is an integral part of the flask to flask locking system.

[0044] The multi-port vessel body 100 and 200 embodiment of the first and second embodiments (Figs. 1 to 12) have an urn shape, where the vessel widens from the narrowest section 111 and 211 to the upper rim 109 and 209 of the vessel. The top of the vessel body 100 and 200 is designed to fit the base of the vessel body 100 and 200, with top walls 108 and 208 matching the roundness of the base wall 114 and 214 and the top of the vessel 106 and 206, concave to fit the bottom disc portion 117 and 218. Access port 103 and 203 extends outwards from the vessel wall part 112 and 212 of the vessel.

[0045] In the first embodiment represented by the multi-port vessel body 100, the upper rim 109 of the vessel has a curved shaped fillet 108. In the embodiment represented by the multiport vessel body 200, the upper rim 209 of the vessel has a crescent shaped chamfer 207, centralised on the vertical axis of the vessel with the major axis perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the necked access ports 203. These features 108 and 207 ensure caps sit flush to the vessel body 100 and 200 and allows users to screw the caps freely.

[0046] The shape of the vessels described herein allow the existence of maximum liquid in the vessel by preventing liquid from getting in the ports 103, 203, and 303. Even though, this shape is disclosed in the figures, it will be appreciated that any generally cylindrical shape is possible (with the major axis of the vessel body extending vertically when the base of the vessel is placed on a horizontal platform of an orbital shaker). Although any size vessel is theoretically possible, the sizes of the present invention ranges from 20 ml to 6 litres but is not limited thereto.

[0047] The ports 103, 203 and 303 can be externally threaded to fit possible internally threaded caps 101, 201 and 301. In one embodiment, the cap 101, 201 and 301 has an internal hydrophobic porous polymer membrane 102, 202 and 302 for example polyethersulfone,which permits gas transport but prevents liquid spillage and contaminants from entering the vessel. In one embodiment, the caps have vents that allow gas exchange with the external environment. In another embodiment, the caps are sealed and / or connected with tubes to allow aseptically liquid transportation in the vessel.

[0048] In one embodiment, the access ports 103 and 203 extend at a non-perpendicular angle (relative to a major axis of the vessel) to allow instruments such as pipettes to enter in the vessel. Yet, the dimension and the angles of the ports can be modified to allow optimal access to different equipment and in different depths. Moreover, two ports are illustrated in the figures, however, various numbers of ports can be added. In the third embodiment of Figs. 14 to 18, only one access port 303 is available and it extends from a narrowest top part 308 of the vessel vertically to the base of the body.

[0049] In one embodiment, the top part has slots 105i and 105ii. In these slots, the feet 118 that are on the bottom part of another vessel can fit to provide a twist lock ensuring the vessels are stackable and stable when shaken on an orbital shaker platform. Although this embodiment is disclosed in these figures, it will be appreciated that any locking mechanism ensuring the vessels can be stacked together and remain stable whilst are on a shaker platform is possible.

[0050] In one embodiment, the top part has a tab-like protrusion with overhanging edges 205 and 306. This protrusion 205 and 306 fits into the slot 218-217 and 314-315 on the bottom part of another vessel, once twisted the vessels are locked, ensuring the vessels are stackable 201 & 403 and secure to one another. The lock mechanism allows for effective transmission of orbital force through the stack 201 & 403 from the shaker platform. Although this embodiment is disclosed in these figures, it will be appreciated that any mechanism ensuring the vessels can be stacked together and remain stable whilst are on a shaker platform is possible and that any number of vessels can be stacked. It will be appreciated that the “top part” and “bottom part” of the locking mechanism is not limited to the vessel body or cap of the disclosed designs. Generally disclosed herein are vertically stackable vessels for use on an orbital shaker that have locking features enabling twist and lock between a bottom of one vessel and a top of another vessel, thereby providing vertical and lateral locking of the vessels to one another. In one embodiment, baffles 115, 215, 312 extend along the bottom 106, 218 and 313 and up the side wall 114, 214 and 311 in a horizontal orientation. It is considered that baffles extending completely through the liquid region promotes turbulence throughout the liquid domain. The number and density of baffles depend on the volume of the maximum liquid in the vessel. In one embodiment, no baffles exist on the vessel.

[0051] In one embodiment, the vessel disclosed herein is manufactured using a polymer for example polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate or any applicable polymer is identified based on the state of the art. In one embodiment, the polymer is non-cytotoxic and transparent. The vessel is pre-sterilised during manufacturing and the end user does not need to sterilise it prior use. In one embodiment, the internal surface of the vessel is treated to inhibit biomolecule adhesion and adsorption for example with a coating as identified by one of skill in the art.

[0052] As most cell culture processes are conducted under aseptic conditions following the sterile technique, the pre-sterilised culture vessel is maintained in a closed and sterilised environment. It is beneficial to employ a cell culture system that preserves the sterile integrity from manufacturing to disposal, ensuring the culture chamber is effectively sealed off from external influences. One approach for pre-sterilization involves gamma irradiation, although experts in the field are aware of alternative sterilization methods such as ethylene oxide treatment that can also be applied. The sterilisation method is going to be chosen depending on the materials used for the manufacturing of the culture vessel.

[0053] The vessel should be filled with liquid through the ports 103, 203 and 303 and the liquid should reach a fluid level below the bottom portion of the ports 103 and 203 or below the top of the vessel wall 309.

[0054] With continuing reference to the figures, exemplary embodiments provide a vessel including a vessel body 100, 200, 300. The vessel body 100, 200, 300 has a major axis that extends centrally through the base wall 114, 214, 311 and through a centre of a top 121, 221 and 321 of the vessel. The vessel body 100, 200, 300 is rotationally symmetric about the major axis. The major axis extends vertically when the base wall 114, 214, 311 is placed on a horizontal platform of an orbital shaker. The base wall 114, 214, 311 includes a flat footprint for interfacing with the platform of the orbital shaker. The sidewall 112, 212, 309 is at least partly conical with a rounded portion as the conical part meets the base wall 114, 214, 311 (e.g. a taper bulb shape). In the first and second embodiments of Figs. 1 to 13, the conical part transitions to necked portion, which itself transitions to a second conical portion that is increasing in diameter towards the top 121, 221 and 321 of the vessel. In the first and second embodiments, the vessel includes one or two outwardly extending (e.g. at a nonperpendicular angle relative to the major axis) access ports 103, 203, 303. In the third embodiment of Figs. 14 to 18, the conical portion transitions to a cylindrical threaded neck that is configured to receive a screw-on cap 301. The vessel body 300 is axially symmetric, with the major axis running centrally through the threaded neck and an access openingdefined by the threaded neck. The vessel includes an interlocking mechanism having cooperative interlocking features disposed on the top and bottom thereof so that more than one of such vessels can be stacked vertically. The interlocking mechanism is a rotate to lock mechanism in the first to third embodiments, which laterally and vertically locks a column of such vessels together that are vertically stacked.

[0055] The vessel is utilized to contain cell suspended in medium whilst they are shaken on an orbital shaker. The cells may be also attached on microcarriers or be encapsulated in materials or in any other form that can retain the cells in suspension whilst they are shaken. The cell culture is usually maintained between 27°C -37°C and mixed at 5 to 300 rpm. These conditions can vary depending on the cells, the existence of material involved in the system, and the application. Cells or cellular products may be collected via pipette, pouring or pumping. The two caps 101, 201 and 301 will be marked differentially for the user to monitor which port they have used for inserting pipettes or tubing and utilise the other port for potential pouring. The differentially coded caps are an extra safety measure to protect the sterility of the vessel from user pitfalls.

[0056] While comprehensive descriptions of the suggested embodiments of the invention have been provided herein, it will be evident to individuals with expertise in the field that different modifications and adjustments in the dimensions can be made without affecting the essence and scope of the invention remaining within the boundaries of the invention as defined in the subsequent claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cell culture vessel for placement on a platform of a dynamic orbital shaker, the vessel comprising: a vessel body having a top portion having a top surface, a bottom portion having a bottom surface and a sidewall extending between the top and bottom portions; wherein the bottom surface is shaped to complementarily fit in the top surface to provide stable stacking of the vessel with another such vessel.

2. The vessel of claim 1; wherein said vessel is polymeric.

3. The vessel of claim 1 or 2, wherein the vessel is sterile.

4. The vessel of any preceding claim, including one or more baffles disposed on an inside of the sidewall and projecting internally to contact liquid contained in an inner volume of the vessel.

5. The vessel of claim 4, wherein the one or more baffles each terminate in an elliptical shape, but not limited thereto.

6. The vessel of claims 4 or 5 including four or a plurality of baffles spaced an equal distance from one another around a perimeter of the vessel for contact with liquid in an interior of the vessel.

7. The vessel of claim any preceding claim wherein the vessel is made of non-cytotoxic material.

8. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is made of optically transparent material.

9. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is made of a thermoplastic including but not limited to; polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polylactic acid or polycarbonate or combinations thereof.

10. The vessel of any preceding claim further comprising at least one access port.

11. The vessel of claim 10 wherein the access port includes a threaded portion to which a threaded vented cap is connectable.

12. The vessel of claim 11, wherein the threaded vented cap is a screw cap or a hinged screw cap.

13. The vessel of claim 12 wherein a top portion of the threaded vented cap has a hydrophilic membrane allowing air to pass therethrough.

14. The vessel of claim 12, wherein the cap has a gas permeable liquid impermeable film or membrane.

15. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the top portion and the bottom portion have features that act as a locking or binding mechanism to allow two or more vessels to be stacked, preventing vessels from slippage relative to one another during orbital shaker culture.

16. The vessel of claim 15, wherein twist lock, pin twist lock, interlocking, magnetically bound, interlacing material or other locking mechanisms are included to allow the bottom portion of one said vessel to be mounted and vertically locked to the top portion of another said vessel.

17. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the bottom portion of the vessel body is a rounded-base frustrum of a cone, and the sidewall defines a necked region between the top portion and the bottom portion.

18. The vessel of any preceding claim, comprising an access port projecting diagonally upward and outward relative to the sidewall.

19. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the bottom surface is one of convex and partly concave shaped and at least part of the top surface is the other of convex and at least partly concave shaped, wherein the convex and concaved shapes are of matching curvatures.

20. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the top surface is provided by a lip extending inwardly from the sidewall and defining an opening therethrough.

21. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the bottom surface includes a curved outer portion extending from a flat base to the sidewall.

22. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the bottom surface and the top surface include complementary releasable locking features so that one said vessel can be stacked upon another said vessel with the top surface and the bottom surface in fitting engagement and so that the complementary locking features vertically lock the stacked vessels.

23. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the complementary locking features include projections and recesses, optionally L-shaped recesses so that the projections can be twist locked into engagement with the L-shaped recesses.

24. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein an internal volume of the vessel includes frustrum of a cone shaped as defined by the sidewall and curved base.

25. The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the top portion, the top surface, the bottom portion, the bottom surface and the sidewall are integrally formed.

26. A cell culture vessel for placement on a platform of an orbital shaker, the cell culture vessel comprising: a vessel body comprising: a top portion that includes either a vertical neck for a cap or a plurality of off- centre necks with individual caps, the top portion including a top surface; a bottom portion with a bottom surface that complementary fits with the top surface; and a sidewall extending between the top and bottom portions; wherein the bottom surface is configured to stably stack vertically with the top surface of another said vessel and is shaped to ensure stability during orbital shaking within a range of 1-300 RPM and 1-100 mm orbital throw diameter.

27. The vessel of claim 26, wherein said vessel made of polymeric and non-cytotoxic material.

28. The vessel of claim 26 or 27, wherein the vessel is sterile.

29. The vessel of any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the vessel is made of optically transparent material.

30. The vessel of any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein an internal surface of the vessel body includes one or more baffles disposed on an inside of the sidewall and projecting internally to contact liquid contained in an inner volume of the vessel to facilitate fluid dynamics during orbital shaking.

31. The vessel of claim 30, wherein the baffles are elliptically shaped and evenly spaced to promote efficient gas exchange and nutrient distribution within the vessel during dynamic orbital shaking.

32. The vessel of claim 30 or 31 including four or a plurality of baffles spaced an equal distance from one another around a perimeter of the vessel for contact with liquid in an interior of the vessel.

33. The vessel of claim 26, wherein: the cap provides part of an interlocking mechanism, designed with a complementary shape to fit a counterpart of the interlocking mechanism on a bottom of the vessel so that the interlocking mechanism is able to lock two said vessels to one another when vertically stacked, wherein the cap further includes a gas-permeable membrane to allow air exchange during stacked culture; for vessels including plural off-centre necks, the vessel body contains an interlocking mechanism with one part a bottom of the vessel and a counterpart on the top of the vessel so that the interlocking mechanism is able to lock two said vessels to one another when vertically stacked, the interlocking mechanism allowing for secure stacking during orbital shaking.

34. The vessel of claim 33, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes projections and recesses or magnets on either the cap or top surface of the vessel, configured to engage complementary interlocking features on the bottom surface of another such vessel, allowing vertical stacking and stability during shaking.

35. The vessel of claim 34, wherein twist lock, pin twist lock, interlocking, magnetically bound, interlacing material or other locking mechanisms are included to allow the bottom portion of one said vessel to be mounted and vertically locked to the top portion of another said vessel or the cap.

36. The vessel of claim 33, wherein the vessel includes an access port including a threaded portion to which a threaded closed or vented cap is connectable.

37. The vessel of claim 36, wherein the threaded vented cap is a screw cap or a hinged screw cap.

38. The vessel of claim 36, wherein a top portion of the threaded vented cap has a hydrophilic membrane allowing air to pass therethrough.

39. The vessel of claim 38, wherein the cap has a gas permeable liquid impermeable film or membrane.

40. The vessel of claim 26, wherein the vessel is made of a thermoplastic including but not limited to; polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polylactic acid, or polycarbonate, or combinations thereof.

41. The vessel of claim 26, wherein the vessel is made of a photocurable resin including but not limited to; urethane dimethacrylate or polyethylene glycol diacrylate or combinations thereof.

42. The vessel of claim 26, wherein the sidewall defines a necked region between the top portion and the bottom portion.

43. The vessel of claim 26, comprising an access port projecting vertically or diagonally upward and outward relative to the sidewall.

44. The vessel of any proceeding claim, wherein the bottom portion shape of the vessel is defined by a convex disc base connected to a rounded-base frustrum of a cone, enabling uniform liquid flow during orbital agitation.

45. The vessel of claim 26, wherein the top portion, the top surface, the bottom portion, the bottom surface and the sidewall are integrally formed.

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