A device for holding a fluid-containing consumable having a flexible tube fluidly connected thereto, the device comprising: a housing for the consumable; and means for deploying the flexible tubing of a consumable contained in the housing, wherein said deploying means is configured to facilitate movement of the tubing between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration, such that, when in the deployed configuration, an end portion of the tubing extends outside the housing so that it can be engaged by a robotic device.
A bioprocessing system, comprising: a plurality of shelving frames, each shelving frame configured to hold a plurality of cell culture chambers; and an automated system configured to: move a cell culture chamber around the bioprocessing system; and manipulate a fluid connection between a cell culture chamber and a bioprocessing consumable; wherein at least one of the shelving frames is movable relative to at least one other of the shelving frames whereby to facilitate or inhibit access to a cell culture chamber held on one of the shelving frames.
An automated system for performing bioprocessing, comprising: an incubation system configured to accommodate at least one incubation chamber for incubating a cell culture chamber having a flexible tube connected fluidly thereto; and a storage system configured to store at least one fluid-containing consumable having a tube connected fluidly thereto; wherein the incubation system and storage system are together arranged to enable a robotic device to manipulate a tube weld between said flexible tube of the incubated cell culture chamber and said tube of the stored consumable, whereby said tube weld forms an aseptic fluid connection between the cell culture chamber and the consumable such that a closed system is maintained.
A closed system (100) for mixing fluids for use in a bioprocessing system, comprising: automated means for manipulating a tube weld (160) between a first tube fluidly connected to a first consumable (10-1) and another tube fluidly connected to a mixing consumable (10-3), said tube weld forming a closed fluid connection between the first consumable and mixing consumable; automated means for transferring a first fluid contained by the first consumable to the mixing consumable via the fluid connection; and automated means for determining a quantity of fluid transferred to or from the mixing consumable, wherein the system is further configured to manipulate a tube weld between a second tube fluidly connected to a second consumable (10-2) and said another tube fluidly connected to the mixing consumable, and transfer a second fluid therebetween to be mixed with the first fluid in the mixing consumable.
B01F 31/22 - Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes with supporting means moving in a horizontal plane, e.g. describing an orbital path for moving the containers about an axis which intersects the receptacle axis at an angle
B01F 31/24 - Mixing the contents of independent containers, e.g. test tubes the containers being submitted to a rectilinear movement
B01F 31/55 - Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms the materials to be mixed being contained in a flexible bag submitted to periodical deformation
B01F 31/86 - Mixing by means of high-frequency vibrations above one kHz, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations with vibration of the receptacle or part of it
B01F 33/85 - Mixing plants with mixing receptacles or mixing tools that can be indexed into different working positions
A device for collecting a fluid sample from a fluid-containing consumable in a bioprocessing system, the consumable having a tube fluidly attached thereto, the device comprising: a fluid connection portion configured to be connected to the tube of a fluid-containing consumable, and to enable pumping of fluid or air through the device; and an air input portion configured to allow sterile air to be supplied to the device; a sampling portion connected to the fluid connection portion, wherein during pumping into the device, the sampling portion is configured to receive a fluid sample from the consumable via the fluid connection portion; a bypass tube having a first end connected to the fluid connection portion and a second end connected to the air input portion, wherein the bypass tube is configured to receive air supplied from the air input portion and direct the air out of the device via the fluid connection portion without passing through the sampling portion, whereby to purge fluid from the tube connected to the consumable; and means for restricting fluid flow through each of the sampling portion and bypass tube, such that fluid being pumped into the fluid connection portion passes only into the sampling portion and air pumped out of the fluid connection portion passes only through the bypass tube.
A linear peristaltic pump (200) for a bioprocessing system comprises: at least one pair of jaws formed by a first jaw (201) and a second jaw (202), the first jaw (201) being moveable relative to the second jaw (202) such that the pair of jaws can be moved between an open configuration in which the jaws are spaced apart for receiving a flexible tube (155) therebetween and a closed configuration in which the jaws are brought together so as to retain the tube therebetween; an actuator mechanism configured to control movement of the first jaw relative to the second jaw; and means (220a-220m) for effecting a peristaltic pumping action on a fluid contained within the tube (155) when the tube is retained between the pair of jaws in the closed configuration.
A bioprocessing system, comprising: a series of processing stations for performing operations for bioprocessing; an automated system, comprising: means for manipulating a fluid connection between a first container and a separable second container whereby to create an aseptic connection that enables a controlled transfer of fluid or cell material between the first container and the second container, wherein the means for manipulating a fluid connection is configured to create an aseptic connection that can be disconnected after the transfer of fluid or cell material is complete to enable a further such fluid connection to be manipulated between the first container and a separable third container; and means for controlling an automated sequence of operation of the processing stations.
An automated apparatus for joining a first tube to another such tube whereby to form a fluidic path therethrough, comprising: means for engaging the tube and moving it into one or more positions to be manipulated; means for clamping a portion of the tube whereby to form a pinched portion of the tube such that the tube is fluidly sealed upstream of the pinched portion; means for removing an end section of the tube downstream of the pinched portion such that a new end of the tube is thereby formed within the pinched portion that has not previously contacted another such tube; and means for joining the pinched portion at the new end of the tube with a corresponding pinched portion of another such tube; wherein the apparatus is configured as an end effector for a robotic device.
B29C 65/20 - Joining of preformed partsApparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tool with direct contact, e.g. using "mirror"
B29C 65/78 - Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles
B29C 65/24 - Joining of preformed partsApparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tool characterised by the means for heating the tool
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