Nextern Innovation, LLC

Fernando Buarque

John Matthew Swoyer

Ryan J Douglas

Jon F Urban

Christopher Narveson

John D Foley

Riazul Islam

Apparatus and associated methods relate to cell culture systems having controlled gas concentration boundary conditions around cell culture. In an illustrative example, a programmable cell culture system (PCCS) may include one or more manifolds, each releasably coupled to multiple cell culture modules. The cell culture modules, for example, may include a nutrient capacitive medium (NCM) in fluid communication with a concentration-controlled gas source through at least two gas transfer interfaces. The gas transfer interfaces (GTIs) may, for example, be spatially distributed in relation to a cell growth surface in the NCM. Each GTI, for example, may include a gas permeable membrane (GPM) and a plenum. The GPM may be disposed between the plenum and the NCM. Various embodiments may advantageously selectively control a concentration of at least one target gas in the NCM by maintaining predetermined boundary conditions of the cell growth surface via the GTIs.

Cell culture system with controlled gas transfer boundary conditions

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a valve having an actuator configured to translate a mass in a plane and a valve element located out of the first plane and configured to translate along a first linear axis. In an illustrative example, at least one of the mass and the valve element may include a magnetic source providing a persistent magnetic field and the other may include a non-magnetized, magnetically permeable mass. Reluctance-induced forces may, for example, translate the valve element towards the mass along the first linear axis when the mass is brought into register with a second linear axis. The first linear axis and the second linear axis may, for example, be colinear. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a valve requiring low energy input for operation.

Valve actuation system through permanent magnet use

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White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Fernando Buarque