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Anaerobe Systems

Marion E Cox

Michael Francis O'Connor

Steven M Cox

Laura M Nondorf

Jeremy N Mcdonald

Described herein are methods for producing chemical products by anaerobically fermenting a particular biomass using anaerobic bacteria. Such chemical products include hydrogen and other gases, acetic acid and other volatile organic acids, solvents, solids, and salts of volatile organic acids.

Anaerobic production of hydrogen and other chemical products

The present invention relates to devices and methods for providing controlled environments for surgical procedures, as well as transplantation and wound healing. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention provides devices and methods to provide an anaerobic environment for incision sites. In other embodiments, the present invention provides devices and methods to maintain anaerobic conditions during the collection, transport, and implantation of organs, tissues, cells, and other transplant material. In further embodiments, the present invention provides devices and methods for the production and maintenance of an anaerobic environment surrounding sites of trauma or tissue injury. In particular, the present invention provides devices and methods which allow the operator to strictly control the environment for surgical procedures, transplantation and wound healing, etc. Thus, the present invention also finds use in specialized settings where hyperoxic conditions are desireable.

Controlled environment device

A method and apparatus are described for providing petri dishes of a culture medium in an oxygen-free manner. Empty petri dishes are supplied to a dispensing glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere, by communicably connecting to such dispensing chamber, another glove box chamber providing isolation from the ambient atmosphere containing the empty dishes. The dishes are sequentially transferred to the dispensing chamber where they are filled with autoclaved culture medium. The filled dishes are transferred to a third chamber (also communicably connected to the dispensing chamber) within which the culture medium can solidify. Once the third chamber is filled with dishes having culture medium it is disconnected from the dispensing chamber and replaced with a fourth chamber having a new batch of unfilled petri dishes. The dishes from the new batch are then transferred into the dispensing glove box chamber and, once filled, transferred into the now empty chamber which provided the original batch of unfilled dishes. Each chamber containing filled petri dishes maintains such dishes in an isolated environment for a selected incubation period, and the dishes therein are then individually packaged in hermetically tight packages prior to being exposed to the ambient atmosphere.

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Morgan Hill, CA, United States of America

Marion E Cox