Argos Therapeutics, Inc.

Stemcell Technologies Inc.

Viacyte, Inc.

Coimmune, Inc.

Richard Alexander Grant

Chad Green

Donald Koenig

Simon Jonathon Spence

Timothy Doyle Peele

William Samuel Hunter

Simon Harris

Giacomo Strollo

Ashraf Farid Abdelmoteleb

David Thomas Kneen

Robert Alister Neil

Andrew Mark Angus

Adam Donath

Ian S Fitzpatrick

Christopher John Leigh-Lancaster

Fred Harry Davis

Arjun Vinoo Caprihan

Val Anthony Bellora

Christopher Thomas Ryan

Tamara Tatroe Monesmith

Leah Elliott

Dirk Kurpershoek

Andrew Zipsin

Ashraf F Abdelmoteleb

Centrifuge vessels suitable for live cell processing include a bowl with a cap, and a tube inside the bowl extending between the cap and a lower portion of the bowl. The bottom of the bowl can have a closed annular ring surrounding a center mound. The vessels can be particularly suitable for processing low volumes of live cells for vaccines or other therapies.

Centrifuge vessels with a center mound and an internal elongate tube suitable for live cell processing and associated systems and methods

Processing containers include a first member having a substantially rigid body with a plurality of regions defining spaced apart workstations and a flexible barrier member sealably attached to the first member to define a closed chamber over the plurality of workstations. The flexible barrier is substantially impermeable and includes or is a manipulation tool that is sealably attached to the barrier. The manipulation tool has a first internal interface that resides in the closed chamber under the flexible barrier and a second external interface that resides outside the closed chamber. The processing containers are particularly suitable for automated processing of nucleic acids and other samples. The manipulation tool can cooperate with or include a pipette head. When the barrier is sealed, the barrier separates the contents of the container from a robotic arm or other manipulation device.

Methods of processing samples

Processing containers

An apparatus for measuring a volume of fluid includes at least one emitter configured to project a signal toward a predetermined position of a sample container, at least one receiver configured to receive the signal after the signal interacts with the sample container and a fluid transfer device in communication with the receiver and sample container. A change in the signal received by the receiver indicates when the fluid has dropped below the predetermined position. The apparatus determines a volume of fluid that the fluid transfer device has removed from the sample container when the receiver detects that the fluid has dropped below the predetermined position.

Apparatus for measuring volume of a fluid

Medicament devices include a sealed medicament dose container comprising a cell based medicament that is stored at a temperature less than about &#x2212;40 degrees Celsius, then thawed into a liquid prior to administration and a medicament dose cartridge configured and sized to snugly hold the dose container therein during extraction of the liquid medicament. Related dose containers, retainers and extraction/dispensing systems are also described.

Devices, systems and related methods suitable for delivery of a liquid medicament stored at cryogenic temperatures

An apparatus for transfer of a liquid using a diaphragm that separates a working fluid volume from a working air volume and can controllably induce a change pressure to draw or expel a target fluid into a tube. The apparatus is particularly suitable for automated processing of nucleic acids and other samples includes a disposable container comprising a tray and a flexible barrier. The barrier is configured to seal with a top edge of the tray, providing a closed, aseptic work area within the sealed tray. A pipette head and/or other sample manipulation device can be attached to the inside of the barrier under the diaphraghm, and the barrier can include an interface for a robotic arm or other device. When the barrier is sealed over the tray, the barrier separates the contents of the tray from the robot or other manipulation device.

Apparatus for transfer of liquid for processing samples

A system and method for automated processing of nucleic acids and other samples includes a disposable container comprising a tray and a flexible barrier. The barrier is configured to seal with a top edge of the tray, providing a closed, aseptic work area within the sealed tray. A pipette head and/or other sample manipulation device can be attached to the inside of the barrier, and the barrier can include an interface for a robotic arm or other device. When the barrier is sealed over the tray, the barrier separates the contents of the tray from the robot or other manipulation device. The barrier can be flexible, and allow the robotic arm to move the pipette head throughout the work area of the tray. All samples, reagents, pipette tips and other tools or devices for processing nucleic acid samples may remain within the closed compartment provided by the container during processing.

Methods for processing samples in a closed container

Systems and methods for processing samples in a closed container, and related devices

A pipette nozzle is provided for use on a movable arm on an automated pipette machine. The pipette nozzle includes a body defining a passage therethrough. At least two seating surfaces are provided on the body, including a first seating surface and a second seating surface. The first seating surface is configured to receive and sealingly mate with a first size of pipette tip in a manner such that the first end of the passage is in fluid communication with the first size of pipette tip. The second seating surface is configured to receive and sealingly mate with a second size of pipette tip in a manner such that the first end of the passage is in fluid communication with the second size of pipette tip. The seating surfaces are frustoconical outer surfaces. The pipette nozzle may be further configured to sealingly mate with and removably receive a third pipette tip having a third diameter different from the first diameter and the second diameter. There is also provided an automated pipette machine which includes a tip ejector system and a moving carousel having a plurality of pipette receptacles.

Automated pipette machine

There is also provided an apparatus for use on an automated pipette machine for transmitting pressure changes produced by a pump on the machine to a pipette nozzle. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit extends into the chamber and has a first opening positioned in the chamber. The first conduit is fluidically connectible to the nozzle. The second conduit extends into the chamber and has a first opening positioned in the chamber. The second conduit is fluidically connectible to the pump. The first opening of the first conduit is positioned above the first opening of the second conduit. The chamber defines at least a selected volume between the height of the first opening of the first conduit and the height of the first opening of the second conduit.

A pipette nozzle is provided for use on a movable arm on an automated pipette machine. The pipette nozzle includes a body defining a passage therethrough and having at least two seating surfaces provided on the body. The first seating surface is configured to receive and sealingly mate with a first size of pipette tip in a manner such that the first end of the passage is in fluid communication with the first size of pipette tip. The second seating surface is configured to correspondingly receive, sealingly mate and provide passage first end fluid communication with a second size of pipette tip. There is also provided an automated pipette machine which includes a tip ejector system including an arm that is movable between a first position and a second position wherein in the first position the arm is positioned to engage the tip during movement of the nozzle along a selected path and to prevent movement of the tip along the selected path while permitting the nozzle to move along the selected path, so that the movement of the nozzle along the selected path causes the nozzle and the tip to disengage from each other, and wherein in the second position the arm is positioned to avoid engagement with the tip during movement of the nozzle.

Growing community of inventors

St. Kilda West, Australia

Richard Alexander Grant