C12M

APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY

APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS

In this subclass the term microorganism includes prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Viruses, human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae are considered microorganisms.

When classifying an apparatus according to its use in group C12M21/00, classification should also be given in at least one of the groups C12M23/00-C12M99/00.

This subclass covers apparatus or devices for the fermentation or for growing microorganisms or animal tissues of both laboratory and industrial scale, i.e. bioreactors.

This subclass covers also apparatus or devices for the pre-treatment or after-treatment of the biomass or microorganisms to be cultured or that have been cultured.

This subclass does not cover the methods or processes taking place in the bioreactors that are not based on the use of the parts of the apparatus.

This subclass does not cover:

apparatus for culturing plant tissue, which are covered by A01H4/001;

apparatus for preservation of living parts of bodies of humans or animals, which are covered by A01N1/0242;

apparatus or devices for testing sterility conditions not linked to a bioreactor or fermenter growing biomass, which are covered by A61L2/00, G01N31/226;

apparatus for biological treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge, which are covered by C02F3/00, C02F11/00;

apparatus for brewing of beer, which are covered by C12C;

apparatus for production of wine or vinegar, which are covered by C12G, C12J1/10;

apparatus or devices for DNA and RNA technology, which are covered by B01L7/52, B01J19/0046, C12N15/1003;

fermentation processes, which are covered by C12P;

apparatus for bioleaching of ores, which are covered by C22B3/18;

removing cellulose from cellulosic substances, which is covered by D21C;

apparatus or devices for sampling, detection, investigation or analysis of microorganisms or biosensors, which are covered by G01N33/48;

apparatus for automatic analysis not linked to a bioreactor or fermenter growing biomass, which are covered by G01N35/00;

testing or evaluating the effect of a chemical or biological compound involving human or animal cells, which are covered by G01N33/5005;

apparatus for immunological test processes, which are covered by G01N33/5302.

In this subclass non-limiting references (in the sense of paragraph 39 of the Guide to the IPC) may still be displayed in the scheme.

C12M1/00

Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology

This group covers:

apparatus where microorganisms or enzymes are produced or isolated;

apparatus where the characteristics of microorganisms or enzymes are investigated, e.g. which growth factors are necessary;

apparatus specially adapted to employ microorganisms or enzymes as "reactants" or biocatalysts;

apparatus of both laboratory and industrial scale.

C12M1/002

Photo bio reactors

C12M1/005

Incubators

C12M1/007

Flexible bags or containers

C12M1/02

with agitation means

with heat exchange means

C12M1/04

with gas introduction means

C12M1/045

providing an anaerobic atmosphere

C12M1/06

with agitator, e.g. impeller

C12M1/065

on a horizontal axis

C12M1/08

with draft tube

C12M1/09

Flotation apparatus

C12M1/10

rotatably mounted

C12M1/107

with means for collecting fermentation gases, e.g. methane producing methane by anaerobic treatment of sludge C02F11/04

C12M1/113

with transport of the substrate during the fermentation

C12M1/12

with sterilisation, filtration or dialysis means

C12M1/121

with sterilisation means

C12M1/123

with flat plate filter elements

C12M1/125

Culture inserts

C12M1/126

with hollow fibres or tubular filter elements

C12M1/128

with moving or mobile filter elements

C12M1/14

with means providing thin layers or with multi-level trays

C12M1/16

containing, or adapted to contain, solid media

C12M1/165

treated with gel punching devices

C12M1/18

Multiple fields or compartments

C12M1/20

Horizontal planar fields

C12M1/203

Disc dispensing devices therefor

C12M1/206

Multiple discs supporting devices

C12M1/21

Froth suppressors

C12M1/22

Petri dishes

C12M1/24

tube or bottle type anaerobic jars C12M1/045

C12M1/26

Inoculator or sampler

C12M1/261

Airborne microorganism samplers

C12M1/262

Handle streaking devices

C12M1/263

Replica plating devices

C12M1/264

Devices involving centrifugal, centripetal or rotational forces

C12M1/265

Pipettes; Syringes; Suction devices

C12M1/266

Magnetic separators

C12M1/267

Biofilm separators

C12M1/268

Positioning tools for sampling or inoculating devices

C12M1/28

being part of container

C12M1/30

Sampler being a swab

C12M1/32

multiple field or continuous type

C12M1/33

Disintegrators

C12M1/34

Measuring or testing with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters

C12M1/3407

Measure of electrical or magnetical factor

C12M1/3415

Pressure measure, e.g. with manometers, respirometers

C12M1/3423

Calorimetry

C12M1/343

Mass spectrometry

C12M1/3438

with use of isotopes, e.g. radiorespirometers, scintillometers

C12M1/3446

Photometry, spectroscopy, laser technology

C12M1/3453

Opacity, turbidity or light transmission measure; Nephelometry

C12M1/3461

Bio- or chemi-luminescence

C12M1/3469

Infra red spectroscopy

C12M1/3476

Fluorescence spectroscopy

C12M1/3484

Pen or contact colony counters

C12M1/3492

with use of lecture and interpretation devices, grids

C12M1/36

including condition or time responsive control, e.g. automatically controlled fermentors controlling or regulating in general G05

C12M1/38

Temperature-responsive control

C12M1/40

Apparatus specially designed for the use of free, immobilised, or carrier-bound enzymes, e.g. apparatus containing a fluidised bed of immobilised enzymes

C12M1/42

Apparatus for the treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

C12M3/00

Tissue, human, animal or plant cell, or virus culture apparatus

C12M3/003

for culture in eggs

C12M3/006

Cell injection or fusion devices

C12M3/02

with means providing suspensions

C12M3/04

with means providing thin layers

C12M3/043

rotatably mounted

C12M3/046

Roller bottles

C12M3/06

with filtration, ultrafiltration, inverse osmosis or dialysis means

C12M3/062

with flat plate filter elements

C12M3/065

with hollow fibres or tubes

C12M3/067

with moving or mobile filter elements

C12M3/08

Apparatus for tissue disaggregation

C12M3/10

for culture in eggs

C12M21/00

Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses digesters for manure A01C3/023; apparatus for PCR B01L7/52; destroying or transforming solid waste B09B3/00; methods for genetic engineering C12N15/00, C12Q1/68; nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844

C12M21/02

Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12

C12M21/04

for producing gas, e.g. biogas digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10

C12M21/06

for in vitro fertilization

C12M21/08

for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00

C12M21/10

adapted for the cultivation of avian eggs or in avian eggs, e.g. for vaccine production

C12M21/12

for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00

C12M21/14

for producing enzymes

C12M21/16

Solid state fermenters, e.g. for koji production

C12M21/18

Apparatus specially designed for the use of free, immobilized or carrier-bound enzymes

C12M23/00

Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges flow directing inserts in C12M27/18-C12M27/24; apparatus for chemical or physical processes in general B01J, chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L

C12M23/02

Form or structure of the vessel large containers B65D88/00

C12M23/04

Flat or tray type, drawers C12M23/10, C12M23/12, C12M23/16 take precedence

C12M23/06

Tubular C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence

C12M23/08

Flask, bottle or test tube

C12M23/10

Petri dish crystallising dishes B01L3/06

C12M23/12

Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence

C12M23/14

Bags

C12M23/16

Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093

C12M23/18

Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations

C12M23/20

Material Coatings immunocoatings C12M25/00

C12M23/22

Transparent or translucent parts glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00

C12M23/24

Gas permeable parts

C12M23/26

flexible flexible containers for laboratory use B01L3/505

C12M23/28

disposable or single use

C12M23/30

biodegradable

C12M23/32

Frangible parts

C12M23/34

Internal compartments or partitions

C12M23/36

Means for collection or storage of gas; Gas holders

C12M23/38

Caps; Covers; Plugs; Pouring means

C12M23/40

Manifolds; Distribution pieces fluid transfer means B01L3/563

C12M23/42

Integrated assemblies, e.g. cassettes or cartridges

C12M23/44

Multiple separable units; Modules

C12M23/46

Means for fastening

C12M23/48

Holding appliances; Racks; Supports holding devices for laboratory apparatus B01L9/00

C12M23/50

Means for positioning or orientating the apparatus C12M41/08 takes precedence

C12M23/52

Mobile; Means for transporting the apparatus transportable laboratories B01L1/52

C12M23/54

hand portable

C12M23/56

Floating elements

C12M23/58

Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00

C12M25/00

Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings

C12M25/01

Drops

C12M25/02

Membranes; Filters filters or filtration in general B01D24/00-B01D41/00

C12M25/04

in combination with well or multiwell plates, i.e. culture inserts

C12M25/06

Plates; Walls; Drawers; Multilayer plates

C12M25/08

electrically charged

C12M25/10

Hollow fibers or tubes hollow fiber modules in general B01D63/02

C12M25/12

the culture medium flowing outside the fiber or tube

C12M25/14

Scaffolds; Matrices in general C12N5/0068

C12M25/16

Particles; Beads; Granular material; Encapsulation chemical or physical processes conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles B01J8/00

C12M25/18

Fixed or packed bed

C12M25/20

Fluidized bed in chemical or physical processes B01J8/18

C12M27/00

Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J

C12M27/02

Stirrer or mobile mixing elements

C12M27/04

with introduction of gas through the stirrer or mixing element

C12M27/06

with horizontal or inclined stirrer shaft or axis

C12M27/08

with different stirrer shapes in one shaft or axis

C12M27/10

Rotating vessel

C12M27/12

Roller bottles; Roller tubes

C12M27/14

Rotation or movement of the cells support, e.g. rotated hollow fibers

C12M27/16

Vibrating; Shaking; Tilting

C12M27/18

Flow directing inserts

C12M27/20

Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes

C12M27/22

Perforated plates, discs or walls

C12M27/24

Draft tube C12M29/08 takes precedence

C12M29/00

Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se

F04B

C12M29/02

Percolation

C12M29/04

Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis

C12M29/06

Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26

C12M29/08

Air lift

C12M29/10

Perfusion

C12M29/12

Pulsatile flow

C12M29/14

Pressurized fluid

C12M29/16

Hollow fibers hollow fiber modules in general B01D63/02

C12M29/18

External loop; Means for reintroduction of fermented biomass or liquid percolate loop type reactors for chemical or physical processes B01J19/2435

C12M29/20

Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02

C12M29/22

Oxygen discharge

C12M29/24

Recirculation of gas

C12M29/26

Conditioning fluids entering or exiting the reaction vessel

C12M31/00

Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light C12M41/06 takes precedence

C12M31/02

located outside the reactor

C12M31/04

Mirrors

C12M31/06

Lenses

C12M31/08

by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure

C12M31/10

by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED

C12M31/12

Rotating light emitting elements

C12M33/00

Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00

C12M33/02

by impregnation, e.g. using swabs or loops fluid transport using swabs B01L3/5029

C12M33/04

by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles pipettes in general B01L3/02

C12M33/06

for multiple inoculation or multiple collection of samples

C12M33/07

Dosage or metering devices therefore

C12M33/08

by vibration

C12M33/10

by centrifugation centrifuges in general B04B; Cyclones cyclones in general B04C

C12M33/12

by pressure

C12M33/14

with filters, sieves or membranes

C12M33/16

Screw conveyor

C12M33/18

Rollers

C12M33/20

Ribbons

C12M33/22

Settling tanks; Sedimentation by gravity settling tanks per se

B01D21/02

C12M35/00

Means for application of stress for stimulating the growth of microorganisms or the generation of fermentation or metabolic products; Means for electroporation or cell fusion machines for extracting juice from animal or plant tissue by electroplasmolysis A23N1/006, processes employing electric or wave energy B01J19/08; treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00; methods for cell fusion C12N15/02; introduction of foreign genetic material C12N15/87

C12M35/02

Electrical or electromagnetic means, e.g. for electroporation or for cell fusion

C12M35/04

Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli

C12M35/06

Magnetic means C12M35/02 takes precedence

C12M35/08

Chemical, biochemical or biological means, e.g. plasma jet, co-culture

C12M37/00

Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00

C12M37/02

Filters

C12M37/04

Seals

C12M37/06

Means for testing the completeness of the sterilization testing for sterility conditions C12Q1/22

C12M39/00

Means for cleaning the apparatus or avoiding unwanted deposits of microorganisms apparatus for cleaning laboratory receptacles or instruments B01L13/02; cleaning in general B08B

C12M41/00

Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N

C12M41/02

of foam foam prevention during gasification of liquids B01D19/02

C12M41/04

Means for foam enhancement making foam by mixing B01F23/235

C12M41/06

of illumination

C12M41/08

Means for changing the orientation

C12M41/10

Filtering the incident radiation

C12M41/12

of temperature controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00

C12M41/14

Incubators; Climatic chambers per se

B01L1/00

C12M41/16

by recirculation of culture medium at controlled temperature

C12M41/18

Heat exchange systems, e.g. heat jackets or outer envelopes

C12M41/20

the heat transfer medium being a gas

C12M41/22

in contact with the bioreactor walls

C12M41/24

inside the vessel

C12M41/26

of pH

C12M41/28

of redox potential

C12M41/30

of concentration

C12M41/32

of substances in solution

C12M41/34

of gas

C12M41/36

of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404

C12M41/38

of metabolites or enzymes in the cells

C12M41/40

of pressure

C12M41/42

of agitation speed

C12M41/44

of volume or liquid level

C12M41/46

of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability

C12M41/48

Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00

C12M43/00

Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus

C12M43/02

Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries

C12M43/04

Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02

C12M43/06

Photobioreactors combined with devices or plants for gas production different from a bioreactor of fermenter

C12M43/08

Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity

C12M45/00

Means for pre-treatment of biological substances

C12M45/02

by mechanical forces; Stirring; Trituration; Comminuting crushing, pulverizing, disintegrating in general B02C

C12M45/03

by control of the humidity or content of liquids; Drying

C12M45/04

Phase separators; Separation of non fermentable material; Fractionation

C12M45/05

by centrifugation centrifuges in general B04B

C12M45/06

by chemical means or hydrolysis

C12M45/07

by electrical or electromagnetic forces

C12M45/09

by enzymatic treatment

C12M45/20

Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00

C12M45/22

Means for packing or storing viable microorganisms casings for storing cell samples A61B10/0096, preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02

C12M47/00

Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass filters in general B01D23/00-B01D41/00

C12M47/02

Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02

C12M47/04

Cell isolation or sorting purging biological preparations of unwanted cells C12N5/0081, determining the presence or kind of microorganism C12Q1/04

C12M47/06

Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003

C12M47/08

Homogenizing

C12M47/10

Separation or concentration of fermentation products bioreactors combined with means for distillation or extraction of liquid fuel C12M43/02

C12M47/12

Purification C12M47/04 takes precedence

C12M47/14

Drying

C12M47/16

Sterilization autoclaves in general B01J3/04

C12M47/18

Gas cleaning, e.g. scrubbers; Separation of different gases separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00; separation of gases or vapours B01D53/00; gas washing apparatus for laboratory uses B01L5/04

C12M47/20

Heating or cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00

C12M99/00

Subject matter not otherwise provided for in other groups of this subclass

C12M99/02

Disc dispensing devices