Microwave-Sterilizable Access Port

The microwave-sterilizable access port is an apparatus that functions in a simple, quick, and reliable manner to reduce significantly the risk of contamination during transfer of materials into or out of bioreactors or other microbially vulnerable closed systems. A major improvement over equipment developed previously for the same purpose, this apparatus can be expected to increase confidence in the microbial integrity of samples taken from closed systems. In tests, the original model of this apparatus exceeded expectations: Although it was rigorously challenged by a variety of microorganisms (e.g., C. albicans, A. niger, S. faecalis, E. coli, K. terrigena, Ps. cepacia, B. pumilus, B. stearothermophilus), it performed very well. The apparatus is easily adaptable to applications in cell culture and tissue engineering, and to applications in the production of diverse products that could include foods, drugs, bottled water, soft drinks, and fruit juices. By ensuring that sterilization can be achieved simply, reliably, and quickly, the microwave-sterilizable access port will facilitate collection of samples, delivery of nutrients, and harvesting of products, all without the potential for contamination of the experimental or production systems, samples, or the environment.