Modular bio-processing unit and a bio-processing system employing plural units

A modular bio-processing unit operable with like units to provide a bio-processing system, comprising:

• a housing having one or more internal fluid paths, the housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, each in fluid communication with the fluid path or one or more of the fluid paths;
• one or more sensor elements operatively associated with the or each path, said sensor(s) elements including elements of one or more of:
• a flow rate or flow direction sensor, a conductivity sensor, a pressure sensor, a pH sensor, an air trap and a light absorbance sensor;
• one or more pneumatically operable fluid flow inducing components operatively associated with the or each fluid path;
• and
• plural valves for preventing or reducing flow in the or each path,
• the housing, inlet(s), outlet(s), flow inducing component(s) and valve(s) being arranged to operate together as a bio-processing unit within or substantially within the housing,
• wherein the modular bio-processing unit is formed from three layers of substantially plastic material that are heat/diffusion bonded together, the at least one inlet being present in a first outer layer, the one or more fluid paths being present in a middle layer, and the at least one outlet being present in a second outer layer, the first outer layer and the second outer layer being positioned on opposite sides of the middle layer.