Cell separation apparatus

A method of obtaining a target cell volume, comprising:

• separating, via a first separation mechanism in a first chamber of a cell separation apparatus, and when a pump coupled to the cell separation apparatus is in an activated state, a starting volume of biological materials into a first transfer volume and a first retained volume, said first separation mechanism is disposed in the first chamber to span an inner diameter of said first chamber so that all of said volume of biological materials flows through said first separation mechanism and not around said first separation mechanism;
• transferring the first transfer volume into a second chamber of the cell separation apparatus, wherein the second chamber is fluidly coupled to the first chamber;
• separating, via a second separation mechanism coupled to the second chamber, the first transfer volume into a second transfer volume and a second retained volume, wherein said second separation mechanism comprises a width that is lesser than the width of the second chamber, and a length that is lesser than the length of the second chamber, said second separation mechanism is not in contact with the inner surface of the second chamber, and all of said first transfer volume flows through said second separation mechanism before entering into the second chamber;
• transferring the second transfer volume into a third chamber of the cell separation apparatus, wherein the second chamber is fluidly coupled to the third chamber;
• separating, via one or more third separation mechanism coupled to the third chamber, the second transfer volume into a first cell volume, wherein said third separation mechanism comprises a length extending from a first side of the third chamber to a second side of the third chamber so that said third separation mechanism is flush with both said first and second sides, and all of said second transfer volume flows through said third separation mechanism before entering into the third chamber via a plurality of holes on said third separation mechanism, wherein separating the second transfer volume comprises performing at least one separation cycle;
• obtaining, subsequent to the at least one separation cycle, the first cell volume in the product collection repository.

A system for obtaining a target cell volume, comprising:

• a first chamber comprising an inner diameter and a first separation mechanism, wherein the first separation mechanism is configured to separate a volume of biological material into a volume of fibrous tissue and lipids and a first transfer volume, said first separation mechanism is disposed in the first chamber to span said inner diameter so that all of said volume of biological material flows through said first separation mechanism and not around said first separation mechanism;
• a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber comprises a width, a length, an inner surface and a second separation mechanism that is configured to receive the first transfer volume from the first chamber and separate out a second transfer volume, said second separation mechanism comprises a width that is lesser than the width of the second chamber, and a length that is lesser than the length of the second chamber, said second separation mechanism is not in contact with the inner surface of the second chamber, and all of said first transfer volume flows through said second separation mechanism before entering into the second chamber;
• a third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber, said third chamber comprises a first side, a second side, and one or more third separation mechanism, wherein said third separation mechanism comprises a length extending from said first side to said second side so that said third separation mechanism is flush with both said first and second sides, and all fluid received from the second chamber flows through said third separation mechanism before entering into the third chamber via a plurality of holes on said third separation mechanism;
• a waste repository in fluid communication with the third chamber;
• a product collection repository in fluid communication with the third chamber;
• and
• a pump, wherein the third separation mechanism is configured to separate the second transfer volume into a cell volume comprising solids larger than the holes of the third separation mechanism and a waste volume comprising solids smaller than the holes of the third separation mechanism, and wherein the pump in a first activated state establishes a flow through the third chamber such that the cell volume is transferred to the product collection repository and the waste volume is transferred to the waste repository.