Apparatus and method for isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ tissue sample
OwnerDavid James Cooninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ or encapsulated organ tissue sample within a sealed environment. The apparatus and method utilize a sealed perfusion tank, a sealed perfusion box to create a sealed environment for the perfusion tank, and a filter cartridge containing one or more filters for separating the cells from the digested tissue sample.
Claims22
An apparatus for recirculating buffer through and isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ or an encapsulated organ tissue sample comprising:
- (a) a perfusion tank capable of holding said tissue sample and said buffer and of allowing access to said tissue sample during use, comprising a waste drain, a cell drain, and a buffer recirculation connection;
- (b) a perfusion box for containing said perfusion tank in a sealed environment, comprising a container enclosing said perfusion tank and means for accessing said perfusion tank;
- (c) means for recirculating said buffer in said perfusion tank and said tissue sample through said buffer recirculation connection;
- and
- (d) a filter cartridge connected to said cell drain having at least one filter capable of separating said living cells from an effluent passing out of said cell drain.
A method for isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ tissue sample, comprising:
- (a) preparing said tissue sample for use with a buffer recirculating system;
- (b) attaching said buffer recirculating system to said tissue sample;
- (c) digesting said tissue sample by recirculating at least one buffer through said tissue sample in a closed environment with said buffer recirculating system, said buffer being selected to separate living cells from said tissue sample;
- (d) maintaining the temperature of said closed environment at a desired temperature;
- and
- (e) filtering said digested tissue sample in said closed environment to isolate the desired cells.
A method for isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ tissue sample comprising:
- (a) establishing a perfusion tank capable of holding said tissue sample and a processing buffer and allowing access to said tissue sample during use, comprising a waste drain, a cell drain, and a buffer recirculation connection;
- (b) establishing a perfusion box for containing said perfusion tank in a sealed environment, comprising a container enclosing said perfusion tank and a means for accessing said perfusion tank;
- (c) circulating said processing buffer in said perfusion tank and within said tissue sample through said buffer recirculation connection;
- (d) establishing a cartridge connected to said cell drain having one or more filters capable of separating said living cells from an effluent passing out of said cell drain;
- and
- (e) separating said living cells by utilizing said cartridge.
An apparatus adapted for being used with an associated buffer source for isolating living cells from an encapsulated organ or organ tissue sample, comprising:
- (a) a perfusion tank having means operative during use:
- (i) for holding said tissue sample and a buffer;
- (ii) for allowing access to said tissue sample;
- (iii) for separately drawing waste and cells from said tank;
- and
- (iv) connectable for buffer recirculating:
- (b) a perfusion box enclosing said perfusion tank and having means providing access thereto;
- (c) means connectable with said perfusion tank buffer recirculation means for recirculating buffer in said perfusion tank and tissue sample;
- and
- (d) filter means connected to said perfusion tank means for separately draining cells and adapted for separating living cells from effluent received by said filter means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.