Optimized geometric design of a cell processing cassette

A CPC for use in a cell processing platform, comprising:

• a. an internal chamber having a central axis and configured to concentrate and sequester cells through centrifugation, wherein the chamber narrows toward a bottom section that transitions from conical walls to flat opposing walls providing an improved optical path to monitor the movement of cells and allowing the removal of wash fluid up through the waste disposal tube while retaining cells during a wash cycle;
• b. a motion actuator configured to induce controlled oscillatory motion to the CPC and facilitated by the geometry of the internal chamber, wherein the CPC is configured to reciprocally oscillate between 1 and 360 degrees either direction;
• c. an upper section positioned at the top of the funnel, configured for gas exchange, fluid intake, and filtration, wherein a surface area of the top section provides a 2D docking field with multiple ports, allowing alignment with external docking mechanisms and ensuring proper engagement for gas and fluid transfer;
• and
• d. sedimentation column defined by a wall section that is substantially parallel to axis of funnel-shaped internal chamber at the bottom of the funnel-shaped internal chamber, the wall section having a diameter no more than ¼th the diameter of the upper section and configured to provide a predictable path for optical monitoring of cell sedimentation, enabling selective removal of non-cell-containing fluids while maintaining cell numbers and purity within the chamber.

A method for controlling fluid motion within a CPC during tilting, comprising the steps of:

• a. positioning fluid and gas transfer ports in a straight line along the top interior surface of the CPC, wherein each internal port opening is configured to prevent fluid ingress during CPC tilting;
• b. tilting the CPC to at least 180 degrees in either direction from a vertical position, and in a direction perpendicular to the line of ports, such that the fluid level within the CPC rises along the interior wall without reaching any of the in-line internal port openings;
• c. connecting each internal port opening to an external access point via a fluid or gas pathway, wherein the external access points are offset from the in-line configuration of the internal port openings to allow access for fluid or gas transfer mechanisms;
• and
• d. maintaining fluid containment and asepsis during the tilting process, wherein the in-line configuration of the internal port openings ensures that the maximum allowable fluid level does not contact any port opening, preventing contamination and fluid loss.

A method for processing cells within a CPC, the method comprising:

• a. introducing patient cells into the CPC from a blood or leukaphereses vessel, the CPC comprising a funnel-shaped internal chamber that narrows towards a narrow bottom section being cylindrical in shape and having substantially vertical and parallel walls;
• b. concentrating and sedimenting cells via centrifugation to the narrow bottom section of the CPC, wherein the funnel-shaped internal chamber facilitates cell concentration by directing cells downward to the narrow bottom section;
• and
• c. mixing cells and fluids within the chamber by rotating the CPC, wherein the CPC is rotated 1 to 180 degrees in either direction to achieve effective mixing, utilizing gravity and the chamber's geometry to control cell and fluid distribution through a motion-inducing mechanism configured to impart reciprocal motion to the CPC.

A CPC comprising:

• a. a primary chamber having a narrowing geometry that tapers from a wider diameter at an upper region to a narrower diameter at a lower region, wherein the narrower diameter includes flat sides;
• b. a plurality of optical emitter and receiver pairs positioned along the flat-sided portion of the narrower diameter, configured to measure the opacity of a cell suspension fluid within the chamber;
• c, wherein the optical emitter and receiver pairs are adapted to:
• i. detect variations in light transmission caused by the presence of cells within the fluid;
• ii. compare measured opacity values to a lookup table to estimate total cell count in the chamber, and
• iii. enable predictions of cell concentration with enhanced sensitivity due to the narrowing geometry;
• d. a mixing system configured to distribute cells evenly throughout the chamber prior to optical measurements;
• and
• e. an algorithm that accounts for the elapsed time since mixing to adjust cell count calculations based on sedimentation dynamics.