High volume centrifugal fluid processing system and method for cultured cell suspensions and the like
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorsT. Michael Dennehey, Stanley J. Pernic, Joseph C. West, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A centrifugal processing system for cultured cellular suspensions comprises a reservoir for pooling a desired volume of the cellular suspension from a plurality of individual containers in which the cellular suspension have been cultured. A centrifugation chamber is provided operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant. Fluid is conveyed from the reservoir into the centrifugation chamber at a high flow rate exceeding 1 liter per minute. The cellular component and supernatant are collected from the centrifugation chamber.
Claims16
A centrifugal processing system for cultured cellular suspensions comprising
- reservoir means for pooling a desired volume of the cellular suspension;
- first supply means for conveying cellular suspension into said reservoir means from a plurality of individual containers in which the cellular suspension have been cultured;
- means controlling said first supply means for maintaining said desired volume of cellular suspension in said reservoir means during the processing period;
- means defining a centrifugation chamber operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant;
- second supply means for conveying fluid from said reservoir means into said centrifugation chamber;
- means for collecting the cellular component from said centrifugation chamber;
- and
- means for collecting the supernatant from said centrifugation chamber.
A centrifugal processing system for cultured cellular suspensions comprising
- reservoir means for pooling a desired volume of the cellular suspension;
- first supply means for conveying cellular suspension into said reservoir means from a plurality of individual containers in which the cellular suspension have been cultured, said first supply means including a first inlet and a second inlet;
- means controlling said first supply means for maintaining said desired volume of cellular suspension in said reservoir means during the processing period;
- means defining a centrifugation chamber operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant;
- second supply means for conveying fluid from said reservoir means into said centrifugation chamber;
- a first work station including
- means for supporting a first plurality of cellular suspension containers in fluid communication with said first inlet of said first supply means during fluid processing, and
- means defining a work surface for accommodating the manipulation of said plurality of cellular suspension containers on said first work station,
- a second work station including
- means for supporting a second plurality of cellular suspension containers in fluid communication with said second inlet of said first supply means during fluid processing, and
- means defining a work surface for accommodating the manipulation of said plurality of cellular suspension containers on said second work station, and
- said first supply means further including means for conveying cellular suspension into said reservoir means through a selected one or both of said first and second inlets.
A method for centrifugally processing large volumes of cultured cellular suspensions comprising the steps of:
- supporting a first plurality of cellular suspension containers in fluid communication with a reservoir,
- conveying the cellular suspension from the first plurality of containers into the reservoir;
- maintaining a desired volume of cellular suspension in the reservoir means while conveying the cellular suspension into a centrifugation chamber operative in response to centrifugal force for separating the cellular suspension into a cellular component and a supernatant;
- while the cellular suspension from the first plurality of containers is being centrifugally processed, supporting a second plurality of cellular suspension containers adjacent to the reservoir, and
- after a desired quantity of the cellular suspension from the first plurality of containers has undergone centrifugal processing, conveying cellular suspension from the second plurality of containers into the reservoir to continue centrifugal processing without interruption of fluid flow to the centrifugal chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.