System and method for obtaining a cellular sample enriched with defined cells such as platelet rich plasma (PRP)

A system closable to the atmosphere for obtaining an enriched bone marrow aspirate concentrate fraction comprising:

• a. a collection tube for collecting bone marrow comprising:
• at least one stopper for maintaining said collection tube closable to the atmosphere, an anticoagulant portion;
• and a portion of separation gel having a density of about 1.04 g/cm3 to about 1.09 g/cm3 adapted for separating and acting as a barrier between fractions of said bone marrow formed after centrifugation;
• b. a first collection syringe for collecting a poor cellular fluid portion from the collection tube;
• c. a second collection syringe for collecting enriched bone marrow cells, wherein said first collection syringe and said second collection syringe are adapted for simultaneous connection to the collection tube via a common connector to enable selective collection of said poor cellular fluid portion and said enriched portion;
• and,
• d. at least one needle for attaching to each said syringe;
• wherein said second collection syringe comprises a filter unit having effective pore size of about 3-50 μm for obtaining enriched bone marrow aspirate concentrate;
• further wherein said tube containing the bone marrow is adapted such that when centrifuged after treatment yields separation fractions in a sterile environment, a first fraction comprises primarily red blood cells (RBCs) sediment, a second fraction comprises a gel layer, a third fraction comprises enriched bone marrow nucleated cells on top of the gel layer and a fourth fraction comprises the poor cellular fluid portion of PPP.

A system for obtaining platelet rich plasma (PRP) comprising:

• a. a collection tube for collecting whole blood comprising at least one stopper for maintaining said collection tube closed to atmosphere;
• a citrate-based anticoagulant;
• and a separation gel comprising polyolefin and having a density of about 1.04 to about 1.09 g/cm3;
• b. a first collection syringe adapted to be connected to said collection tube for collecting platelet poor plasma (PPP) from the collection tube while said collection tube is closed to the atmosphere;
• c. a second collection syringe adapted to be connected to said collection tube for collecting platelets rich plasma (PRP) from the collection tube while said collection tube remains closed to the atmosphere;
• and,
• d. at least one needle for attaching to each said syringe;
• wherein said separation gel forms a barrier between fractions of said blood after centrifugation:
• a first fraction comprises red blood cells (RBCs) sediment and granulocytes, a second fraction comprises gel layer, a third fraction comprises platelets and white blood cells on top of the gel layer, and a fourth fraction comprises platelet poor plasma (PPP).

A system closable to the atmosphere for obtaining platelet rich plasma (PRP) comprising:

• a. a vacuum collection tube for collecting blood comprising:
• at least one stopper for maintaining said collection tube closable to the atmosphere;
• a citrate-based anticoagulant;
• and a separation gel having a density of about 1.04 g/cm3 to about 1.09 g/cm3 adapted for separating and acting as a barrier between fractions of said cell suspension formed after centrifugation;
• b. a first collection syringe for collecting platelet poor plasma (PPP);
• c. a second collection syringe for collecting platelet rich plasma (PRP) portion, wherein said first collection syringe and said second collection syringe are adapted for simultaneous connection to the collection tube via a common connector to enable selective collection of said poor cellular fluid portion and said enriched portion;
• and
• d. at least one needle for attaching to each said syringe;
• wherein said second collection syringe for collecting enriched platelet rich plasma (PRP) portion further comprises a filter unit having effective pore size of about 3-50 μm for obtaining WBC-selective PRP.

A method for producing platelet rich plasma (PRP), comprising:

• providing a collection tube for collecting blood, the tube comprising at least one stopper for maintaining said collection tube closed to atmosphere;
• a citrate based anticoagulant;
• and a separation gel comprising polyolefin and having a density of 1.04 g/cm3 to about 1.09 g/cm3, adapted to act as a barrier and as a separating element between fractions of said blood after centrifugation;
• extracting a whole blood sample from a patient into said collection tube;
• separating the whole blood sample by centrifugation to obtain separation fractions comprising a first fraction of red blood cell sediment and granulocytes, a second fraction of said gel, a third fraction containing platelets and white blood cells (WBCs) on top of said gel, and a fourth fraction of platelet poor plasma (PPP);
• extracting 50-90% of said PPP from said collection tube with a first collection syringe while the collection tube remains closed to the atmosphere;
• re-suspending the platelets in the collection tube;
• and
• extracting PRP from said collection tube including a portion of WBCs remaining in said collection tube on top of the gel with a second collection syringe while the collection tube remains closed to the atmosphere.