Cell washing plunger using centrifugal force

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757721-B2
Application number	US-201514708547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2015
Priority date	May 11, 2015
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A method for washing a suspension of cells including a suspension fluid and a plurality of cells is provided. The method includes using centripetal force to generate a layer of wash solution against a cylindrical wall and to generate a cell suspension layer adjacent to the layer of wash solution. The method also includes forcing the cells through the layer of wash solution to generate a layer of clean cells. Devices for performing the method are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for washing a suspension of cells, the device comprising:
a housing defining a cylindrical outer wall that extends about and along a central longitudinal axis from a first inner surface of a first end to a second inner surface of a second end,
a first cylindrical inner wall that extends about and along the longitudinal axis from the first inner surface to the second inner surface, the first inner wall defining a first compartment and a second compartment adjacent to and concentric with the first compartment;
a first valve assembly including a first valve, the first valve assembly positioned through the first inner wall such that the first compartment is in fluid communication with second compartment when the first valve is open at a first centripetal force;
a plunger assembly comprising a plunger valve, the plunger assembly in fluid communication with the first compartment when the plunger valve is open at plunger valve centripetal force, the plunger valve centripetal force being different from the first centripetal force;
a first inlet port; and
an outlet port.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second inner wall that extends about and along the longitudinal axis from the first inner surface to the second inner surface, the second inner wall positioned between the first inner wall and the cylindrical outer wall to define a third compartment adjacent to and concentric with the second compartment.

3. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising a porous screen that extends about and along the longitudinal axis from the first inner surface to the second inner surface and positioned between the first inner wall and the second inner wall, wherein the porous screen comprises pores configured to permit cells to pass through.

4. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising a second valve assembly including a second valve, the second valve assembly positioned through the second inner wall such that the second compartment is in fluid communication with the third compartment when the second valve is open.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first valve is configured to open at the first centripetal force and the second valve is configured to open at a second centripetal force that is greater than the first centripetal force.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the second valve assembly extends from a first end to a second end of a valve body, and wherein the first end extends into the second compartment to a point where a cell: solution interface will form during use.

7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a relief compartment positioned adjacent to a second outer surface disposed opposite to the second inner surface, the relief compartment being in fluid communication with the second compartment.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the outlet port is positioned on the first end, the outlet port being in fluid communication with the relief compartment through a conduit.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the first compartment and the outlet port is configured to be used as a second inlet port.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port is in fluid communication with the first compartment, and the device further comprises a second inlet port in fluid communication with the second compartment.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port and the outlet port are in fluid communication with the first compartment, and wherein the outlet port is in fluid communication with the first compartment through a conduit that extends adjacent to the second inner surface.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first inner wall is positioned at a distance D 1 from the longitudinal axis and the device further comprises a porous screen that extends about and along the longitudinal axis from the first inner surface to the second inner surface and is positioned at a distance D 2 from the longitudinal axis, wherein D 2 is less than D 1 , and wherein the porous screen comprises pores configured to permit cells to pass through.

13. The device according to claim 1 , the plunger assembly further comprising a barrel and a plunger, the plunger assembly positioned outside of the first and second compartments.

14. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first centripetal force is less than the plunger valve centripetal force.

15. The device according to claim 14 , the plunger assembly further comprising a plunger configured to be actuated at the plunger valve centripetal force.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve assembly extends from a first end to a second end of a valve body, and wherein the first end extends into the first compartment to a point where a cell: solution interface will form during use.

17. A device for washing a suspension of cells, the device comprising:
a cylindrical outer wall that extends about and along a central longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end,
a cylindrical inner wall that extends about and along the central longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the first inner wall defining a first compartment and a second compartment concentric with the first compartment, the inner wall positioned a distance D 1 from the central longitudinal axis;
a first valve assembly having a first valve configured to open at a first centripetal force, the first compartment in fluid communication with second compartment when the first valve is open;
a porous screen configured to allow cells to pass through, the porous screen positioned a distance D 2 from the central longitudinal axis, wherein D 2 is less than D 1 ;
a first port; and
a second port.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the first valve comprises a body having a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first compartment a distance determined by a volume to be loaded into the device.

19. The device of claim 18 , further comprising a plunger assembly including a second valve configured to open at a second centripetal force that is different from the first centripetal force, the plunger assembly in fluid communication with the first compartment when the plunger valve is open.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the plunger assembly comprises a plunger configured to be actuated at the second centripetal force.

Assignees

• Biomet Biologics Llc

Inventors

• Leach Michael D
• Dorian Randel
• Storrs Richard W
• King Scott R

Classifications

• B01L2400/0478

  pistons · CPC title

• B01L3/567

  Valves, taps or stop-cocks · CPC title

• A61M1/3692

  Washing or rinsing blood or blood constituents · CPC title

• B01L2400/0409

  centrifugal forces · CPC title

• B04B5/0442

  with means for adding or withdrawing liquid substances during the centrifugation, e.g. continuous centrifugation · CPC title