Methods of using pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) therapy to treat pancreatic disorders such as type 1 diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are provided. The methods utilize pulsed focused ultrasound (pFUS) therapy either by itself or in combination with islet transplantation and/or stem cell therapy to promote regeneration of damaged pancreatic tissue, increase insulin secretion in response to glucose, or improve engraftment and revascularization of transplanted islets or beta cells. Additionally, methods of using pFUS are provided for modulating paracrine secretion in the pancreas, islets, beta cells, or stem cells, or at a transplantation site to therapeutically alter levels of various factors including, without limitation, cytokines, growth factors, angiogenic factors, and cell adhesion molecules.

According to one embodiment, a pluripotent stem cell manufacturing system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires storage information for the storage of a sample from a donor, and surviving cell number information for the number of surviving cells contained in the sample. The processing circuitry estimates tissue stem cell number information for the number of tissue stem cells contained in the sample, based on the storage information and the surviving cell number information.

According to one embodiment, a pluripotent stem cell manufacturing system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires storage information for the storage of a sample from a donor, and surviving cell number information for the number of surviving cells contained in the sample. The processing circuitry estimates tissue stem cell number information for the number of tissue stem cells contained in the sample, based on the storage information and the surviving cell number information.

Tissue and cellular samples can be electrically dissociated into single cells and/or smaller groups of cells. The tissue samples can be housed in a device (which may also include a fluid) with one or more electrodes residing within the device. The device can be used to process one or more tissue samples. An electric field can be established through the device and the tissue samples can be dissociated into single cells and/or smaller groups of cells under the electric field.

Tissue and cellular samples can be electrically dissociated into single cells and/or smaller groups of cells. The tissue samples can be housed in a device (which may also include a fluid) with one or more electrodes residing within the device. The device can be used to process one or more tissue samples. An electric field can be established through the device and the tissue samples can be dissociated into single cells and/or smaller groups of cells under the electric field.

A particle recovery device for recovering particles contained in a liquid sample, the particle recovery device comprising: a flow cell having a flow path through which the liquid sample flows; a density acquisition unit that acquires a density of the liquid sample; standing wave forming means that applies an ultrasonic wave into the flow path to generate a standing wave; a control unit that determines a frequency of the ultrasonic wave that generates the standing wave in the flow path based on the density acquired by the density acquisition unit and causes the standing wave forming means to apply the ultrasonic wave of the determined frequency; and recovery means that recovers particles focused in the flow path by the standing wave.

A particle recovery device for recovering particles contained in a liquid sample, the particle recovery device comprising: a flow cell having a flow path through which the liquid sample flows; a density acquisition unit that acquires a density of the liquid sample; standing wave forming means that applies an ultrasonic wave into the flow path to generate a standing wave; a control unit that determines a frequency of the ultrasonic wave that generates the standing wave in the flow path based on the density acquired by the density acquisition unit and causes the standing wave forming means to apply the ultrasonic wave of the determined frequency; and recovery means that recovers particles focused in the flow path by the standing wave.

Methods, tip assemblies and kits are provided for introducing material into cells. The tip assemblies include an attachment portion, a channel portion, and a constriction that function to reduce fluid pressure as a fluid passes through the constriction portion from the channel portion, whereby the tip assemblies form pores in the membranes of cells and introduce material into the cells. The material includes for example one selected from the group of: an inorganic compound, a drug, a genetic material, a protein, a carbohydrate, a synthetic polymer, and a pharmaceutical composition.

Methods, tip assemblies and kits are provided for introducing material into cells. The tip assemblies include an attachment portion, a channel portion, and a constriction that function to reduce fluid pressure as a fluid passes through the constriction portion from the channel portion, whereby the tip assemblies form pores in the membranes of cells and introduce material into the cells. The material includes for example one selected from the group of: an inorganic compound, a drug, a genetic material, a protein, a carbohydrate, a synthetic polymer, and a pharmaceutical composition.

Separation of materials is achieved using affinity binding and acoustophoretic techniques. A column provided with a fluid mixture of materials for separation and support structures may be used with acoustic waves to block flow of the support structures. The support structures can have an affinity for one or more materials in the fluid mixture. By blocking flow of the support structures, materials bound or adhered to the support structure are also blocked.