Disclosed herein are devices for use in transplanting cells. The devices can include a housing defining a cavity; and a support structure separating the cavity into a cell chamber and a reservoir chamber, wherein the support structure comprises a membrane for fluid communication between the cell chamber and reservoir chamber. The cell chamber can define a first opening comprising a microstructure containing an array of micro-channels, each having a diameter to facilitate growth of vascular tissues; and an array of micro-reservoirs, each having a diameter to facilitate housing of cell aggregates individually. The membrane can define a surface area that is at least 50% of a total surface area of the support structure. Methods of treating a subject for a disease condition, such as diabetes, are also disclosed.

Provided herein is a pre-Caesarean method for collecting amniotic fluid from a patient. A needle is inserted into the incision site for the future C-section, which may be under ultrasound guidance, through which the amniotic fluid is drawn under a low level suction and, optionally, gravity to a sterile collection container. The method encompasses filtering and/or irradiating the amniotic fluid to collect biomolecules of interest such as growth factors and/or stem cells. Also provided is the sterile amniotic fluid or filtrates thereof collected by the method described herein.

A device for aseptic delivery of biological material from a vial includes a tubular barrel, a filter assembly, and a dispersion funnel assembly. The tubular barrel includes a receiving end to accept at least a portion of the vial within the tubular barrel, and a dispensing end opposite the receiving end. The filter assembly is fluidly connected to the dispensing end of the tubular barrel. The dispersion funnel assembly is configured to connect to the vial, and to be disposed at least partially within the tubular barrel. The dispersion funnel assembly has an open configuration to disperse the biological material from the vial into the tubular barrel between the dispersion funnel assembly and the filter assembly, and a closed configuration to force the dispersed biological material through the filter assembly when the dispersion funnel assembly is moved toward the dispensing end of the tubular barrel.

The present invention may include an upper cap having an opening/closing member for opening and closing an inlet through which a blood is injected; a main body housing having an open upper end outer surface thereof assembled with the upper cap, and having an inner space in which the blood is filled with; an adjustment housing that is coupled to the main body housing to seal the open lower end of the main body housing, and is movably assembled with respect to the main body housing so that a buffy coat layer is positioned on a neck portion; and a side cap fixed to the neck portion by forming a needle hole through which an end of an injection needle for extraction enters and exits in area corresponding to a sealing member to seal an extraction hole formed through the neck portion.

The present invention relates to a method for separating lymphocytes and/or stem cells from whole blood in an automated blood separation system, wherein the quality of the collected lymphocytes and/or stem cells fractions is increased and the cell collection procedure is further automated by use of an optical sensor comprised in a detector device to measure turbidity and colour in the claimed method and in a cell separator, which can be used to perform the claimed method. The method of the invention is particularly useful to collect lymphocytes and/or stem cells fractions from whole blood, wherein the contamination of the collected cell fractions by platelets, red blood cells and granulocytes is reduced.

A method for processing biological material containing stringy tissue in a container having a tissue collector disposed in a tissue retention volume on one side of an internal filter includes washing biological material contained in the tissue retention volume with wash liquid to the tissue retention volume and allowing the wash liquid and rotating the tissue collector disposed in the tissue retention volume relative to the container in a first direction of rotation about an axis of rotation to sweep the teeth positioned on the tissue collector through the biological material and to collect stringy material on the tissue collector.

A medical device for the separation of a concentrate enriched with cells from a biological fluid, in particular a concentrate of stromal or stem cells from medullar aspirate or venous blood, comprises: a treatment container for receiving and treating the biological fluid for the purposes of its separation into a number of fractions; a first collection container, for receiving a first fraction of the fluid, in particular a fraction poor in said cells; a second collection container, for receiving a second concentrated fraction of the fluid enriched with said cells; a deviator valve having a first way connected or prearranged for connection to the treatment container, a second way connected or prearranged for connection to the first collection container, and a third way connected or prearranged for connection to the second collection container; a first line for connection of the treatment container to the first way of the deviator valve, a second line for connection of the first collection container to the second way of the deviator valve, and a third line for connection of the second collection container with the third way of the deviator valve.

The treatment container is a syringe container with a plunger having a plunger stem associated in a releasable way to a corresponding plunger head, and the first connection line comprises a first transparent tube, in particular a flexible transparent tube, and at least one of the second and third connection lines preferably comprises a second flexible tube. At least one connection line, or each connection line, further comprises: at least one respective hydraulic connector, for separable connection of a corresponding tube to the corresponding container and/or to the corresponding way of the deviator valve; and at least one automatic-closing or one-way valve.

A method and apparatus for delivery of cell therapies, introduced via percutaneous access to the circulation, and delivered to the site of vascular injury intervention.

A system for blood cell separation, comprising:

a separation chamber (10) comprising an inlet port for blood (12), an outlet port for plasma (14) and at least an outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for the separation of whole blood;

a blood pump (20) for pumping whole blood into the inlet port for blood (12);

a plasma pump (22) for pumping plasma and/or target cells from the outlet port for plasma (14) out of the separation chamber (10);

a red blood cell tube (30) comprising a first end (32) and a second end (34), wherein the first end (32) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the outlet port for cellular blood components (16) for allowing red blood cells to leave the separation chamber (10); and

a drip chamber (40) comprising a reservoir (42) and an inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) is connected to the inlet (46), wherein the second end (34) of the red blood cell tube (30) extends into the volume of the reservoir (42) for pressure equalization during pumping from the outlet port for plasma (14).

The invention relates to a treatment device (100) which is designed for extracorporeal blood treatment of blood of a subject (2) for an immunotolerance enhancement of the subject (2), comprising at least one container (10) which has an interior (11) for receiving a blood sample (1) of blood of the subject (2) and an exchange device (20) designed to supply and/or discharge the blood sample (1) into or out of the interior (11) of the container (10) and comprising a cell exposure device (30) which is positioned in the container (10) and has biological cell material (31) with surface molecules, said cell material being arranged in the interior (11) of the container (10) for a material interaction with the blood sample (1), including a reaction of endogenous immune cells in the blood with the surface molecules of the cell material. The invention also relates to a kit for extracorporeal blood treatment and to a method for operating the treatment device.