Abstract: A blood washing system (20) having a rotor (22) defining an internal chamber for receiving a multi-component fluid and a skimmer assembly (24) including a moveable buoy (28) having an orifice (32) fluidly connected to an access port for the rotor for selectively withdrawing separated fractions of the multi-component fluid. The multi-component fluid can be fed into the internal chamber before the rotor (22) can be rotated at a first speed to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to slow rotation of the rotor to a slower second speed or stop rotation of the rotor causing the solid and denser fluid fractions to settle on the bottom wall (44) of the rotor (22). The buoy (28) can have a specific gravity corresponding to a selected fraction such that the buoy floats on a surface of the selected fraction, wherein the fractions floating on the selected fraction can be withdrawn through the orifice (32).

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating a cellular component from a multicomponent fluid. The device can comprise a body, a first acoustic wave generator, and a second acoustic wave propagating component. The body can define a channel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The channel can extend along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. The first acoustic wave generator can be coupled to the first surface. The first acoustic wave generator can be configured to generate an acoustic wave having a wavelength. The second acoustic wave propagating component can be coupled to the second surface. The second surface can be spaced an integer fractional multiple of the wavelength from the first surface and each integer factional multiple equals a number of pressure nodes within the channel.

Abstract: A blood washing system (20) having a rotor (22) defining an internal chamber for receiving a multi-component fluid and a skimmer assembly (24) including a moveable buoy (28) having an orifice (32) fluidly connected to an access port for the rotor for selectively withdrawing separated fractions of the multi-component fluid. The multi-component fluid can be fed into the internal chamber before the rotor (22) can be rotated at a first speed to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to slow rotation of the rotor to a slower second speed or stop rotation of the rotor causing the solid and denser fluid fractions to settle on the bottom wall (44) of the rotor (22). The buoy (28) can have a specific gravity corresponding to a selected fraction such that the buoy floats on a surface of the selected fraction, wherein the fractions floating on the selected fraction can be withdrawn through the orifice (32).

Abstract: A blood washing system including a rotor defining an internal chamber and a skimmer assembly configured to move a withdrawal needle within the internal chamber. A multi-component fluid, such as a whole blood sample, can be fed into the internal chamber via a feed tube, where the rotor can be rotated to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to cease rotation or rotated at a slower speed to allow the fractions of the multi-component to settle on a bottom wall of the rotor. The withdrawal needle is moveable within the internal chamber to align an orifice of the withdrawal needle for withdrawing the liquid fractions and isolate the solid fractions. Wash fluids can be added to the internal chamber to repeat the wash cycle without removing the solid fractions. The washed solid fractions can be withdrawn via the feed tube and collected.

Abstract: A funnel element having an open end and a closed pointed end configured to receive a multi-component fluid containing a solid fraction. The solid fraction can comprise cellular material that sediments toward the closed pointed end to form a cell pack. A wash fluid can be pumped through the cell pack to entrain microparticles and soluble contaminants. The wash fluid can be introduced into the funnel element below the cell pack such that the wash fluid percolates through the cell pack. The percolating wash fluid can dislodge microparticles or other contaminants trapped within the cell pack. Additional wash fluids can be added to funnel element where excess wash fluids overflow from the funnel element through the open end of the funnel element.

Abstract: A separation rotor having an outer wall defining a separation chamber and an inner annular wall dividing the separation chamber into an inner annular space and an outer annular space. The separation rotor can be rotated to move heavier and/or denser components of the multi-component fluid into the outer annular space. The lighter and/or less dense components of the multi-component fluid can be retained within the inner annular space. The inner annular space and the outer annular space separation rotor can be selectively accessed to withdraw the components retained within the inner annular space and the outer annular spaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating a cellular component from a multicomponent fluid. The device can comprise a body, a first acoustic wave generator, and a second acoustic wave propagating component. The body can define a channel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The channel can extend along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. The first acoustic wave generator can be coupled to the first surface. The first acoustic wave generator can be configured to generate an acoustic wave having a wavelength. The second acoustic wave propagating component can be coupled to the second surface. The second surface can be spaced an integer fractional multiple of the wavelength from the first surface and each integer factional multiple equals a number of pressure nodes within the channel.

Abstract: A separation rotor having an outer wall defining a separation chamber and an inner annular wall dividing the separation chamber into an inner annular space and an outer annular space. The separation rotor can be rotated to move heavier and/or denser components of the multi-component fluid into the outer annular space. The lighter and/or less dense components of the multi-component fluid can be retained within the inner annular space. The inner annular space and the outer annular space separation rotor can be selectively accessed to withdraw the components retained within the inner annular space and the outer annular spaces.

Abstract: A blood washing system including a rotor defining an internal chamber and a skimmer assembly configured to move a withdrawal needle within the internal chamber. A multi-component fluid, such as a whole blood sample, can be fed into the internal chamber via a feed tube, where the rotor can be rotated to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to cease rotation or rotated at a slower speed to allow the fractions of the multi-component to settle on a bottom wall of the rotor. The withdrawal needle is moveable within the internal chamber to align an orifice of the withdrawal needle for withdrawing the liquid fractions and isolate the solid fractions. Wash fluids can be added to the internal chamber to repeat the wash cycle without removing the solid fractions. The washed solid fractions can be withdrawn via the feed tube and collected.

Abstract: A funnel element having an open end and a closed pointed end configured to receive a multi-component fluid containing a solid fraction. The solid fraction can comprise cellular material that sediments toward the closed pointed end to form a cell pack. A wash fluid can be pumped through the cell pack to entrain microparticles and soluble contaminants. The wash fluid can be introduced into the funnel element below the cell pack such that the wash fluid percolates through the cell pack. The percolating wash fluid can dislodge microparticles or other contaminants trapped within the cell pack. Additional wash fluids can be added to funnel element where excess wash fluids overflow from the funnel element through the open end of the funnel element.

Abstract: A transplant with a core of a viable, physiologically active, cell(s) and a non-fibrogenic coating of alkaline earth metal alginate having a high mannuronate to guluronate molar ratio and free from fibrogenic amounts of fucose, sulfate, phloroglucinol and protein moieties. The coating has a permeability sufficiently low and a thickness sufficiently large to protect the tissue cells from host immunological agents after transplantation, the coating also being sufficiently permeable and thin to permit the diffusion of cell sufficient nutrients and cell products through the coating required for cell viability. The alginate coating can be reacted with polylysine to form a polylysine-alginate complex on the outer surface thereof. The complex can then be reacted with polyaspartic acid to provide a physiologically acceptable negative surface charge.

Abstract: An electrostatic process is used for coating a biological material with a uniform, continuous polymer layer by discharging a suspension of the biological material in a gelable coating polymer solution in a continuous stream through an orifice into an electrostatic field. The stream is attenuated to form droplets by maintaining an electrostatic voltage between the needle and the gelling solution which is sufficient to maintain an attraction of at least 1.times.10.sup.-6 newtons on the stream of liquid leaving the needle, and the droplets are collected in a gelling solution. A preferred product is pancreatic islets having a continuous, smooth coating of high polymannuronate non-fibrogenic alginate having a thickness less than 200 .mu.m such as about 20-200 .mu.m. The alginate preferably contains less than 1 wt. % fucose, less than 0.5 wt. % sulfate and less than 0.01 wt. % phloroglucinol, is free of fibrinoogenic concentration of protein, and has a mannuronate to guluronate ratio of from 1.2 to 6.

Abstract: A coating apparatus includes a rotary cup for forming beads and projecting them radially outwardly, and one or more collection basins surrounding the bead forming cup. The cup is adjustably rotatable about its central axis, and the collection basins are independently rotatable and positioned to collect the beads projected from the cup. The coating apparatus further includes an elevation adjustment system for axially adjusting the alignment of the cup with respect to the selected collection basins. The rotational speeds of the cup and the collection basins are selected so as to minimize the impact of the beads against a gelling solution in the collection basins. In use, a supply mixture is introduced into a mixing chamber of the cup. As the cup spins, the coated particles are propelled upwardly by the centrifugal force from the mixing chamber along the inner surface of the cup, and are projected radially outwardly, as beads, into the gelling solution in one of the selected basins.

Abstract: An electrostatic process for coating a biological material with a uniform, continuous polymer layer by discharging a suspension of the biological material in a gellable coating polymer solution in a continuous stream through an orifice. The stream is attenuated to form droplets by maintaining an electrostatic voltage between the needle and the gelling solution which is sufficient to maintain an attraction of at least 1.times.10.sup.6 newtons on the stream of liquid leaving the needle, and the droplets are collected in a gelling solution. A preferred product is pancreatic islets having a continuous, smooth coating of high polymannuronate non-fibrogenic alginate having a thickness of at least 10 .mu.m.

Abstract: A method for multiple layer coating of biological tissue and cells for transplantation. The cell or tissue transplants are coated with multiple coatings of purified alginate. The method includes applying the first coat of sodium alginate gelled with divalent cations followed by optional treatment with strontium, barium or other divalent cation, resuspending the single coated droplets in sodium alginate and forming the halo layer around the first coating via exchange or diffusion of divalent cations from the single coating to the surrounding soluble alginate, removing the excess coating and gelling the remaining thin layer of soluble alginate with divalent cations. The coated transplants have distinct structure where biological tissue or cell core is covered with the first alginate coat, which is surrounded by an intermediate halo layer which is covered by the outer coating.

Abstract: Spherical microcapsules containing biological material such as tissue or living cells are formed with a diameter of less than 300 .mu.m using a microcapsule generating system containing an air knife. The air knife is formed by an air sleeve positioned eccentrically around a needle. An encapsulating material such as an alginate solution containing the biological material to be encapsulated is forced through the needle, while pressurized air is introduced into the air sleeve and flows out an end opening of the sleeve in which the needle is positioned. The pressurized air breaks up the alginate being discharged from the needle. The resultant alginate droplets fall into a collecting tank where they contact a gelling medium, such as CaCl.sub.2, so that the outer surface of these droplets harden and microcapsules are formed. In addition to being eccentrically positioned to facilitate very small droplet formation, the needle preferably has a beveled, pointed discharge end surface to enhance droplet size reduction.

Abstract: A transplant comprising a core of a viable, physiologically active cells coated with a non-fibrogenic alkaline earth metal alginate free from fibrogenic amounts of fucose, sulfate, phloroglucinol and protein moieties, having a mannuronate to guluronate molar ratio of from 1.2 to 6. The coating protects the core from host immunological destruction after transplantation. The coating is sufficiently permeable to permit the diffusion of nutrients and cell products through the coating.A process for coating the transplant core comprising coating the core with alginate substantially free from fibrogenic compounds and reacting the alginate coating with alkaline earth metal cations comprising calcium ions or magnesium ions or mixture thereof to form an alkaline earth metal alginate coating.