초록 ▼

Disclosed is an apparatus designed to be used for enriching specific cell types from cell mixtures. The apparatus includes a centrifugable device that includes a constriction defining a lower region and a defined cell separation medium. The constriction prevents mixing between the upper and lower po

Disclosed is an apparatus designed to be used for enriching specific cell types from cell mixtures. The apparatus includes a centrifugable device that includes a constriction defining a lower region and a defined cell separation medium. The constriction prevents mixing between the upper and lower portions of the device. Also disclosed are methods that use precisely defined cell separation media to isolate specific cells from cell mixtures, including CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells from blood or bone marrow, nucleated fetal cells from maternal blood, specific tumor cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and natural suppressor cells from various body fluids, and for enrichment or depletion of T cell lymphocytes. Also disclosed is a density adjusted cell separation technique used to augment the above apparatus and enrichment methods. The apparatus and enrichment methods are useful in various diagnostic and therapeutic regimens.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of enriching a selected cell from a cell mixture containing one or more other cell types with densities different from that of the selected cell type, comprising adding the cell mixture to a centrifugation device having side walls and a closed bottom, a constriction member disposed within t

A method of enriching a selected cell from a cell mixture containing one or more other cell types with densities different from that of the selected cell type, comprising adding the cell mixture to a centrifugation device having side walls and a closed bottom, a constriction member disposed within the device, said constriction member positioned and constructed to retain fluid in the bottom portion of the device below the constriction member, when the device is inverted, a closed top, at least a first and a second port in said top, said first port positioned for introduction of fluid material into said device, a closed fluid channel communicating between said second port and the bottom of the device below said constriction member, and a cell separation medium contained in the bottom portion of the device and extending above said constriction member to a level above an opening formed by said constriction member, such that cells which are captured at an interface between the cell-separation medium and a lower-density medium, after centrifugation, are discharged with the lower-density medium when the device is inverted; centrifuging said centrifugation device at a gravitational force sufficient to pellet cells having specific densities greater than the specific density of the density gradient material in said device; and collecting from said device a cell fraction containing the selected cell.