Apparatus and method for processing biological material

1. A sedimentation assembly for concentrating cells in a suspension, comprising:

a first chamber for receiving a suspension including a cell population, the first chamber including a cell concentration zone for receiving a concentrated population of the cells upon application of a sedimentation force upon the first chamber, said first chamber further comprising a first port in communication with said cell concentration zone;

a second chamber including a second port configured to be repeatedly removably placed in fluid communication with the first port of the first chamber; and

one of the first and second ports having a resealable closure and the other of the first and second ports comprising a member configured to open said resealable closure when the chambers are connected, the resealable closure being configured to automatically close when the chambers are disconnected;

the first and second chambers being configured for placement together in a sedimentation force field as a unit with the first and second chambers in fluid communication, whereby upon application of the sedimentation force field said second chamber receives at least a portion of the suspension including a concentrated population of the cells from the cell concentration zone of said first chamber.

2. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein the second chamber comprises a housing defining a substantially spherical inner chamber and wherein said second port of said second chamber has a resealable closure.

3. The sedimentation assembly of claim 2 wherein said second chamber further comprises a cell receiving pocket generally positioned opposite said port.

4. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein the second chamber further comprises a gas collection region.

5. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein said second chamber is less rigid than said first chamber.

6. The sedimentation assembly of claim 2 wherein said second chamber is compressible.

7. The sedimentation assembly of claim 4 wherein said gas collection region is adjacent to said second port of said second chamber.

8. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein said second chamber comprises a syringe.

9. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein said resealable closure is selected from the group consisting of a septum, a pre-slit septum, an elastomeric member, a gland-type valve and combinations thereof.

10. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein said member configured to open said resealable closure is selected from the group consisting of a Luer member, a needle, a cannula, a nozzle and combinations thereof.

11. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein the first chamber has a larger volume than the second chamber.

12. The sedimentation assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second chambers are substantially rigid.