Apparatus and method for processing biological material

1. An apparatus for concentrating cells in a suspension comprising:

a centrifuge holder for receipt within a centrifuge, the holder comprising at least one wall defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having a first selected shape;

a sedimentation assembly comprising:

a first chamber for receiving a suspension including a cell population, the first chamber defined by a first container having an outer surface, said first chamber including a cell concentration zone, said concentration zone configured to receive a concentrated cell population;

a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber, the second chamber defined by a second container having an outer surface,

the outer surfaces of said first and second containers together defining an outer surface having a second selected shape, the first and second containers being physically separable;

wherein said first selected shape of said holder interior chamber is configured to be in cooperative engagement with the second selected shape of said sedimentation assembly to stabilize the assembly during centrifugation, said cooperative engagement resulting in an upper portion of the first container residing outside of the centrifuge holder; and

said first and second chambers configured to be placed together, as a unit, in a centrifugal force field, wherein upon application of the centrifugal force field said second chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of the concentrated cell population from the cell concentration zone of the first chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holder has an outer surface configured for placement in a centrifuge bucket.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said holder has a generally cylindrical outer surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second chamber further comprises a fluid communication port including a resealable closure and wherein said second chamber comprises a housing defining a substantially spherical inner chamber, said port being in communication with said inner chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second chamber further comprises a cell receiving pocket generally positioned opposite said port.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second chamber further comprises a gas collection region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said gas collection region is adjacent to said fluid communication port.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 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.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first chamber further comprises a member configured to open said resealable closure, wherein said member is selected from the group consisting of a Luer member, a needle, a cannula, a nozzle and combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the following:

(i) the first and second chambers are substantially rigid,

(ii) the second chamber less rigid than the first chamber,

(iii) the second chamber is compressible,

(iv) said second chamber comprises a syringe, and

(v) the first chamber has a larger volume than the second chamber.

11. An apparatus for concentrating cells in a suspension comprising:

a centrifuge holder for receipt within a centrifuge, the holder comprising at least one wall defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having a first selected shape;

a sedimentation assembly comprising:

a first chamber for receiving a suspension including a cell population, the first chamber including a cell concentration zone and defined by a first container having an outer surface, said concentration zone configured to receive a concentrated population of cells;

a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber, the second chamber defined by a second container having an outer surface;

the first chamber including a first port, and the second chamber including a second port;

at least one of the first and second ports including a resealable closure and the other of the ports including a mating member for the resealable closure that allow the first and second ports to be repeatedly joined in fluid communication;

the outer surfaces of said first and second containers, when joined in fluid communication, together defining an outer surface having a second selected shape;

the first and second containers being physically separable;

wherein said first selected shape of said holder interior chamber is configured to be in cooperative engagement with the second selected shape of said sedimentation assembly to stabilize the assembly during centrifugation, said cooperative engagement resulting in an upper portion of the first container residing outside of the centrifuge holder; and

said first and second chambers configured to be placed together, as a unit, in a centrifugal force field, wherein upon application of the centrifugal force field said second chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of the concentrated population of cells from the cell concentration zone of the first chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said holder has an outer surface configured for placement in a centrifuge bucket.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 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, and the mating member is configured to open said resealable closure and is selected from the group consisting of a Luer member, a needle, a cannula, a nozzle and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first chamber has a larger volume than the second chamber, and the second chamber is less rigid than the first chamber.

15. An apparatus for concentrating cells in a suspension comprising:

a centrifuge holder for receipt within a centrifuge, the holder comprising at least one wall defining an interior chamber, said interior chamber having a first selected shape;

a sedimentation assembly comprising:

a first chamber for receiving a suspension including a cell population, the first chamber including a cell concentration zone and defined by a first container having an outer surface, the first chamber including a first port communicating with the cell concentration zone, said cell concentration zone configured to receive a concentrated population of cells;

a second chamber defined by a second container having an outer surface, the second chamber including a second port configured to be repeatedly placed in fluid communication with the first port of said first chamber, the second chamber including a cell receiving pocket defined generally opposite the second port and a gas collection region proximal to the second port, the outer surfaces of said first and second containers together defining an outer surface having a second selected shape; the first and second containers being physically separable,

wherein said first selected shape of said holder interior chamber is configured to be in cooperative engagement with the second selected shape of said sedimentation assembly to stabilize the assembly during centrifugation, said cooperative engagement resulting in an upper portion of the first container residing outside of the centrifuge holder; and

said first and second chambers configured to be placed together, as a unit, in a centrifugal force field, wherein upon application of the centrifugal force field said second chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of the concentrated population of cells from the cell concentration zone of the first chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first chamber includes a generally cylindrical portion at one end and a funnel shaped portion at the other end defining the cell concentration zone, and the second chamber is generally spherically shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cooperative engagement comprises an upper cylindrical portion of the first container residing outside of the holder interior chamber and a lower funnel shaped portion of the first container residing inside of the holder interior chamber, the funnel shaped portion being immediately adjacent the upper cylindrical portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape rests against a funnel shaped portion of the first selected shape, the funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape being spaced from opposing first and second axial ends of the sedimentation assembly.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said cooperative engagement comprises an upper cylindrical portion of the first container residing outside of the holder interior chamber and a lower funnel shaped portion of the first container residing inside of the holder interior chamber, the funnel shaped portion being immediately adjacent the upper cylindrical portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape rests against a funnel shaped portion of the first selected shape, the funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape being spaced from opposing first and second axial ends of the sedimentation assembly.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said cooperative engagement comprises an upper cylindrical portion of the first container residing outside of the holder interior chamber and a lower funnel shaped portion of the first container residing inside of the holder interior chamber, the funnel shaped portion being immediately adjacent the upper cylindrical portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape rests against a funnel shaped portion of the first selected shape, the funnel shaped portion of the second selected shape being spaced from opposing first and second axial ends of the sedimentation assembly.