Apparatus and method for processing biological material

1. A method for reconstituting, washing or treating a cell preparation, comprising:

a. placing a cell preparation within a first chamber;

b. flowing the cell preparation from the first chamber into a second chamber under a centrifugal force field, wherein one of the first and second chambers further comprises a port having a resealable valve and the other of the first and second chambers further comprises a port having a member adapted to open the valve when the chambers are connected, wherein when the centrifugal force field is applied to the first and second chambers as a unit the cell preparation is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber;

c. disconnecting the second chamber from the first chamber and closing the valve; and

d. subsequently flowing the cell preparation from the second chamber to one of the first chamber and a third chamber, and flowing the cell preparation from the one of the first chamber and the third chamber to the second chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second chamber contains a solution for treating the cell preparation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the chambers contains a buffer for treating the cell preparation.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising flowing the cell preparation from one of the first or second chambers to a further fluid destination or source.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the second chamber to the third chamber for further processing of the cell preparation.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of reconnecting the first and second chambers for further processing of the cell preparation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the resealable valve is biased toward a closed position and automatically closes when the first and second chambers are disconnected.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the member adapted to automatically open the valve is a cannula that establishes fluid communication through the valve when the first and second chambers are connected.

9. A method for reconstituting, washing or treating a cell preparation, comprising:

a. placing a cell preparation within a first chamber;

b. flowing the cell preparation from the first chamber into a second chamber under a centrifugal force field wherein the second chamber further comprises a port having a resealable valve and the first chamber further comprises a port having a member adapted to open the valve when the chambers are connected, wherein when the centrifugal force field is applied to the first and second chambers as a unit the cell preparation is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber;

c. disconnecting the second chamber from the first chamber and closing the valve;

d. flowing the cell preparation from the second chamber into a third chamber, wherein the third chamber further comprises a port having a member adapted to open the valve of the second chamber when the chambers are connected;

e. processing the cell preparation in the third chamber;

f. after such processing flowing the cell preparation from the third chamber into the second chamber; and

g. disconnecting the second chamber from the third chamber and closing the valve.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the chambers contains a solution for treating the cell preparation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the chambers contains a buffer for treating the cell preparation.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the cell preparation is flowed into said second chamber under a force applied to the first and/or the third chamber.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising flowing the cell preparation into a further fluid destination or source.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of connecting the second chamber to a fourth chamber for further processing of the cell preparation.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the resealable valve is biased toward a closed position and automatically closes when the first and second chambers and the first and third chambers are disconnected.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein flowing the cell preparation from the first chamber into the closed second chamber includes flowing the cell preparation along a single linear flow axis that defines a common central axis of the first and second chambers.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein flowing the cell preparation from the first chamber into the closed second chamber includes flowing the cell preparation along a single linear flow axis that defines a common central axis of the first and second chambers.