Biological cell separator and disposable kit

Abstract

A disposable kit for use in directing fluid through a biological cell separator device ( 10 ). The kit generally includes a separator tube ( 22 ), a buffer fluid container ( 34 ), cell sample container ( 32 ), separated cell container ( 60 ), and flushing fluid container ( 62 ), as well as various conduits ( 36, 38, 42, 50, 50 a , 50 b ) for connecting the containers ( 32, 34, 60, 62 ) and separator tube ( 22 ) in fluid communication together. A cell separator system is provided including a separator tube ( 22 ), magnet ( 20 ), pump ( 120 ) and a motorized drive unit ( 96 ). The motorized drive unit ( 96 ) is operatively connected to the magnet ( 20 ) to allow the magnet ( 20 ) to be moved a sufficient distance away from the separator tube ( 22 ) so as to allow cells adhered to the inside surface thereof to be flushed out of the tube ( 22 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable kit for directing a fluid sample of biological cells through a separator device and collecting separated cells from the sample, the kit comprising:
 a sample receiving container including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet coupled with an inlet conduit for receiving a buffer fluid and the outlet coupled with an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit comprising a first section and a second section;   a separator tube including an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end coupled with the outlet conduit from the sample receiving container, the separator tube having:
 a length defining a separation channel; 
 a diameter adapted for operable communication with a magnet along the length of the separation channel; 
 a space for receiving a flow of the buffer fluid and sample, and wherein a length of the second section of the outlet conduit from the sample receiving container is oriented along a path defined by the separator tube and adapted to allow displacement of the magnet from a separation position to an idle position while the flow of fluid is maintained; 
   a separated cell container having an inlet port and a vacuum port,   a separated cell conduit coupled for fluid communication between the outlet end of the separator tube and the inlet port of the separated cell container,   a flushing fluid container having an inlet port and a vacuum port; and   a flushing conduit coupled for fluid communication between the outlet end of the separator tube and the inlet port of the flushing fluid container.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a buffer fluid container coupled with the inlet conduit to the sample receiving container.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outlet conduit from the sample receiving container comprises a flexible tubing for receipt within a first pinch valve. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the separated cell conduit comprises a flexible tubing for receipt within a second pinch valve. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flushing conduit comprises a flexible tubing for receipt within a third pinch valve. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a venting conduit connected for fluid communication with the flushing fluid container. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pump conduit coupled with the vacuum port of the separated cell container, and a second pump conduit coupled with the vacuum port of the flushing fluid container. 
     
     
         8 . A device that separates a first group of biological cells from a mixture of at least first and second groups of cells in a suspending fluid, comprising:
 a flow channel having a length and a diameter;   a magnet mounted along at least a portion of the length of the flow channel and around the diameter of the flow channel, such that a circumferential magnetic field is provided through at least a selected portion of the flow channel;   a pump operatively connected to the flow channel and configured to direct the suspending fluid through the flow channel, and   a motorized drive unit operatively coupled to the magnet and adapted to move the magnet away from the flow channel to lessen the effect of the magnetic field on the selected portion of the flow channel.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the motorized drive unit is configured to move the magnet away from the flow channel by a distance sufficient to allow flushing of cells from an interior wall of the flow channel.