The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 07, 1977
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1975
William J McAleer, Ambler, PA (US);
William M Hurni, North Wales, PA (US);
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for preparing live, sterile cells from tissue are disclosed which enable high yields of viable isolated cells to be obtained with a greatly reduced possibility of contamination of the cells during the process. The apparatus and method allows one to truly mass manufacture isolated cells as contrasted to a small hand operation requiring many hours and dozens of people. The improved apparatus of the invention comprises a shredder device which mechanically shreds the tissue into small pieces of high surface to volume ratio, a processing vessel in which the shredded tissues are contacted with an enzyme solution to break down the intercellular material and thereby separate the cells one from the other and a means for separating the cells from the enzyme solution. Preferably, the means for separating the cells from the enzyme solution is a flow centrifuge which has been specifically designed to reduce shear force inside the bowl during operation. Also disclosed is a process for shredding tissue employing a plurality of moveable blade elements and at least a corresponding number of separated fixed elements. Interposing the tissue between the fixed and rotating elements and then driving the moveable blade elements through the spaces defined by adjacent fixed elements results in the tissue being shredded into small pieces of high surface to volume ratio. This in turn optimizes surface area for contact between the shredded tissue and the enzyme solution. In addition, a completely closed process is disclosed for obtaining cells from the tissue comprising the steps of sequentially shredding the tissue, contacting the shredded tissue at a controlled temperature with an enzyme solution to break down the intercellular material and then separating the isolated cells from the enzyme solution.