Automatic cell processing device

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy, in particular to an automatic cell processing device which comprises a hollow pipe and a shearing plate, the shearing plate is arranged in the hollow pipe and divides the hollow pipe into a first cavity and a second cavity which are independent, the first cavity and the second cavity are communicated through a shearing hole in the shearing plate, and the first cavity is communicated with the second cavity. A pushing mechanism used for organizing circulation between the first cavity and the second cavity is further arranged in the hollow pipe, a plurality of treatment grooves capable of containing the hollow pipe are formed in the control box, and a pushing driving mechanism used for driving the pushing mechanism to move in the length direction of the hollow pipe is further arranged in each treatment groove. According to the automatic cell treatment device, the propelling driving mechanism is arranged to drive the pushing mechanism to move, manual tissue shearing operation is replaced, the cell extraction time is greatly shortened through automatic control, the operation efficiency is improved, the in-vitro retention time of cells is shortened, and therefore the high activity of the cells is kept.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy technology, and in particular to an automated cell processing device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, enzymatic digestion methods, such as trypsin and collagenase, are commonly used to extract MSCs from tissues. While these methods are relatively efficient, they suffer from enzyme residue problems. They rely on collagenases (such as type I or type II) to break down the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is costly (enzyme dosage ≥0.1% w / v). Furthermore, enzymes may remain in the cell suspension after digestion, affecting subsequent cell culture and clinical applications. Enzymatic digestion can take 2-4 hours, and the enzymes may damage cell surface markers and cell membranes, reducing the functionality of MSCs. The enzyme transportation, storage, and handling involved in this technology all increase production costs and require strict aseptic and operational conditions.

[0003] Existing technologies also include mechanical methods. In existing mechanical stem cell extraction devices, traditional manual operation requires back-and-forth pushing and shearing to homogenize the tissue. However, manual operation is not only labor-intensive but also inefficient and lacks stability. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problems of low efficiency and poor stability in existing manual pushing and cutting operations, this invention provides an automated cell processing device. By setting up a propulsion drive mechanism to drive the pushing mechanism for displacement, it replaces manual tissue cutting operations. The automated control greatly shortens the cell extraction time, improves operational efficiency, and reduces the time cells remain in vitro, thereby maintaining high cell viability.

[0005] This invention provides an automated cell processing device, comprising a hollow tube for storing tissue and a shearing plate with shearing holes. The shearing plate is disposed inside the hollow tube and divides the hollow tube into independent first and second chambers, which are connected by the shearing holes on the shearing plate. The hollow tube also includes a pushing mechanism for tissue to flow between the first and second chambers. A control box is also included, containing several processing slots for accommodating the hollow tubes. Each processing slot contains a propulsion drive mechanism for driving the pushing mechanism to move along the length of the hollow tube. By replacing manual operation with the propulsion drive mechanism to perform linear displacement of the push rod, the tissue inside the tube is physically sheared, improving shearing efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, the hollow tube is equipped with two feed pipes, which are connected to the first chamber and the second chamber respectively. The two feed pipes are set at a 90° angle and are equipped with valves. The feed pipes are used for feeding and discharging into the chambers, and the angled arrangement avoids mutual interference during feeding and discharging.

[0007] Furthermore, the pushing mechanism is provided in two sets, which are respectively located at both ends of the hollow tube and extend into the first and second chambers. Through the bidirectional mechanical action at both ends of the chambers, the tissue is subjected to mechanical shearing at the shear plate, breaking down large pieces of tissue into smaller particles.

[0008] Furthermore, the pushing mechanism includes a push rod and a push rod head. The push rod head is provided at the end of the push rod, and the push rod head slides against the inner wall of the hollow tube through the push rod. The end of the hollow tube has a circular hole for the push rod to extend out, and the end of the push rod extending out of the circular hole is provided with an end plate. The mechanical action on the chamber is achieved through a simple push rod structure.

[0009] Furthermore, a sealing gasket is provided on the side of the push rod head near the shear plate, and the sealing gasket has raised grinding grooves. The sealing gasket enhances the seal between the push rod head and the hollow tube wall, and the grinding grooves are used to perform appropriate grinding operations on the tissue.

[0010] Furthermore, several limiting blocks are provided on the inner walls of the hollow tubes on both sides of the shearing plate, and these limiting blocks are evenly distributed circumferentially around the center of the shearing plate. The limiting blocks prevent the shearing plate from shifting and also limit the push rod from exerting excessive force on the shearing plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the processing tank is divided into a shearing tank for placing the hollow tube and a clearance tank for the displacement of the push rod. The shearing tank and the clearance tank are connected, and the propulsion drive mechanism is located below the hollow tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the propulsion drive mechanism includes a pump body, transmission rods, and a connecting plate. The pump body is positioned directly below the hollow tube, and retractable transmission rods are connected to both ends of the pump body. A connecting plate is installed at the end of each transmission rod, and the connecting plate securely connects the end plate and the transmission rod. The pump body uses a dual-head air pump, which offers better synchronization compared to a single-head air pump.

[0013] Furthermore, the end plate is equipped with a grinding drive mechanism for driving the push rod to rotate. The grinding drive mechanism is a servo motor mounted on the end plate, and the output end of the servo motor is fixedly connected to the end of the push rod. The servo motor drives the push rod to rotate, which in turn drives the grinding pad on the push rod head to rotate, thus completing the grinding operation on the tissue.

[0014] Furthermore, the processing tanks are divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary tanks and a collection tank. The diameter of the shearing holes in the shearing plates in the primary, secondary, and tertiary tanks decreases sequentially. The collection tank contains centrifuge tubes with feed pipes. The hollow tubes in the primary, secondary, and tertiary tanks and the centrifuge tubes in the collection tank are connected sequentially by connecting pipes that connect to the feed pipes. Each connecting pipe is equipped with a shut-off valve. These correspond to different levels of shearing operations.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] This invention provides an automated cell processing device. By setting synchronous linear propulsion mechanisms at both ends of a push rod that controls bidirectional mechanical action, it replaces manual operation to complete pure mechanical shearing, thereby achieving tissue homogenization. Compared with traditional manual operation, it reduces operational errors caused by different operators, greatly shortens cell extraction time, improves operational efficiency, and reduces the time cells remain in vitro, thus maintaining high cell viability. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a hollow tube;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a hollow tube;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the control box;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the control box;

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Hollow tube, 2. Shearing plate, 3. Material pipe, 4. Push rod, 5. Push rod head, 6. End plate, 7. Sealing gasket, 8. Grinding texture, 9. Limiting block, 10. Control box, 11. Shearing groove, 12. Clearance groove, 13. Pump body, 14. Conveying rod, 15. Connecting plate, 16. Servo motor, 17. Centrifuge tube, 18. Connecting pipe, 19. Observation window, 20. Control panel, 21. Switch, 101. Primary groove, 102. Secondary groove, 103. Tertiary groove, 104. Collection groove. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of this utility model, but not all embodiments.

[0024] like Figure 1 and 2As shown, the existing cell processing device includes a hollow tube 1 for storing tissue and a shearing plate 2 with shearing holes. The shearing plate 2 is disposed inside the hollow tube 1 and divides the hollow tube 1 into an independent first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber and the second chamber are connected through the shearing holes on the shearing plate 2. The hollow tube 1 is also provided with a pushing mechanism for tissue to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber. There are two sets of pushing mechanisms, which are respectively disposed at both ends of the hollow tube 1 and extend into the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0025] The hollow tube 1 can be a single hollow pipe or two injection tubes joined together. When the hollow tube 1 is a hollow pipe, the shearing plate 2 is fixedly positioned in the middle of the hollow tube 1. When the hollow tube 1 is composed of two injection tubes joined together, the two injection tubes are fixedly connected to both ends of the shearing plate 2. The ends of the two injection tubes closest to the shearing plate 2 are open, allowing the two injection tubes to communicate with each other through the shearing plate 2. The pushing mechanism allows the tissue inside the first chamber and the second chamber to circulate with each other. The hollow tube 1 is preferably made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, allowing direct observation of the internal condition of the hollow tube 1. Volume markings can also be provided on the outer side of the hollow tube 1 to control the total tissue volume. The shearing plate 2 has a perforated sieve structure with a pore size of 20~1600um. When the flowing tissue passes through the shearing holes, it will be subjected to shearing force. Different pore sizes can perform different shearing on the tissue, such as coarse shearing and fine shearing. The shearing plate 2 can be made of any one of rigid plastic, metal, or ceramic. The preferred aperture of the shearing hole is 1200um, 800um, 300um, or 40um. The shearing plate 2 can be a shearing plate 2 with a special shape and specific aperture formed by laser or stamping on a thin stainless steel plate. Alternatively, it can be a mesh structure woven from fine, rigid metal wires or polymer material wires and then fixed to the outer ring as a solid circular shearing plate 2 through bonding and welding processes.

[0026] By using a pushing mechanism to perform physical shearing, squeezing, and bidirectional mechanical action, the homogenization of tissues and efficient extraction of stem cells are achieved. This completely avoids the time-consuming nature of traditional enzymatic digestion methods and the dependence on collagenase or other chemical reagents. It is suitable for the separation of stem cells from tissues such as umbilical cord and fat with minimal damage and no exogenous residue.

[0027] The hollow tube 1 is equipped with two feed tubes 3, which are connected to the first chamber and the second chamber respectively. The two feed tubes 3 are set at a 90° angle, preferably 90°, so that when one feed tube 3 opens downwards for discharge, the other feed tube 3 is at least in a horizontal state, and the two feed tubes 3 will not interfere with each other during use. The two feed tubes 3 are the injection port for pre-treated tissue and the outlet port for tissue homogenate, respectively, used for feeding pre-treated tissue and discharging treated tissue homogenate. During multi-stage shearing, the feed tubes 3 are connected by the connecting tube 18, so that multiple hollow tubes 1 can be connected together in sequence, allowing the tissue homogenate processed in the previous stage to directly enter the interior of the next stage hollow tube 1. The end of the feed tube 3 is connected to the external pipe or plug in either a threaded or bayonet manner to ensure a stable seal and connection when injecting tissue and extracting homogenized cell suspension. The end of the feed tube 3 is preferably a Luer threaded connector. The advantage of the threaded connector is that it ensures the reliability of the connection. Both feed tubes 3 are equipped with valves that can be closed after injecting or removing homogenate, or they contain automatic shut-off valves that open when the syringe is screwed in and automatically close after being screwed out.

[0028] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, specifically, the pushing mechanism includes a push rod 4 and a push rod head 5. The push rod 4 has a push rod head 5 at its end, which slides against the inner wall of the hollow tube 1 via the push rod 4. The hollow tube 1 has a circular hole at its end for the push rod 4 to extend out, and the end of the push rod 4 extending out of the circular hole has an end plate 6. A sealing gasket 7 is provided on the side of the push rod head 5 near the shearing plate 2. The sealing gasket 7 has raised grinding patterns 8. The push rod head 5 and the sealing gasket 7 with the grinding patterns 8 constitute a piston structure that slides against the inner wall of the hollow tube 1. The grinding patterns 8 can be raised shapes such as cross, rhombus, or circle. The sealing gasket 7 is made of a flexible medical material, such as EPDM or silicone, which are suitable for medical use. The sealing gasket 7 and the inner wall of the hollow tube 1 are interference-fitted. When the sealing gasket 7 moves, it can push the tissue inside the tube. The surface of the sealing gasket 7 has fine textures, which can apply uniform shearing force to the tissue during mechanical advancement. The hollow tube 1 has a round hole at its end for the push rod 4 to extend out. When dealing with tissues that are difficult to cut, the push rod 4 can be used to press the tissue onto the shearing plate 2, and the push rod 4 can be rotated by the servo motor 16. The tissue can be broken up by the grinding grooves 8 on the push rod head 5, and appropriate grinding operations can be performed.

[0029] To limit the shear plate 2, several limiting blocks 9 are provided on the inner walls of the hollow tubes 1 on both sides of the shear plate 2. The limiting blocks 9 are evenly distributed circumferentially with the center of the shear plate 2 as the center. The limiting blocks 9 limit the shear plate 2 from both sides to prevent the shear plate 2 from shifting, and at the same time, they can also limit the push rod 4 from acting excessively on the shear plate 2.

[0030] like Figure 3 and 4As shown, the core of this technical solution lies in designing an automated cell processing device to address the problems of low efficiency and poor stability associated with manual pushing and shearing. This device includes a control box 10, which contains several processing tanks capable of accommodating hollow tubes 1. Each processing tank also houses a propulsion drive mechanism for displacing the pushing mechanism along the length of the hollow tube 1. The propulsion drive mechanism drives the push rod 4 to linearly displace along the hollow tube 1, completing the shearing operation on the tissue slurry within the tube. This automated control method significantly shortens the cell extraction time, improves operational efficiency, and reduces the time cells remain in vitro, thereby maintaining high cell viability.

[0031] To facilitate a direct view of the interior of the chamber, the control box 10 has a transparent observation window 19 on its lid. The lid is hinged to the control box 10 and has a locking mechanism to seal the chamber. The observation window 19 allows for real-time monitoring of the sample's condition during the shearing process, ensuring the effectiveness of each processing stage.

[0032] The processing tank is divided into a shearing tank 11 for placing the hollow tube 1 and a clearance tank 12 for the displacement of the push rod 4. The shearing tank 11 and the clearance tank 12 are connected, and the propulsion drive mechanism is located below the hollow tube 1.

[0033] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, specifically, the propulsion drive mechanism includes a pump body 13, a conveying rod 14, and a connecting plate 15. The pump body 13 is located directly below the hollow tube 1. Both ends of the pump body 13 are connected to retractable conveying rods 14. A connecting plate 15 is provided at the end of the conveying rod 14, and the connecting plate 15 is fixedly connected to the end plate 6 and the conveying rod 14. The pump body 13 is a reciprocating pump, preferably a double-headed cylinder, which can ensure the synchronicity of the extension and retraction of the conveying rods 14 at both ends. The conveying rod 14 is fixedly connected to the end plate 6 through the connecting plate 15. The connecting plate 15 can be a straight plate or a clamping plate, as long as it can be connected to the end plate 6 at the end of the push rod 4. At this time, starting the pump body 13 can pull the push rod 4, and the two push rods 4 push the push rod head 5 to realize continuous reciprocating push and pull motion, so that the tissue repeatedly flows through the shear plate 2 and is subjected to mechanical shearing at the shearing hole of the shear plate 2, breaking down large pieces of tissue into smaller particles.

[0034] To facilitate the grinding of tissue slurry, an grinding drive mechanism is provided on the end plate 6 to drive the push rod 4 to rotate. The grinding drive mechanism is a servo motor 16 mounted on the end plate 6, with the output end of the servo motor 16 fixedly connected to the end of the push rod 4. When dealing with difficult-to-cut tissues, the push rod 4 is moved to press the tissue onto the shearing plate 2, and then the servo motor 16 is started to drive the push rod 4 to rotate. The tissue is then broken up by the grinding grooves 8 on the sealing gasket 7, providing a certain grinding function.

[0035] Similarly, the thrust of the transmission rod 14 can be preset. When the thrust reaches the preset value, the push rod will automatically stop advancing regardless of the position of the push rod 4. The built-in program will trigger the pressure feedback mechanism, and the servo motor 16 will start the stationary rotation grinding mode. At the same time, it can also be set to continuous grinding state, that is, the push rods 4 on both sides will rotate and grind while advancing, and the grinding rotation speed can be controlled.

[0036] like Figure 3 and 4 As shown, in order to regulate the temperature inside the control box 10, the control box 10 is equipped with a control panel 20, a switch 21, a heating module, a cooling module, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and a power module. The switch 21, heating module, cooling module, pump body 13, and grinding drive module are all electrically connected to the control panel 20, the UPS, and the power module. With the UPS, even in the event of a sudden power outage, the equipment can still perform the entire process of 3-5 samples, ensuring the continuity and reliability of the experiment.

[0037] Users can set the number of shearing cycles, grinding cycles, thrust, and shearing temperature for each stage via the control panel 20. Once the preset number of cycles is reached, the device will automatically stop or proceed to the next shearing stage according to the program. The device is equipped with programmable functionality to precisely control the thrust, number of shearing cycles, and temperature during the shearing process, ensuring the quality and efficiency of cell extraction. Simultaneously, the device can input subject information or codes, record various parameters of the sample preparation process, and store them on the device. Users can also choose to print a standard report.

[0038] After assembling the hollow tube 1 and centrifuge tube 17 into the control box 10, close the box cover to ensure stable internal temperature control. A temperature control module can also be installed inside the box. The temperature control module is electrically connected to the control panel 20, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and power module, which can precisely regulate the temperature during the shearing process to ensure that the cells are always at a suitable physiological temperature, thereby maximizing cell viability.

[0039] The control box 10 can also be equipped with a disinfection module. The disinfection module is electrically connected to the control panel 20, the uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and the power module. The disinfection module can be an ozone or ultraviolet generator. The disinfection module is activated before and after use to start the ozone or ultraviolet disinfection process, effectively eliminating potential microbial contamination and ensuring that the equipment is sterile every time it is used.

[0040] Electronic sensors can also be installed inside the control box 10 to monitor data such as thrust, temperature, number of shearing operations, and transmission status during the shearing process in real time. The real-time data is displayed on the terminal screen. When the actual value exceeds the set value range, an alarm message pops up and a prompt sound is emitted. The real-time monitoring and pressure regulation system effectively prevents overload and ensures that the cells are not damaged.

[0041] To achieve multi-stage shearing, several processing tanks are divided into a primary tank 101, a secondary tank 102, a tertiary tank 103, and a collection tank 104. The diameter of the shearing holes of the shearing plates 2 in the primary tank 101, secondary tank 102, and tertiary tank 103 decreases sequentially. The collection tank 104 is equipped with a centrifuge tube 17 with a material tube 3. The hollow tubes 1 in the primary tank 101, secondary tank 102, and tertiary tank 103 and the centrifuge tube 17 in the collection tank 104 are connected sequentially through a connecting pipe 18 that connects to the material tube 3. Each connecting pipe 18 is equipped with a shut-off valve. The connecting pipe 18 connects the outlet of the previous central tube 1 and the injection port of the next central tube 1. The diameters of the shearing holes of the shearing plates 2 in the first-stage groove 101, the second-stage groove 102, and the third-stage groove 103 are 1600-800μm, 800-300μm, and 20-40μm, respectively, corresponding to different shearing stages. The hollow tubes 1 of different stages are connected by the connecting pipe 18. The connecting pipe 18 is equipped with a shut-off valve. The shut-off valve is usually in the closed state. It will only open after the previous homogenization process is completed, allowing the tissue to be transferred from one shearing stage to the next stage. After the transfer is completed, the shut-off valve will automatically close to ensure the independence of each stage operation.

[0042] The above description is illustrative only and not restrictive of this utility model. Those skilled in the art will understand that many modifications, variations or equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope defined by the appended claims, and all such modifications, variations or equivalents will fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An automated cell processing device, comprising a hollow tube (1) for storing tissue and a shearing plate (2) with shearing holes, the shearing plate (2) being disposed within the hollow tube (1) and dividing the hollow tube (1) into independent first and second chambers, the first and second chambers being connected through the shearing holes on the shearing plate (2), and the hollow tube (1) further comprising a pushing mechanism for tissue to flow between the first and second chambers. Its features are: It also includes a control box (10), which is provided with several processing slots that can accommodate hollow tubes (1), and the processing slots are also provided with a propulsion drive mechanism for driving the push mechanism to move along the length direction of the hollow tube (1).

2. The automated cell processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hollow tube (1) is provided with two material tubes (3), which are connected to the first chamber and the second chamber respectively. The two material tubes (3) are set at a 90° angle, and valves are provided on the material tubes (3).

3. The automated cell processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pushing mechanism is provided in two sets, which are respectively located at both ends of the hollow tube (1) and extend into the first chamber and the second chamber.

4. The automated cell processing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pushing mechanism includes a push rod (4) and a push rod head (5). The push rod (4) is provided with a push rod head (5) at its end. The push rod head (5) slides with the inner wall of the hollow tube (1) through the push rod (4). The hollow tube (1) is provided with a round hole at its end for the push rod (4) to extend out. The end of the push rod (4) extending out of the round hole is provided with an end plate (6).

5. An automated cell processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The push rod head (5) is provided with a sealing gasket (7) on the side near the shear plate (2), and the sealing gasket (7) has raised grinding patterns (8).

6. An automated cell processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The hollow tubes (1) on both sides of the shearing plate (2) are provided with a number of limiting blocks (9), which are evenly distributed around the center of the shearing plate (2).

7. An automated cell processing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The processing tank is divided into a shearing tank (11) for placing the hollow tube (1) and a clearance tank (12) for the displacement of the push rod (4). The shearing tank (11) and the clearance tank (12) are connected. The propulsion drive mechanism is located below the hollow tube (1).

8. An automated cell processing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The propulsion drive mechanism includes a pump body (13), a transmission rod (14) and a connecting plate (15). The pump body (13) is located directly below the hollow tube (1). Both ends of the pump body (13) are connected to a telescopic transmission rod (14). The end of the transmission rod (14) is provided with a connecting plate (15). The connecting plate (15) is fixedly connected to the end plate (6) and the transmission rod (14).

9. An automated cell processing device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The end plate (6) is provided with a grinding drive mechanism for driving the push rod (4) to rotate. The grinding drive mechanism is a servo motor (16) provided on the end plate (6). The output end of the servo motor (16) is fixedly connected to the end of the push rod (4).

10. An automated cell processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The processing tanks are divided into a primary tank (101), a secondary tank (102), a tertiary tank (103), and a collection tank (104). The diameter of the shearing holes of the shearing plates (2) in the primary tank (101), secondary tank (102), and tertiary tank (103) decreases sequentially. The collection tank (104) is provided with a centrifuge tube (17) with a material tube (3). The hollow tubes (1) in the primary tank (101), secondary tank (102), and tertiary tank (103) and the centrifuge tube (17) in the collection tank (104) are connected sequentially through a connecting pipe (18) connecting the material tube (3). Each connecting pipe (18) is provided with a shut-off valve.

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