Cell Suspension Device with Enzyme Reservoir and Magnetic Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices and methods for preparing cell suspensions for autologous cell transfer in treating skin conditions like vitiligo and burn scars often result in unpredictable and uncontrollable mixtures, leading to varying treatment success due to the presence of unwanted cell types and lack of reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an enzyme reservoir, purification compartments, and a syringe system that allows for on-site preparation and purification of cell suspensions using affinity materials and magnetic particles to selectively bind and remove unwanted cells, ensuring a purified suspension for immediate injection, without the need for cell cultivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If enzymatic digestion and filtration are used to prepare cell suspension, then cell suspension can be obtained, but the composition is unpredictable and uncontrollable
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the cell preparation process into distinct functional stages: enzymatic digestion in a first chamber, magnetic separation in a second chamber, and filtration in a third chamber. Each chamber performs a specific purification function, allowing precise control over the composition of the final cell suspension by selectively removing unwanted cell types at different stages.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic particles serve as an intermediary medium in the second chamber. These particles bind to specific cell types through magnetic properties, enabling selective retention of target cells while allowing unwanted cells to pass through. This intermediary mechanism provides precise control over cell composition without direct mechanical intervention.
2Reliability
If autologous cell transfer is performed, then immune response and rejection are avoided, but cell mixture contains unwanted cell types
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and removes unwanted cell types from the autologous cell suspension through targeted magnetic separation and filtration. By selectively binding to and removing specific cell types using magnetic particles and filters, the system maintains the beneficial autologous nature of the transfer while purifying the cell mixture to contain only desired cell types.
3Loss of time
If cell suspension is prepared on-site, then treatment time is reduced, but preparation consistency varies
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a self-contained system that performs all necessary preparation steps automatically. The enzymatic digestion, magnetic separation, and filtration occur through automated fluid flow and magnetic field application, eliminating manual intervention and ensuring consistent preparation results every time the device is used, while maintaining rapid on-site preparation.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification steps are added, then cell suspension purity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple purification functions into an integrated single-unit system. The enzymatic digestion chamber, magnetic separation chamber, and filtration chamber are combined in one device with automated fluid flow between compartments. This integration achieves high cell suspension purity through multiple purification steps while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate devices or manual processing steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables the preparation of a consistent and purified cell suspension containing specific cell types like melanocytes, improving treatment efficacy by ensuring the quality and reproducibility of the autologous cell transfer process.
Implementation Method 1
an enzyme solution capable of digesting components of a tissue sample, particularly a skin sample, to obtain a cell suspension
Implementation Method 2
a first purification compartment for receiving a first purification material capable of binding and/or retaining at least one component of the cell suspension
Implementation Method 3
using affinity materials and magnetic particles to selectively bind and remove unwanted cells
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a cell suspension comprising an enzyme reservoir (10), a first purification compartment (20) for receiving a first purification material (P1), wherein the first purification compartment (20) is in fluid connection or can be brought into fluid connection with the enzyme reservoir (10), a syringe (40) comprising a barrel (41) defining a barrel compartment (45) and a piston (42) which is movably arranged in the barrel compartment (45), wherein the syringe (40) comprises a syringe inlet (43) connected to the barrel compartment (45), wherein the syringe inlet (43) is in fluid connection or can be brought into fluid connection with the first purification compartment (20), and wherein the syringe (40) comprises a syringe outlet (44), and wherein the device (1) comprises a flow path from the enzyme reservoir (10) via the first purification compartment (20) to the syringe inlet (43). Also provided herein are methods for preparing a cell suspension.