Patent ID: 6068970
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: A61M,B29C,B29L

Abstract:
A method of preserving cells in a storage bag using a cell preserving bag system, which system comprises a storage bag which contains preservation fluid containing cells to be preserved, said storage bag including at least one connecting tube having a first end that communicates with said storage bag and a second end that is closed; a reservoir container which contains additive fluid, said reservoir container including a fluid supply tube having a first end that communicates with said reservoir container and a second end that is closed; and a waste fluid container for receiving waste fluid generated in said storage bag, said waste fluid container including a waste fluid tube having a first end that communicates with said waste fluid container and a second end that is closed; wherein the method comprises the steps of:connecting said connecting tube with said waste fluid tube sterilely using a tube connecting apparatus which can connect two tubes in a sterile manner, and then transferring the waste fluid from said storage bag to said waste fluid container through said connected tubes to collect the waste fluid in said waste fluid container; andconnecting said connecting tube with said fluid supply tube sterilely using said tube connecting apparatus, and then transferring the additive fluid contained in said reservoir container to said storage bag,wherein the steps are carried out during the preservation of the cells and repeated a plurality of times, and the additive fluid to be added to said storage bag is selected from the group consisting of a blood preserving fluid, a rejuvenating fluid and a physiological saline solution, wherein in the case in which the additive fluid is a blood preserving fluid, the step of transferring the additive fluid is carried out under a lower preserving temperature of from 0.degree. C. to 4.degree. C., and in the case in which the additive fluid is a rejuvenating fluid, the step of transferring the additive fluid is carried out after raising the temperature of the preservation fluid in the storage bag being preserved under the lower preserving temperature to a predetermined temperature, in which the addition of the rejuvenating fluid is carried out after a plurality of replacement of the blood preserving fluid.