Patent ID: 8609328

Claim:
A method for isolating pancreatic islets comprising the sequential steps of: (a) injecting a protection solution containing a protease inhibitor and approximately 4 to 50 mmol/L of potassium into the pancreatic duct of a procured pancreas, wherein said protease inhibitor is at least one selected from the group consisting of ulinastatin, gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate; (b) injecting a collagenase solution into said pancreas into which the protection solution has been injected and digesting the pancreas; (c) forming a centrifuged density gradient by centrifuging a density gradient obtained from a purification solution containing a density gradient reagent and to which tissue from said digested pancreas has been added, wherein said density gradient reagent is Ficoll solution or iodixanol; and (d) recovering and isolating said pancreatic islets from said centrifuged density gradient.