Patent ID: 8163536

Claim:
A device for forming and/or increasing the relative number of undifferentiated cells in a cell population comprising haematopoietic cells, including committed cells, which device comprises: (i) a chamber; (ii) an input storage container containing a cell population including committed cells; (iii) means for introducing into the chamber cells of the cell population including committed cells; (iv) transfer means between the input storage container and the chamber for transferring the cells from the storage container continuing to the chamber; (v) means for introducing into the chamber an agent selected from the group consisting of: (a) an antibody that binds to MHC antigens, (b) erythropoietin, and (c) GM-CSF; (vi) a further transfer means for transferring a volume of the agent into the chamber, including a reservoir of the agent; (vii) incubation means for incubating said committed cells in the presence of the agent; (viii) mixing means for mixing the agent and the cell population in the chamber; (ix) an output storage container; and (x) means for removing from the chamber into the output storage container a sample of cells comprising undifferentiated cells; wherein the chamber, the input storage container, the further transfer means, and the output storage container are disposable.