Patent ID: 8163555

Claim:
A method of expanding cellular matter, said method comprising providing at least one bioreactor, said bioreactor having a cellular growth area and a supply area, said cellular growth area being separated from said supply area by a membrane, said membrane being adapted to inhibit migration of cells from said cellular growth area to said supply area and to permit migration of certain chemical compounds from said cellular growth area to said supply area and of certain other chemical compounds from said supply area to said cellular growth area; conducting a fluid containing cellular matter into said cellular growth area; providing oxygenated fluid to said supply area to maintain conditions conducive for cell growth in said cellular growth area; providing a plurality of parallel tube segments, said parallel tube segments having inflow ends and outflow ends, and said inflow ends are joined at a first common juncture comprising a valve and said outflow ends are joined at a second common juncture; flowing fluid containing cellular matter through at least a first segment; interrupting flow through said first segment while simultaneously flowing said fluid through a second segment; and hermetically removing said first segment, said first segment containing a sample containing cellular matter from a fluid recirculation path in fluid communication with said cellular growth area.