Israeli stem cell device lengthens the cord that save lives

[bigbob]

........ BioCord, an Israeli start-up, has developed a novel method for collecting more than double this amount of blood from the umbilical cord, which means more illnesses can be treated and potentially more lives saved.

Their SituGen self-contained system does away with the current method of extracting the blood using a needle, which limits the amount of blood able to be extracted............ "There's no needle, there's no bottleneck, it's one hundred percent disinfected and sterilized, which is a must in this process," explains Shacham.

In initial tests of the prototype, in around seven minutes as much as triple the usual 80ml was collected by the SituGen, enough stem cells to treat an adult. As well as extracting more blood, the device is easier to use than a needle, with only a short time needed to master its operation, says Shaham. http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1243&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Health

[Wise Young]

http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1243&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Health

Bob, the "cord" referred to in the article is umbilical cord, not spinal cord. This is simply a collection device for umbical cord blood. Wise.

[Faye]

Bob, the "cord" referred to in the article is umbilical cord, not spinal cord. This is simply a collection device for umbical cord blood. Wise.
I think that was understood.

Too bad I didn't have the device purchased about 6 weeks ago, when we extracted the UCB from the umbilical cord of my first granddaughter.

At least we were one of the first in the US who collected the placental stem cells too.

[bigbob]

Geez, sorry I posted, I wasn't at all trying to imply they found a way to lengthen the spinal cord. But, it makes me wonder why there is this kind of thing here on CareCure to diminish anything I say.

[bigbob]

Sorry if I offend the pro-lifers, BTW, their argument offends me.

So, a patient rights, pro stem cell, pro wc sports ab parent is a target of disrespect?
geez

[betheny]

Does the EDTA anticoagulant used in everyday Umbilical cord blood collection render the specimen useless for stemcell research? Or is it a contamination issue?

[Wise Young]

Geez, sorry I posted, I wasn't at all trying to imply they found a way to lengthen the spinal cord. But, it makes me wonder why there is this kind of thing here on CareCure to diminish anything I say.

Bob, I did not mean to criticize you. I only pointed out that the "cord" referred to umbilical cord and not the spinal cord. Wise.

[1 Fine Spine RN]

This article was interesting, however the title of the thread did lead me to believe it was going to be about the spinal cord.

[Wise Young]

Does the EDTA anticoagulant used in everyday Umbilical cord blood collection render the specimen useless for stemcell research? Or is it a contamination issue?

Betheny, EDTA is a calcium-binding agent. Because calcium is required for clotting, EDTA effectively stops clotting. Most umbilical cord blood collection uses sodium citrate which also buffers calcium (reduces calcium ionic activity). An alternative anti-coagulant is heparin but this is expensive. In addition to anti-coagulating the blood, it is necessary to add DMSO which helps prevent ice-crystal formation in the cells when they are frozen. Unfortunately, all these things have to be removed from the cells when one thaws them and infuse the blood. DMSO, for example, is toxic to cells at room temperature or higher. Therefore, the thawing the blood requires a special apparatus to wash the cells while they are being thawed. Likewise, because calcium is essential for growth of the cells, it is necessary to remove the EDTA or citrate before the cells can be cultured. The way to do that is to wash the cells repeatedly before culture.

Wise.