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1. A cell encapsulation assembly, said assembly comprising a length, a width, first and second opposing long sides extending lengthwise of the assembly, and first and second opposing short sides extending widthwise of the assembly, wherein the assembly has a longest axis extending lengthwise of the assembly, the assembly further comprising at least two planar cell chambers and a cell-free region along the longest axis separating adjacent planar cell chambers, wherein each chamber is fluidly separated from another chamber, and each chamber comprises a semi-permeable membrane comprising an inner surface configured to be in contact with cells that are placed in the respective chamber, wherein each chamber has at least one loading port extending from outside of the chamber to inside of the chamber, wherein each chamber is configured to be sealed to contain the cells that are placed in the respective chamber, and at least a portion of an outer surface of the cell encapsulating assembly is configured to be placed in direct contact with host tissue upon implantation of the cell encapsulating assembly into a mammalian host, wherein the assembly comprises at least one suture tab at the first short side of the assembly for securing the assembly at an implantation site inside the host, wherein each loading port extends from outside of the respective chamber to inside of the respective chamber at the second short side of the assembly, and wherein the cell-free region is bent.
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