Adipose tissue purification device

Abstract

Device for purifying adipose tissue The present invention relates to a device for purifying (100) adipose tissue comprising at least one sealed enclosure (110), a filter (120) present in the sealed enclosure, said filter delimiting a centrifugation chamber (160) for adipose tissue and a means for rotating the filter (10, 20), the filter having a pore size configured to allow a liquid medium to pass through and retain adipose tissue. Figure for abstract: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for purifying adipose tissue Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for purifying adipose tissue. The invention finds application in particular for fat transplantation operations (referred to as "lipofilling" in English) for aesthetic and reconstructive purposes. The invention finds, in particular, use for the transplantation of fat useful for breast surgery operations, the implementation of the device which is the subject of the invention not being limited to this application. Prior art

[0002] Fat transplantation or autologous adipose tissue grafting operations are used in surgery, particularly in buttock surgery for volume augmentation or in breast surgery to shape the breast to give it a more natural appearance after a DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator), latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction, or after the placement of a breast implant. These operations involve taking fat from a patient in a donor area and then reintroducing it into the area of ​​interest in the patient's body.

[0003] However, known fat transplantation techniques have a significant drawback, namely a high rate of resorption of the implanted fat. Indeed, a resorption of at least 50% of the implanted fat (loss of volume) is generally observed six months after the transplantation operation. It is, therefore, often necessary to carry out several interventions on the patient to obtain a satisfactory final result. These repeated interventions are not desirable both for the comfort of the patient and for the cost and duration of the treatment.

[0004] The adipose tissue removed contains a liquid medium consisting mainly, on the one hand, of oil and blood initially present in the adipose tissue and, on the other hand, of a liquid such as a physiological solution introduced during the removal of the adipose tissue and / or during a washing operation thereof.

[0005] The inventors have determined that the rate of resorption is largely related to the amount of fluid present in the adipose tissue reintroduced into the patient's body. In other words, the more fluid remains in the reinjected adipose tissue, the greater the rate of resorption.

[0006] It is therefore important to treat the adipose tissue before its reintroduction into the patient's body in order to remove as much liquid medium as possible.

[0007] Document US 2020 / 0054824 discloses a fat transplantation system which uses a gravity filtration device marketed under the commercial reference Revolve®.

[0008] However, this type of filtration device does not allow a sufficient quantity of liquid to be removed from the adipose tissue to significantly reduce the resorption rate.

[0009] Another known solution consists of centrifuging the adipose tissue in order to separate the phases by density. This solution also does not allow an optimal quantity of liquid to be removed from the adipose tissue. In addition, for the phase separation to be effective, centrifugation must be carried out at high centrifugal accelerations, generally greater than or equal to 400G, and very often even reaching 900G. These speeds / accelerations are harmful to the tissue, and generate cell death typically between 10% and 40% depending on the accelerations used. Statement of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device for the purification of adipose tissue comprising at least one sealed enclosure, a filter present in the sealed enclosure, said filter delimiting a centrifugation chamber for adipose tissue and a means for driving the filter in rotation, the filter having a pore size configured to allow a liquid medium to pass through and retain adipose tissue.

[0011] The purification device of the invention thus advantageously combines the use of a filter capable of draining a liquid medium from adipose tissue with the rotation of the latter. Indeed, the filter forming a centrifugation chamber, adipose tissue present inside this chamber can be subjected to centrifugal accelerations against the internal wall of the filter. The liquid medium present in and around the adipose tissue is then effectively drained outside the centrifugation chamber through the pores of the filter while the adipose tissue is retained in the chamber. A significant quantity of liquid is thus eliminated, making it possible to have purified adipose tissue which, once reimplanted, has a resorption rate much lower than that obtained with the filtration solutions of the prior art.

[0012] The purification device of the invention also has the advantage of being able to drain a significant quantity of liquid from the adipose tissue, without damaging it. Indeed, the solutions of the prior art which use centrifugation in order to separate the phases by density and eliminate the liquid of the prior art are implemented in closed enclosures such as tubes or syringes. For the separation of the phases to be effective, the centrifugation must be carried out at high centrifugal accelerations, generally greater than or equal to 400G, and very often even reaching 900G. These speeds / accelerations are harmful to the adipose tissue, and cause death. cellular typically between 10 and 40% depending on the accelerations achieved.

[0013] In the purification device of the invention, the centrifugation chamber is not closed since its wall is formed by a filter. The evacuation of liquids is no longer carried out by phase separation, but by passage through the pores of the filter. It is therefore not necessary to rotate the device quickly to evacuate the liquids. An acceleration generally between 5G and 25G is sufficient. In fact, the adipose tissue suffers very little damage. Furthermore, any oil generated (a marker of cell death and which must be avoided from reinjecting because this can form oily cysts) is advantageously also eliminated thanks to the filter, which is not the case during centrifugation by phase separation, where the oil is above the tissue.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the purification device further comprises a collection tray present in the centrifugation chamber, the collection tray being movable in translation along the axis of rotation of the filter. The collection tray acts as a piston which makes it possible to scrape the internal wall of the filter so as to collect a maximum of adipose tissue and to facilitate the collection of the purified adipose tissue at the top of the device.

[0015] According to another particular aspect, the purification device further comprises a threaded rod extending into the centrifugation chamber and cooperating with a threaded portion of the collection tray, the threaded rod being connected to the means for driving the filter in rotation, said means being configured to drive the threaded rod in rotation in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the filter. Here, the same rotational drive means is advantageously used both for centrifuging the filter and for moving the collection tray in vertical translation.

[0016] According to another particular aspect, the purification device further comprises a protective sheath surrounding the threaded rod. This sheath makes it possible to prevent the threaded rod from coming into contact with the adipose tissue which, by accumulating at the level of the threading of the plate, can block the movement of the latter.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the purification device further comprises a stiffening element present between the sealed enclosure and the filter.

[0018] In another embodiment, the filter is made of a self-supporting rigid material. In this case, a stiffening element is no longer necessary in the purification device.

[0019] The means for driving the filter in rotation may be motorized, for example with an electric motor, or be manual. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an exploded schematic view of a purification device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic sectional view of the purification device of [Fig.l] once assembled,

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic sectional view showing the puri device fication of [Fig.2] after moving the collection tray. Description of the embodiments

[0023] Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a purification device 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] The purification device 100 comprises a sealed enclosure 110 formed here by a cover 111, a cylindrical wall 112 and a bottom 113. These elements are fixed together in a sealed manner.

[0025] The purification device 100 also comprises a filter or screen 120 present in the sealed enclosure 110. The filter 120 delimits a centrifugation chamber 160 ( [Fig. 2]) whose operation is described later. In the example described here, the filter 120 has a cylindrical shape. The filter may have other shapes suitable for centrifugation. The filter 120 has a pore size configured to allow a liquid medium to pass through and retain adipose tissue. The pore size is chosen in particular to allow the passage of liquids such as oil, blood, water or a physiological solution while retaining the adipose tissue. As non-limiting examples, the pore size of the filter may be between 50 μm and 1500 μm and more preferably between 200 μm and 500 μm.The filter can be made in various ways, such as by braiding, welding plastic threads or from a material comprising openings or holes having dimensions corresponding to the desired pore size. The filter can be made in particular of a polymeric material such as polyester or polypropylene, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other materials can be used.

[0026] In the example described here, a stiffening element 130 of cylindrical shape is present between the cylindrical wall 112 of the sealed enclosure 110 and the filter 120. Its function is in particular to ensure the structural strength of the filter 120 during centrifugation. The stiffening element 130 is for example made of metallic or plastic material and has an openwork structure defining a plurality of openings 1300 in order to allow the evacuation of the liquid medium drained by the filter 120.

[0027] The stiffening element 130 is associated with a rotating plate 131. More precisely, the stiffening element 130 has at its lower end teeth 1301 which cooperate with grooves 1310 present in the vicinity of the external periphery of the rotating plate 131. Of course, any other means of securing the stiffening element 130 could be used. gidification with the rotary plate, such as for example clipping or gluing, can be envisaged. The rotary plate 131 is connected to a rotational drive means which can be manual or motorized. In the example described here, the rotary plate is connected to an electric motor 10 via a bidirectional clutch 20 configured to ensure the rotational drive of the rotary plate 131 in a first direction of rotation Si of the electric motor 10 ([Fig.2]). The electric motor 10 can be for example a stepper motor or a brushless DC motor. The bidirectional clutch can be replaced by any device allowing selective rotational drive in two opposite directions of rotation. Seals 114 and 115 are placed respectively below and above the rotary plate 131 in order to ensure sealing in the lower part of the purification device.

[0028] Centrifugation is carried out by rotating the filter 120. More precisely, the electric motor 10 is controlled in a first direction of rotation Si to drive the rotating plate 131 and the stiffening element 130 into engagement with the plate 131. The rotation of the plate 131 and the stiffening element 130 causes the filter 120 to rotate. The filter is fixed to the stiffening element by any type of suitable means. By way of non-limiting examples, the filter may be fixed with one or more of the following means: gluing, engagement in setting notches present on the stiffening element, clipping. The speed of the electric motor 10 is controlled so as to apply centrifugal acceleration to the adipose tissue present in the centrifugation chamber.Thus, adipose tissue present in the centrifugation chamber 160 will be subjected to a centrifugal force against the internal wall of the filter 120, which makes it possible to effectively drain the liquid medium present in the adipose tissue without damaging it.

[0029] The centrifugation implemented can be carried out by imposing on the filter 120 an acceleration greater than or equal to 8 G, for example greater than or equal to 10 G or greater than or equal to 12 G during all or part of the centrifugation. This acceleration measured in G corresponds to the ratio between the acceleration undergone by the material and the acceleration of Earth's gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m2 / s. The acceleration undergone by the material corresponds to the ratio of the centrifugal force applied and the mass of the material considered. The centrifugal force applied is equal to m*co2 * R where m is the mass of the object considered, co is the angular speed of the filter 120 expressed in rad / s and R the distance from the axis X of rotation to the center of gravity of the object considered.

[0030] During a centrifugation phase, the adipose tissue and the polluting materials may undergo an acceleration less than or equal to 40 G, for example less than or equal to 30 G, or even less than or equal to 25 G or less than or equal to 20 G. This acceleration may be between 8 G and 40 G or between 8 G and 30 G or between 8 G and 25 G or between 8 G and 20 G. This acceleration may be between 10 G and 40 G or between 10 G and 30 G or between 10 G and 25 G or between 10 G and 20 G. This acceleration can be between 12 G and 40 G or between 12 G and 30 G or between 12 G and 25 G or between 12 G and 20 G. The acceleration values ​​described above are sufficient to allow a very significant elimination of the liquids present in the adipose tissue and in particular of the interstitial water and to further improve the quality of the purified adipose tissue. This last point is more difficult to achieve in the case of gravity filtration as described in US 2020 / 0054824. Furthermore, limiting the acceleration to values ​​much lower than those implemented in conventional centrifugation as described above also helps to obtain adipose tissue of optimal quality and with a slight quantity of residual interstitial water allowing it to be easily injected into the patient's body.

[0031] The centrifugation may have a duration greater than or equal to 10 seconds, for example between 10 seconds and 60 seconds, preferably between 15 and 45 seconds.

[0032] During centrifugation, the liquid medium passing through the filter 120 and the stiffening element 130 is collected in a volume 170 delimited between the stiffening element 130 and the cylindrical wall 112 of the enclosure 110. The liquid is then evacuated via an evacuation port 1131 present on the bottom 113 of the enclosure 110.

[0033] In the example described here, the cover 111 comprises three ports 1110, 1111 and 1112 intended to be connected respectively to a device for suctioning adipose tissue taken from the body of a patient, to a device for delivering washing liquid, for example a physiological solution, and a device for reimplantation or reintroduction of adipose tissue. The purification device comprises a cover 101 comprising openings 1010, 1011 and 1012 which cooperate with the ports 1110, 1111 and 1112 of the cover 111.

[0034] Optionally, the purification device may further comprise a collection tray movable inside the centrifugation chamber. As illustrated in the example of Figures 1 and 2, the purification device 100 further comprises a collection tray 140 which is movable in translation in a direction DT along the axis X of the filter 120. More specifically, the purification device 100 comprises a threaded rod 141 which extends vertically inside the centrifugation chamber 160 along the axis X of the filter 120. The lower end 1412 of the threaded rod is connected to the electric motor 10 via a guide 150 and the bidirectional clutch 20. The guide 150 comprises a housing 1500 in which the lower end 1412 is fixed.A lower portion 1501 of the guide 150 is connected to a part of the bidirectional clutch 20 which is engaged with the electric motor 10 only when the latter transmits a rotational movement in a second direction of rotation S2 opposite to the first direction of rotation Si used for the cen. trifugation. When the electric motor 10 rotates in the first direction of rotation S1, no rotational movement is transmitted by the bidirectional clutch 20 to the guide 150 to which the threaded rod 141 is connected. Similarly, when the motor 10 rotates in the second direction of rotation S2, no rotational movement is transmitted by the bidirectional clutch 20 to the rotary plate 131 and, consequently, to the filter 120. The collection plate 140 has on its upper face a central opening 1400 extended by a neck 1401 which extends from the lower face of the plate 140. The neck 1401 comprises a portion 1402 comprising a thread 1403 which cooperates with a thread 1411 of the threaded rod 141. Thus, when the threaded rod is rotated in the second direction of rotation S2, the collection plate 140 rises in the centrifugation chamber 160 following the DT direction.

[0035] The peripheral edge 1404 of the collection tray 140 is opposite the internal wall of the filter 120. Thus, when the collection tray 140 is moved in vertical translation along the direction DT, it acts as a piston which makes it possible to scrape the internal wall of the filter so as to collect a maximum amount of adipose tissue. The vertical translation of the tray 140 also makes it possible to place the collected adipose tissue as close as possible to the cover 111 and consequently to facilitate its removal for reimplantation.

[0036] According to a particular aspect, the threaded rod 141 can be housed in a protective sheath 142. The protective sheath 142 which extends between an upper end 1421 and a lower end 1422 makes it possible to prevent the threaded rod 141 from coming into contact with the adipose tissue which, by accumulating at the level of the tapping 1403 of the collection plate 140, can block the movement of the latter.

[0037] [Fig. 3] shows the purification device 100 after actuation of the electric motor 10 in the second direction of rotation S2 allowing the threaded rod 141 to be driven in rotation. The rotation of the threaded rod 141 causes the vertical translation of the collection tray 140 in the direction DT.

[0038] The lower end 1422 of the protective sheath is fixed in the opening 1400 of the collection tray 140. In order to allow the movement of the protective sheath 142 during the movement of the tray 140, the cover 111 and the lid 101 respectively comprise an opening 1113 and an opening 1013 through which the sheath 142 slides. A seal 115 is present around the opening 1113 in order to preserve the seal at the top of the centrifugation chamber.

[0039] It is noted that, when the purification device does not comprise a translationally movable collection tray, a bidirectional clutch is not necessary and the electric motor or any other rotational drive means can be directly connected to the rotating tray.

[0040] In another embodiment, the filter is made of a self-supporting rigid material. The filter may be made, in particular, from a metal strip in which holes are made by laser, water jet or chemical cutting in order to form a screen, a metal grid woven from wires or balls agglomerated by sintering metal or ceramic powders. In this case, the stiffening element 130 is no longer necessary and it is the self-supporting filter which is directly engaged with the rotating plate 131.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for the purification (100) of adipose tissue comprising at least one sealed enclosure (110), a filter (120) present in the sealed enclosure, said filter delimiting a centrifugation chamber (160) for adipose tissue and a means for driving the filter in rotation (10, 20), the filter having a pore size configured to allow a liquid medium to pass and retain adipose tissue, characterized in that it further comprises a collection tray (140) present in the centrifugation chamber, the collection tray being movable in translation along the axis of rotation of the filter.

2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a threaded rod (141) extending into the centrifugation chamber (160) and cooperating with a threaded portion (1403) of the collection tray (140), the threaded rod being connected to the means for driving the filter (10) in rotation, said means being configured to drive the threaded rod in rotation in a direction of rotation (S2) opposite to the direction of rotation of the filter (Si).

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a protective sheath (142) surrounding the threaded rod (141).

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a stiffening element (130) present between the sealed enclosure (110) and the filter (120).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the filter is made of a self-supporting rigid material.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the means for driving the filter in rotation is manual.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the means for driving the filter in rotation comprises an electric motor (10).

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