Adipose Centrifuge for Multipotent Cell Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for isolating and concentrating multipotent cells from adipose tissue are time-consuming, require skilled technical knowledge, and involve multiple processing steps, leading to potential contamination and reduced cellular viability, while methods from bone marrow are painful and may result in insufficient dose levels.
Innovation Solution
A compact, sterile, self-contained centrifugal separation unit that quickly isolates multipotent cells from fatty tissue by mechanically breaking down the collagen structure and separating fractions by specific gravity, allowing for rapid preparation and use in surgical procedures without the need for enzymatic agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional enzymatic methods are used to isolate multipotent cells from adipose tissue, then cell separation can be achieved, but the process takes several hours to 14 days and requires multiple processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces enzymatic chemical processing with a mechanical centrifugal separation system. The device uses centrifugal force to physically separate multipotent cells from adipose tissue based on density differences, eliminating the need for collagenase or trypsin enzymes and their associated lengthy incubation and washing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation parameter from chemical (enzymatic breakdown) to physical (centrifugal force based on density). By adjusting centrifugal parameters (rotation speed, time), the system achieves rapid cell isolation in minutes rather than hours or days, directly addressing the time loss problem.
2Productivity
If multiple processing steps are used to prepare multipotent cell samples, then cell concentration can be achieved, but contamination risk and sterility compromise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (cell separation, concentration, and purification) into a single centrifugal processing step. The device simultaneously achieves all three objectives that traditionally required separate enzymatic digestion, filtration, and centrifugation steps, thereby minimizing contamination opportunities and maintaining sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal field acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables separation without direct contact between processing components and cellular material. This non-contact separation method reduces contamination risk compared to traditional methods requiring multiple transfers and washes.
3Ease of operation
If bone marrow aspiration is used to retrieve multipotent cells, then ad-hoc use in operatory is permitted, but the procedure is painful and may result in insufficient dose levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts multipotent cells from adipose tissue, which is obtained through minimally invasive liposuction procedures. This alternative source provides adequate cell doses without the painful bone puncture required for bone marrow aspiration, directly addressing the patient comfort issue while maintaining procedural simplicity.
4Productivity
If enzymatic agents are used to break down collagen network, then cell release can be achieved, but cell viability is reduced due to enzyme residuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical centrifugal separation for enzymatic cell release. The centrifugal force physically separates cells from the collagen network based on density differences without requiring enzymatic breakdown, thereby eliminating enzyme residuals that would compromise cell viability while maintaining effective cell release.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, reliable, and efficient isolation of multipotent cells in under 5 minutes with a simple protocol, reducing contamination risks and preserving cellular viability, and eliminates the need for painful bone marrow procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The constituents have differing specific gravities and are stratifiable in a centrifugal field produced by the centrifuge
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal field produced by the centrifuge
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifuge device is provided for the sizing and separation of constituents of a biologic mixture, e.g., adipose tissue. The device provides for the mechanical breaking down of the fibrous structure in the tissue by centrifugation causing the tissue to pass through a mesh element, or a sizing helix, or an extrusion element, whereupon the material is reduced to a slurry. This processed material may then be separated by centrifugation into its constituents, in order to harvest the fraction containing the multipotent cells. These multipotent cells may be utilized for various medical procedures to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration.