Modular Cell Isolation Apparatus for Adipose Tissue Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for isolating cell populations from adipose tissue are inefficient and impractical for clinical use, requiring centrifugation and being slow, costly, and complex, which hinders rapid and effective isolation of desirable cell populations for therapeutic applications.

Innovation Solution

A modular apparatus with a lipid separating unit and cell separation assembly that includes removable filters of variable pore size, allowing for the separation of non-adipocyte cells from adipocytes without centrifugation, integrated with lipoaspiration equipment for efficient cell isolation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centrifugation equipment and complex separation technologies are used, then cell separation capability is improved, but device complexity and capital investment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell separation capabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for centrifugation equipment from the cell separation process. By using a simple filtration apparatus with filters of varying pore sizes, the system removes the disturbing element (centrifugation) while maintaining effective cell separation capability. The filtration-based approach allows separation of adipose tissue components without requiring complex mechanical separation equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with a passive filtration system. Instead of using rotational mechanical force to separate cells by density, the system uses filters with specific pore sizes to physically separate adipocytes from stromal vascular fraction cells. This substitution dramatically simplifies the device requirements while maintaining separation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If cell culturing methods are used, then cell purification is improved, but time consumption and practicality for clinical use worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell purification qualityVSAvoidisolation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary separation actions directly at the point of tissue collection. By implementing filtration-based separation immediately after lipoaspiration, the system eliminates the need for subsequent cell culturing steps that would otherwise be required to achieve purification. This preliminary action significantly reduces the time from tissue collection to获得 purified cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention skips the time-consuming cell culturing step entirely by using direct filtration for cell separation and purification. The system rushes through the isolation process by achieving purification in a single step through sequential filtration, rather than requiring multiple days of cell culture incubation and processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Manufacturing precision

If flow cytometry and magnetic affinity techniques are used, then cell homogeneity is improved, but processing speed and scalability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell homogeneityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the cell separation process into multiple filtration stages using filters with progressively smaller pore sizes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high cell homogeneity by sequentially removing different cell types and debris, while maintaining rapid processing speed through the parallel simplicity of filtration operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic pressure differential to drive the filtration process through filters of varying pore sizes. This pneumatic/hydraulic approach enables rapid cell separation and purification without the slow processing associated with flow cytometry or magnetic affinity techniques, allowing for scalable and efficient cell isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 and efficient isolation of desirable cell populations, reducing complexity and capital equipment needs, and facilitating immediate use or storage of isolated cells for various medical applications, including tissue repair and cosmetic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a dispersing head having multiple pores adapted for forcing the cell mixture thereby disrupting cell clusters

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through porous structure: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

separating the constituent cells without centrifugation into an aqueous cellular layer and a lipid layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity-based separation: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9453200B2Apparatus and methods for cell isolation

Publication Date: 2016.09.27 INGENERON INC

AI summary

A unitary apparatus for isolating cells from adipose tissue including a lipid separation processor with a dispersing head equipped with a plurality of ports and a digestion chamber for dissociation of the constituent cells disposed in adipose tissue. The lipid separating apparatus is useful for the separation of lipids and adipocytes from a mixed cell population. A cell seeding chamber may be attached to the cell isolation apparatus. The components of the apparatus may be packaged in modular kit form.