Tissue Collector Design for Adipose Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processing adipose tissue in a single portable container is challenging due to the complexity of stringy tissue components like collagen, which can clog filters and reduce the recovery of leuko stromal vascular cells, and existing systems lack versatility for both fat graft preparation and cell concentrate production.
Innovation Solution
A portable apparatus with a container design featuring a tissue collector and filter system that includes a toothed member to collect and retain stringy tissue, reducing clogging and the need for pre-filters, and a mixing impeller to aid in processing, allowing for efficient separation and recovery of leuko stromal vascular cells within a single container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single portable container is used for multi-step processing of adipose tissue, then the need to transfer material between containers is reduced and portability is improved, but the container design must accommodate conflicting requirements of different process steps and volume constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into distinct functional zones: a filtration zone with a filter assembly for separating adipose tissue from processing fluid, and a cell collection zone below the filter. This segmentation allows different process steps (filtration, washing, cell recovery) to occur in dedicated areas within the single container, reducing the need for transferring material between containers while maintaining process optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The single container is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the reaction vessel for enzymatic digestion, the filtration chamber for separating tissue, and the collection vessel for recovered cells. The filter assembly can be used for both washing adipose tissue and for final cell concentration, making the container versatile for different process steps without requiring multiple specialized containers.
2Device complexity
If stringy tissue components like collagen are not removed before processing, then the processing steps can be simplified, but filters become clogged and cell recovery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary enzymatic digestion of the adipose tissue using collagenase before filtration. This preliminary action breaks down the stringy collagen components that would otherwise clog the filter, allowing the subsequent filtration step to proceed efficiently without requiring complex pre-processing of the stringy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
Enzymatic digestion serves as an intermediary step between tissue collection and filtration. The enzyme collagenase acts as a mediator that modifies the stringy tissue components, converting them from a filter-clogging state to a soluble or fragmented state that passes through the filter efficiently, thereby protecting the filter while maintaining simple processing steps.
3Reliability
If multiple specialized containers are used for each process step, then equipment and process design can be optimized for each step, but the need for multiple containers and material transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the filtration function and cell collection function into a single integrated filter assembly within one container. The filter both separates adipose tissue during washing and concentrates cells during recovery, combining multiple specialized functions into one unit. This eliminates the need for separate filtration containers and cell collection containers, reducing material transfers while maintaining the reliability of optimized filtration and collection processes.
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
The apparatus effectively processes adipose tissue by reducing stringy tissue-related issues, enhancing cell recovery, and enabling efficient preparation of both fat grafts and leuko stromal vascular cell concentrates without excessive cell loss or contamination, improving processing efficiency and yield.
Implementation Method 1
A tissue collector is disposed in the tissue retention volume and rotatable relative to the container in at least a first direction of rotation about an axis of rotation. The tissue collector may include at least one toothed member that sweeps through a portion of the tissue retention volume when the tissue collector is rotated in the first direction. The toothed member may be configured with a plurality of teeth to collect and retain stringy tissue
Implementation Method 2
a mixing impeller to aid in processing
Implementation Method 3
centrifuging digested material to prepare SVF in the form of a centrifuged pellet
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing biological material containing stringy tissue in a container having a tissue collector disposed in a tissue retention volume on one side of an internal filter includes washing biological material contained in the tissue retention volume with wash liquid to the tissue retention volume and allowing the wash liquid and rotating the tissue collector disposed in the tissue retention volume relative to the container in a first direction of rotation about an axis of rotation to sweep the teeth positioned on the tissue collector through the biological material and to collect stringy material on the tissue collector.