System and method for refining liposuctioned adipose tissue

• US 6,316,247 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University Of Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education)
• Original Assignee: University Of Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education)
• Inventors: Katz, Adam J., Llull, Ramon, Futrell, J. William, Walters, Frank R., Hedrick, Marc H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/333,532
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 435/325, 435/370, 435/267, 435/271, 435/297.1, 435/304.1, 435/308.1, 494/36, 210/632, 210/446, 210/448, 210/768, 210/772
• US Class Current: 435/267
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3604 characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3683 subjected to a specific treatment prior to implantation, e.g. decellularising, demineralising, grinding, cellular disruption/non-collagenous protein removal, anti-calcification, crosslinking, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme treatment

Abstract

A device and method for producing refined adipose tissue for use in autologous adipose transplantation or research wherein a sterile environment is maintained. More particularly, a system for refining tissue comprising a first flexible container, a second flexible container having a plurality of pores providing for fluid communication between the interior of the first flexible container and the interior of the first enveloping flexible container, a first port that provides communication between the exterior environment and the interior of the first flexible container and thereby provides a means for introducing fluids into the interior of the first flexible container and allowing waste effluent to exit the first container, a second flexible container, a second port for inserting tissue into the second container and expressing refined tissue out of the container, and a means for controlling the opening and closing of the first and second ports. The method comprises introducing a tissue sample into the system and subjecting it to a washing phase wherein the tissue is agitated, the waste effluent is allowed to exit the system through the first port, and the refined tissue is expressed out the second port for further refinement or transplantation.

Claims

1. A system for refining adipose tissue comprising:

a. a first flexible container wherein said first container is airtight and watertight;

b. a second flexible container wherein said second container is enveloped by said first container and said second container has a plurality of fluid communicating means between the interior of said second container and the interior of said first container;

c. at least one first port that provides communication between the exterior environment and the interior of said first container and thereby provides a means for introducing solutions into the interior of said first container and removing waste from said first container;

d. at least one second port that provides communication between the exterior environment and the interior of said second container and thereby provides a means for introducing tissue samples into said second container and extruding refined liposuctioned material out of said second container; and

e. a means for controlling the opening and closing of said first and second ports.

2. A system for refining tissue according to claim 1 further comprising:

a. a means for engaging said first container at the point furthest away from said second port and advancing such means towards said second port such that pressure is evenly applied and refined tissue is extruded out of said second port.

3. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said second port has a means of engaging the receptacle used to harvest liposuctioned tissue or/and the receptacle for re-implanting refined liposuctioned tissue.

4. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said second container is bevelled such that at the apex of said bevelled portion is said second port.

5. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said second container is a mesh bag and said pores of said second container are between 50 and 2000 microns.

6. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said means for controlling the opening and closing of said ports consists of applying a clamp manually around said second and first ports.

7. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said first and second containers are bags.

8. A system for refining tissue according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said second container is capable of being rotated within said first container and thereby expel waste from the interior of said second container into the interior of said first container.

9. A method for refining tissue comprising:

a. providing a system for refining tissue having a first flexible container and a second flexible container enveloped by said first container, said second container having pores providing for fluid communication between the interior of said second container and the interior of said first container, a first port that provides communication between the exterior environment and said interior of said first container and provides a means for introducing solutions into said interior of said first container and allowing the egress of solutions and effluent, a second port for introducing tissue into said second container, said second container having a means for engaging a rotating or agitating mechanism, a means for sealing said first and second ports;

b. inserting tissue into said second container via said second port;

c. inserting a washing solution into said first container via said first or second port;

d. sealing said second port;

e. permitting said washing solution to exude through said pores providing for fluid communication between said interior of said second container and said interior of said first container and interacting with the tissue inserted therein;

f. agitating said first and second containers;

g. allowing effluent to drain through said first port into the environment; and

h. opening said second port and applying pressure to said first container, said second container, and the tissue in said second container such that refined tissue is expressed out of said system through said second port.

10. A method for refining tissue according to claim 9 wherein said washing solution is introduced into the system under pressure such that the pressure of said washing solution when it interacts with said second container dislodges materials occluding said pores of said second container.

11. A method for refining tissue according to claim 9 further comprising:

a. sealing said first port before introducing washing and rinsing solution into said system; and

b. opening said first port after agitating said first and second containers such that effluent exits said first container into the environment.

12. A method for refining tissue according to claim 9 further comprising:

a. attaching a receptacle to said system and anaerobically expressing the tissue into said receptacle for re-implantation.

13. A method for refining tissue according to claim 9 wherein said agitation of said second container is rotation of said second container within said first container such that centrifugal forces expel waste from the interior of said second container into the interior of said first container.