Fat collection and preparation system and method

Abstract

System and methods for collecting and preparing fat for autologous fat tissue transplantation. The system includes syringes, filtering and transferring assemblies coupled with the syringes, a centrifuge and a centrifuge insert releasably coupled with the centrifuge. Substances, including oil, fat, and denser substances, such as tumescent fluid, connective tissue, hormones and/or other non-fat substances, are harvested through a cannula into a syringe. Syringes are placed in the centrifuge insert, and subject to centrifugation. Centrifugation stratifies the substances into a top oil stratum, a middle fat stratum, and a bottom denser substance stratum. Denser substances are filtered out of the syringes during or after centrifugation. Oil is removed through an aspiration port in the plunger head of the syringe plunger. Fat is transferred from the first syringe into one or more smaller syringes through an adapter in the assembly coupled with the first syringe and the smaller syringe.

1 . A method of preparing fat for transplantation, comprising the steps of: 
 mating a distal end of a first syringe with a first end of an adapter assembly;    engaging a filter assembly with a second end of the adapter assembly, the filter assembly including a filter attached thereto;    after the engaging and mating steps, inserting the first syringe into a receiver in a centrifuge insert, a combination of substances releasably retained inside a chamber of the syringe, the combination of substances including oil, fat and a denser substance;    after the engaging and mating steps, coupling the centrifuge insert to a rotatable centrifuge member of a centrifuge;    after the coupling step, centrifuging the first syringe to stratify the combination of substances into strata of oil, fat and the denser substance;    after the coupling step, filtering at least a portion of the denser fluid stratum from the first syringe through the filter, the filter preventing passage of at least a portion of the fat stratum from the first syringe; and    after the coupling step, extracting at least a portion the oil stratum from an opening in a plunger head in a proximal portion of the syringe.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the filtering step, disengaging the filter assembly from the adapter assembly.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the disengaging step, mating a distal end of a second syringe with a second end of the adapter assembly.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the step of mating the distal end of the second syringe with the second end of the adapter assembly, transferring at least a portion of the fat stratum from the first syringe to the second syringe through the adapter assembly.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the transferring step, detaching the second syringe from the adapter assembly.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the centrifuging step, uncoupling the centrifuge insert from the rotatable centrifuge member.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the uncoupling step, removing the centrifuge insert together with the first syringe from the centrifuge.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein filtering step is performed after the coupling step and after the centrifuging step.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtering step is performed contemporaneously with the centrifuging step.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly comprising: 
 an adapter having a first section mateable with a luer connector of a first syringe, a second section mateable with a luer connector of a second syringe, a passageway from the first section to the second section, a coupling; and    a filter assembly releasably coupleable with the adapter via the coupling, the filter assembly including a filter configured to selectively allow passage of a first type of substance out of the first syringe and to prevent passage of a second type of substance out of the first syringe.    
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 mating a first syringe with a first section of an adapter;    after the step of mating the first syringe, removing a first type of substance from the first syringe through a filter connected to the adapter, the filter preventing passage of a second type of substance from the first syringe;    after the removing step, mating a second syringe with a second section of the adapter; and    after the step of mating the second syringe, transferring the second type of substance from the first syringe to the second syringe through the adapter.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the removing step, disconnecting the filter from the adapter.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the removing step includes the substep of: 
 removing the first type of substance from the first syringe through the filter, the filter covering an opening in the second section of the adapter.    
     
     
         14 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 removing from a first syringe a more dense substance of a combination of substances in the first syringe through a filter attached to an adapter coupled with the first syringe, the filter configured to permit passage of the more dense substance while preventing passage of a less dense substance from the first syringe; and    transferring the less dense substance from the first syringe through the adapter.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the removing step includes the substep of: 
 removing from the first syringe the more dense substance in a lower stratum of a combination of stratified substances in the first syringe through the filter.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 before the removing step, centrifuging the combination of substances in the first syringe into strata according to the densities of the substances in the combination.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the transferring step includes the substep of: 
 transferring the less dense substance from the first syringe through the adapter into a second syringe.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 before the transferring substep, removing the filter from the adapter, the filter being releasably attached to the adapter.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 before the transferring substep, mating the second syringe to the adapter.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 before the removing step, mating the first syringe to the adapter.    
     
     
         21 . An assembly comprising: 
 an adapter having a first end configured to sealingly engage an opening in a first container, a second end configured to sealingly engage an opening in a second container, a passageway between the first end and the second end, and a coupling; and    a filter assembly releasably coupleable with the adapter via the coupling, the filter assembly including a filter configured to selectively allow passage of a first type of substance out of the first container and to prevent passage of a second type of substance out of the first container.    
     
     
         22 . A syringe comprising: 
 a chamber having an open proximal end and an opening in a distal end, a center of the opening offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chamber;    a plunger shaft; and    a plunger head releasably coupled with the plunger shaft, the plunger head and the plunger shaft slidably and sealingly insertable through the open proximal end into the chamber to variate a volume of an interior of the chamber.    
     
     
         23 . The syringe according to  claim 22 , wherein the plunger head includes an aspiration port configured to allow removal of substances from the interior of the syringe and addition of substances to the interior of the syringe.  
     
     
         24 . The syringe according to  claim 22 , wherein the aspiration port is positioned to be exposed when the plunger shaft is uncoupled from the plunger head.  
     
     
         25 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 centrifuging a combination of substances in a chamber in a syringe, to separate the combination of substances in the chamber into strata according to a density of each of the substances in the combination, a plunger head slidably and sealingly inserted into an open proximal end of the chamber, a distal end of the chamber having an opening, a center of the opening offset from a central longitudinal axis of the chamber; and    after the centrifuging step, attaching the plunger shaft to the plunger head.    
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the centrifuging step includes the substep of: 
 removing a distal stratum of densest substances from the chamber through a filter in an assembly releasably coupled with the opening, the filter preventing passage of less dense substances from the chamber.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the centrifuging step, detaching the filter from assembly.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the attaching step, transferring at least a portion of the less dense substances into a second syringe.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the transferring step includes the substep of: 
 depressing a proximal end of the plunger shaft to move the plunger head in a distal direction and to push the portion of the less dense substances out of the chamber through the opening and the assembly into the second syringe.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising the step of: 
 extracting a supernatant stratum of least dense substances from the chamber through an aspiration port in the plunger head.    
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for centrifuging syringes, comprising: 
 an insert releasably coupleable with a rotatable centrifuge member of a centrifuge, a rotation of the rotatable centrifuge member being driven by a drive shaft of the centrifuge, the drive shaft being coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member,    wherein the insert has at least one insert cavity configured to receive a syringe.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein a rotation of the insert is driven by a rotation of the rotatable centrifuge member when the insert is coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the insert includes a lid configured to releasably enclose the syringe within the insert.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the insert is composed of a material having sufficient rigidity to support a syringe in each insert cavity when the insert is decoupled from the rotatable centrifuge member and placed on a surface.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the material includes plastic.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the insert is disposable.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the insert is a centrifuge insertion mold.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein at least part of each insert cavity is shaped to provide a complementary fit to a corresponding centrifuge cavity in the rotatable centrifuge member.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the shape of each insert cavity is further configured to provide a complementary fit to at least part of a particularly sized syringe.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the insert has a smaller quantity of insert cavities than a quantity of centrifuge cavities, a surface on the insert covering an open end of at least one unmatched centrifuge cavity.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the insert cavity has a stop member attached to an interior thereof configured to prevent a distal end of the syringe from resting on a distal-most interior surface of the insert cavity.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein an interior of the insert cavity has a stop surface, the stop surface configured to engage an outer surface of the syringe to limit an insertion of the syringe into the insertion cavity.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein a distal portion of the insert cavity is configured to receive drainage from the syringe.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , further comprising an absorbent material arranged in the distal portion of the insert cavity.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein the distal portion of the insert cavity is configured to receive a denser substance filtered out of a distal end of the syringe during centrifugation.  
     
     
         46 . An assembly for centrifuging syringes, comprising: 
 a centrifuge including a base and a rotatable centrifuge member rotatably coupled with the base; and    an insert configured to releasably couple with the rotatable centrifuge member, the insert having at least one insert cavity configured to receive a syringe.    
     
     
         47 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the centrifuge includes an actuating mechanism coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member, the actuating mechanism configured to drive a rotation of the rotatable centrifuge member.  
     
     
         48 . The assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a drive shaft and a motor configured to rotate the drive shaft.  
     
     
         49 . The assembly according to  claim 47 , wherein the actuating mechanism includes a manually actuated drive shaft coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member.  
     
     
         50 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the base has a weighted perimeter.  
     
     
         51 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the rotatable centrifuge member has at least one centrifuge cavity shaped for a complementary fit with at least a portion of a corresponding insert cavity.  
     
     
         52 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the rotatable centrifuge member has a plurality of centrifuge cavities.  
     
     
         53 . The assembly according to  claim 52 , wherein at least one of the plurality of centrifuge cavities has a corresponding insert cavity, the at least one of the plurality of centrifuge cavities being a matched centrifuge cavity.  
     
     
         54 . The assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the rotatable centrifuge member has at least one unmatched centrifuge cavity lacking a corresponding insertion cavity, each unmatched centrifuge cavity having an open end configured to be covered by a surface of the insert when the insert is coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member.  
     
     
         55 . The assembly according to  claim 53 , wherein the unmatched centrifuge cavity has a different size than a size of the matched centrifuge cavity.  
     
     
         56 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the rotatable centrifuge member has a releasably engageable centrifuge cover.  
     
     
         57 . The assembly according to  claim 46 , wherein the insert has an insert cover.  
     
     
         58 . The assembly according to  claim 57 , wherein the insert cover is configured to releasably enclose the syringes within the insert.  
     
     
         59 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the insert is configured to maintain a sterile environment for the syringes, while subjecting the syringes to centrifugation.  
     
     
         60 . A method of centrifuging syringes, comprising the steps of: 
 coupling a centrifuge insert with a rotatable centrifuge member of a centrifuge, the centrifuge insert having at least one insert cavity retaining at least one syringe within the insert, the syringe configured to releasably retain a combination of substances, a rotation of the rotatable centrifuge being driven by a drive shaft of the centrifuge, the drive shaft being coupled with the rotatable centrifuge member; and    after the coupling step, rotating the rotatable centrifuge member, the centrifuge insert, and the combination of substances.    
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein the rotating step includes the step of: 
 stratifying the combination of substances into strata from a proximal-most stratum to a distal-most stratum in each syringe according to a density of each of the substances in the combination.    
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein the rotating step includes the substep of: 
 drawing a densest substance from the combination of substances out of each syringe into the distal-most portion of the corresponding insert cavity.    
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 60 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the coupling step, filtering a densest substance from the combination of substances from the syringe through a filter in an assembly coupled with the syringe, the filter preventing passage of a less dense substance from the syringe.    
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 60 , further comprising the step of: 
 after the rotating step and the filtering step, transferring at least a portion of the less dense substance into another syringe.    
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 64 , further comprising the step of: 
 removing the filter from the assembly.    
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 65 , wherein the transferring step includes the step of: 
 transferring the portion of the less dense substance into another syringe through an adapter in the assembly, the passageway having two ends, each end having a coupling configured for releasably coupling the adapter with a syringe.