Apparatus for enhanced recovery of regenerative cells from tissue samples

Abstract

This document describes methods and an apparatus for recovery of a cell-enriched matrix and cells (e.g., regenerative cells) from a tissue sample. In some embodiments, at least two rounds of acceleration and deceleration are performed.

1 . A apparatus for processing samples of body tissue having vasculature and having regenerative cells adaptive to differentiate into functional equivalent of host tissue after transplantation therein, the apparatus comprising an orifice for extruding a sample of the body tissue therethrough to produce an extruded tissue sample having reduced lipid content and increased regenerative cell content relative to the lipid content and resident regenerative cell content therein prior to the extrusion; and a centrifuge for receiving and subjecting the extruded tissue sample to centrifugation to further increase regenerative cell content therein, whereby to produce a cell-enriched matrix therefrom. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein body tissue samples to be processed are adipose, lipoaspirate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second centrifuge for receiving and subjecting the cell-enriched matrix to repetitive rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration in an enzymatic environment to dissociate and extract regenerative cells from the cell-enriched matrix, for combination of the extracted regenerative cells with other cell-enriched matrix into a cellular composition having enhanced neovascularization. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body tissue samples to be processed are obtained directly from a living subject or from a tissue bank in which the samples have been cryopreserved and stored. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , including a closed transfer system the first-named and additional centrifuges to enable transfer of the cell-enriched matrix from the first-named centrifuge to the second centrifuge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein adipose body tissue samples are initially processed into suspension of pieces of adipose tissue in aqueous solution, prior to extrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice has a diameter in a range from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  including a controller for maintaining a selected temperature in a range from about 26° C. to about 42° C. interiorly of said second centrifuge during centrifugation of cell-enriched matrix therein to increase the speed of enzymatic dissociation of the regenerative cells. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded tissue sample is subjected to centrifugation for at least about five minutes at a force in a range from about 400 g to about 1200 g. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said repetitive rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration are substantially uninterrupted. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a cryopreserver arranged and adapted to process the cellular composition for banking. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a collector for introducing the extracted regenerative cells into a resorbable scaffold. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a cryopreserver arranged and adapted to process the resorbable scaffold and regenerative cells therein for banking. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a bank for storing said resorbable scaffold and regenerative cells therein in a preserved state.