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 method for preparing a cell-enriched matrix from a body tissue having vasculature and regenerative cells adaptive to differentiate into functional equivalent of host tissue after transplantation therein, comprising:
 extruding a sample of the body tissue through an orifice of a defined diameter in the range of about 1 mm to about 5 mm to reduce lipid content and increase regenerative cell content in the sample, and   subjecting the extruded body tissue sample to centrifugation of preselected centrifugal force and duration sufficient to derive therefrom the cell-enriched matrix with regenerative platform therein.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the body tissue is selected from one of lipoaspirate, adipose tissue, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the centrifugation is performed by applying centrifugal force in a range from about 400 g to about 2000 g, for a duration of about 5 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  including subjecting the derived cell-enriched matrix to repetitive cycles of rotational acceleration and deceleration of at least one cycle thereof per minute in a temperature-controlled centrifuge to dissociate and extract regenerative cells from the matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including securing at least a portion of the derived cell-enriched matrix in a container to an inverted rotor of a centrifuge, and subjecting the secured container to a sequence of multiple rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration of at least one round per minute at a centrifugal force in a predetermined range and a temperature-controlled environment for a duration sufficient to dissociate a desired quantity of regenerative cells from the cell-enriched matrix portion therein. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including detachably securing multiple cell-enriched matrix containers radially in spaced-apart orientation to the rotor for retention thereof at one of (i) a fixed angle or (ii) an angle that varies with rotational force on the respective container, and spinning the rotor under rotational forces through the sequential rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration at a rate of said at least one round per minute, to dissociate regenerative cells from the contained cell-enriched matrix as a combined result of conflicting centrifugal and gravitational forces thereon. 
     
     
         7 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said temperature controlled environment is maintained within the interior of the centrifuge in a range from about 26° C. to about 42° C. during said multiple rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said angle, whether fixed or varying with rotational forces on the container, is positively acute between and including a horizontal plane through the rotational axis of the rotor and a vertical orientation of said axis so as to create said conflicting centrifugal and gravitational forces during start-stop cycles resulting from said sequential rounds of rotational acceleration and deceleration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , including combining regenerative cells and cell-enriched matrix into a cellular composition having a capability to restore cellular function of non-functioning tissue of a subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , including combining regenerative cells and cell-enriched matrix into a cellular composition having enhanced neovascularization for long term survival of the composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , including combining regenerative cells and cell-enriched matrix into a cellular composition, and banking said cellular composition for future implantation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , including collecting the extracted regenerative cells in a resorbable scaffold for a graft. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , including implanting the cellular composition in a graft into a subject that sourced the body tissue sample. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the body tissue sample is obtained from said subject, and including implanting the extracted regenerative cells into the body of said subject at a location selected for potentially beneficial functional restoration of damaged or diseased tissue thereat.