Bone Marrow Adipose Portion Isolation Device and Methods

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems, devices and methods for the fractionation, isolation, extraction and processing of the adipose supernatant layer of a bone marrow aspirate. In particular, the various embodiments relate to systems, devices, and methods of obtaining, utilizing, and processing the adipose supernatant layer of a bone marrow aspirate as a source of mesenchymal stem cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for processing bone marrow aspirate comprising:
 a first chamber providing for the fractionation of bone marrow aspirate received therein and;   a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber into which one or more layers of fractionated bone marrow aspirate are decanted.   
     
     
         2 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber into which one or more of a serum layer, a buffy coat layer or a red blood cell layer may be decanted; and 
 a third chamber into which an adipose layer supernatant may be decanted. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber into which one or more of a serum layer, a buffy coat layer or a red blood cell layer may be decanted; and a third chamber into which an adipose layer supernatant may be decanted. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a cap comprising a fluid access port providing for the second chamber to be placed into fluid communication with the adipose layer supernatant. 
     
     
         5 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a plunger providing for the expulsion of a selected portion of the fractionated bone marrow aspirate from the first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a disk shaped volume which provides for the collection of an adipose layer supernatant fraction at a central region of the disk shaped volume upon the rotation of the first chamber around a central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a portion of restricted diameter positioned to correspond with the location of an adipose layer supernatant fraction upon fractionation of bone marrow aspirate placed within the first chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a floating disk having a density selected to cause the disk to float substantially between a serum layer and an adipose layer supernatant fraction upon fractionation of the bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         9 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises a porous lipophilic membrane providing for the separation of an adipose layer supernatant fraction upon fractionation of the bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         10 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  wherein the first chamber comprises one or more ports in fluid communication with an adipose layer supernatant fraction upon fractionation of the bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         11 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 1  further comprising an emulsification system in fluid communication with the second chamber for emulsifying an adipose layer supernatant fraction separated from the bone marrow aspirate received in the first chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 11  wherein the emulsification system comprises a first emulsification chamber and a second emulsification chamber in fluid communication with each other through an aperture sized to provide emulsification upon passage of the adipose layer supernatant between the first and second emulsification chambers. 
     
     
         13 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 11  wherein the emulsification system comprises a first emulsification chamber and a second emulsification chamber in fluid communication with each other through an emulsification screen providing for the emulsification of the adipose layer supernatant upon passage of adipose layer supernatant between the first and second emulsification chambers. 
     
     
         14 . The device for processing bone marrow aspirate of  claim 11  wherein the emulsification system comprises an emulsification screen movable with respect to the adipose layer and providing for the emulsification of the adipose layer supernatant. 
     
     
         15 . A method of processing bone marrow aspirate comprising:
 processing bone marrow aspirate with a device according to any one of  claims 1 - 14 ; and   collecting an adipose layer supernatant from the processed bone marrow aspirate.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising processing the adipose layer supernatant to collect mesenchymal stem cells. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising adding a secondary substance to the bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the secondary substance comprises at least one of a biologically inert fluid, CaC 1   2 , thrombin, a clotting agent or a polymerization agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising adding a digestion agent to the collected adipose layer supernatant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising applying at least one of sonic energy or vibration to the adipose layer supernatant.