Non-enzymatic method and milling device

Abstract

Non-enzymatic method and milling device for preparing therapeutic cells from adipose tissue including continuously feeding the adipose tissue to the milling device; mechanically separating the cells or cell aggregates from adipose tissue moving through the milling device by means of a multiplicity of blades of a rotor, wherein the blades are arranged in a spaced arrangement with respect to the overall direction of flow and the blades are moving about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is provided essentially parallel to the overall direction of flow, continuously withdrawing the processed tissue comprising the separated cells from the milling device.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Non-enzymatic, continuous method for preparing therapeutic cells from an adipose tissue comprising:
 continuously feeding the adipose tissue to a milling device;   continuously processing the adipose tissue inside a casing of the milling device by mechanically separating cells or cell aggregates from the adipose tissue moving through the casing by means of a multiplicity of blades to obtain a processed tissue,
 wherein the blades are arranged in a spaced arrangement with respect to the overall direction of flow and the blades are moving about an axis of rotation, and 
 wherein the axis of rotation is provided essentially parallel to said overall direction of flow; and 
   continuously withdrawing the processed tissue comprising the therapeutic cells from the milling device.   
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the flow rate of the adipose tissue through the milling device in operation is at least 100 ml/min.   
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the flow rate of the adipose tissue through the milling device in operation is at least 200 ml/min.   
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 controlling the speed of rotation to a predefined constant speed.   
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 controlling the speed of rotation between 700-1100 rpm.   
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 in the continuous withdrawing of the processed tissue, the processed tissue is withdrawn h applying a suction to an outlet of the milling device and/or by applying a pressure to an inlet of the milling device.   
     
     
         23 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 prior to the continuous feeding of the adipose tissue to the milling device, the adipose tissue is received through a hose connected to a cannula.   
     
     
         24 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the adipose tissue fed to the milling device is guided onto a first row of blades in a tangential path.   
     
     
         25 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 in the continuous withdrawing of the processed tissue, the processed tissue is withdrawn from the milling device in a direction radially off from the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         26 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least a section of the casing has a tapered shape with a cross-section decreasing in a direction from an inlet to an outlet of the milling device.   
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 radially outer ends of the longest blades arranged in the section of the casing having a tapered shape are essentially flush with an inner wall of the casing.   
     
     
         28 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least some of the rows have an equal number of blades; and   the blades are arranged in columns parallel to the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         29 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the blades comprise a first group of blades having midplanes parallel to the axis of rotation; and   a second group of blades have midplanes transverse to the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         30 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least four rows of blades are axially separated by gaps that are smaller than the width of the blades of the respective blade rows in an axial direction.   
     
     
         31 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 blades of a final blade row are orientated with their midplanes parallel to the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 at least one of the blades comprises two or more radially spaced teeth, preferably extending parallel, to the axis of rotation.