Patent ID: 7429488

Claim:
A method of processing a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells, comprising: removing a first portion of adipose tissue that comprises a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells from a patient; introducing the removed first portion of adipose tissue that comprises said cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells into a self-contained adipose-derived stem cell processing unit configured to maintain a closed pathway, wherein said self-contained adipose derived stem cell processing unit comprises: a tissue collection container that is configured to receive adipose tissue that is removed from a patient, wherein said tissue collection container is defined by a closed system; a first filter that is disposed within said tissue collection container, wherein said first filter is configured to retain a first component of said unprocessed adipose tissue and pass a second component of said unprocessed adipose tissue, such that said first filter separates said first component from said second component, and wherein said first component comprises a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells and said second component comprises lipid, mature adipocytes, and saline; a cell collection container, which is configured to receive said first component comprising a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells from said tissue collection container, wherein said cell collection container is within said closed system; a conduit configured to allow passage of said first component comprising a cell population comprising adipose-derived stem cells from said tissue collection container to said cell collection container while maintaining a closed system; a cell concentrator disposed within said cell collection container, which is configured to facilitate the concentration of said first component comprising a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells so as to obtain a concentrated population of cells that comprises adipose-derived stem cells, wherein said cell concentrator comprises a centriftige or a spinning membrane filter; and an outlet configured to allow the aseptic removal of said concentrated population of cells that comprise adipose-derived stem cells; separating and concentrating said cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells from said removed first portion of adipose tissue within said self-contained cell processing unit while maintaining said closed pathway to obtain a concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells; and mixing said concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells with a second portion of unprocessed adipose tissue from said patient.