Patent ID: 7927630

Claim:
A method of delivering one or more factors to an injured or degenerative joint of a patient which comprises: (a) collecting a fluid aspirate from the injured or degenerative joint of the patient, wherein the injured or degenerative joint comprises synovial villi; (b) centrifuging the fluid aspirate to provide a supernatant and a sedimented material, wherein the sedimented material comprises cellular components; (c) separating the supernatant from the sedimented material; (d) immersing the sedimented material in a solution comprising one or more factors to stimulate cartilage growth so as to provide a treated sediment; and (e) introducing the treated sediment to deliver the one or more factors to the joint of the patient, wherein the method is performed with a centrifuge tube apparatus comprising a syringe and a holder, wherein the syringe comprises a collection tube comprising an end with a narrowed outlet and a means for connection to a needle and an open end, wherein the syringe further comprises a plunger inserted into the open end, wherein steps (a), (c), (d) and (e) are performed using the syringe, and wherein during step (b) the syringe rests in an inverted position upon ledges in the holder so that the plunger remains towards the open end of the syringe.