Patent ID: 7595043

Claim:
A method of processing adipose tissue that comprises a population of cells comprising adipose-derived stem cells for reintroduction into a patient, comprising: removing unprocessed adipose tissue that comprises a cell population comprising adipose-derived stem cells from said patient; introducing the removed adipose tissue into a self contained adipose-derived stem cell processing unit configured to maintain a closed system wherein said self contained adipose-derived stem cell processing unit comprises a tissue collection chamber that is configured to receive unprocessed adipose tissue that is removed from said patient, wherein the tissue collection chamber is defined by a closed system; a first filter that is disposed within said tissue collection chamber, 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 comprising adipose-derived stem cells and said second component comprises lipid, mature adipocytes, and saline; a processing chamber, which is configured to receive said first component comprising said population of cells comprising adipose-derived stem cells from said tissue collection chamber, wherein said processing chamber is within said closed system; a conduit configured to allow passage of said first component comprising said cell population comprising adipose-derived stem cells from said tissue collection chamber to said processing chamber while maintaining a closed system; a cell concentrator disposed within said processing chamber, which is configured to facilitate the concentration of said first component comprising said cell population comprising adipose-derived stem cells so as to obtain a concentrated population of cells comprising adipose-derived stem cells, wherein said cell concentrator comprises a centrifuge or a filter; and an outlet configured to allow the aseptic removal of said concentrated population of cells comprising adipose-derived stem cells; processing said removed, unprocessed adipose tissue to obtain said concentrated population cell comprising adipose-derived stem cells; and introducing said concentrated population of cells that comprises adipose-derived stem cells into a prosthetic device, wherein said prosthetic device comprises a cell carrier portion and a cell carrier containment portion, and wherein said concentrated population of cells comprising adipose-derived stem cells is introduced into said cell carrier portion of said prosthetic device.