Patent ID: 7651684

Claim:
A method of processing adipose tissue to augment autologous fat transfer to a subject, comprising: removing a first portion of unprocessed adipose tissue that comprises a cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells from a subject; introducing the first portion of unprocessed adipose tissue that comprises said cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells into a self-contained adipose-derived stem cell processing unit, 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 a patient, wherein said 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 that comprises 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 cell population that comprises 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 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 centrifuge or a 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 first portion of adipose tissue within said self-contained adipose-derived stem cell processing unit while maintaining said closed pathway to obtain a concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells; mixing said concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells with a second portion of unprocessed adipose tissue comprising intact, non disaggregated tissue fragments from said subject so a to obtain a mixture of the unprocessed adipose tissue and the concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells; and providing said mixture of the unprocessed adipose tissue and the concentrated cell population that comprises adipose-derived stem cells to said subject.