Non-enzymatic method and milling device

A continuous non-enzymatic method for preparing therapeutic cells from adipose tissue comprising:

• (a) continuously feeding the adipose tissue to a milling device, said milling device comprising:
• a casing having an inlet and an outlet and defining an operating volume;
• and
• a rotor received within the operating volume and pivotable with respect to the casing around an axis of rotation;
• the rotor comprising at least eight rows of blades in a spaced arrangement with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor;
• the inlet and the outlet being arranged at opposite ends of the rotor close to a first and last row of blades respectively in a direction of flow;
• the rotor being connected to a drive by a magnetic coupling;
• at least a section of the operating volume having a tapered shape with a cross-section decreasing in a direction from the inlet to the outlet;
• radially outer ends of the longest blades arranged in the section of the operating volume having;
• a tapered shape being essentially flush with an inner wall of the casing;
• (b) continuous controlled processing the adipose tissue inside the milling device by mechanically separating the cells or cell aggregates from adipose tissue moving through the milling device by means of a multiplicity of blades, the blades being arranged in a spaced arrangement with respect to the overall direction of flow and the blades moving about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being provided essentially parallel to said overall direction of flow;
• (c) continuously withdrawing processed tissue comprising the separated cells from the milling device.