US 5,409,833 A · Microvessel cell isolation apparatus

Abstract

A processing vessel for isolating microvessel endothelial cells from liposuctioned fat tissues includes a fat-receiving basket defined by polyester screen material. Fat tissue removed from a patient by liposuction is received into the basket and is rinsed and digested with an enzymatic solution. The freed microvessel endothelial cells from the fat tissues are separated from the fat cells, and from blood cells and other materials which may be present in the basket by centrifuging. A bottom chamber of the processing vessel is configured to define a "pellet" of isolated endothelial cells which may be removed from the processing vessel for deposition on the inner lumenal surface of a synthetic graft which the fat-donor patient is to receive.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A process vessel for use in receiving, cleansing, digesting and isolating certain identifiable cells from tissues, said process vessel comprising:

a housing defining a process chamber, said process chamber including a lower conical portion;
and
a screen basket including a conical portion defining a lower part of said screen basket, said screen basket and its conical portion positioned in said process chamber and its lower conical portion to define a gap separating said screen basket from said housing, the size of said gap being substantially consistent across the screen basket and its conical portion.

A process vessel assembly for separating and concentrating microvessel cells from fat tissue harvested from a human donor preparatory to use of said microvessel cells to coat an inner luminal surface of a graft to be implanted in said human donor, said process vessel assembly including:

(a) a process vessel canister including both a bowl-like portion defining a chamber and an upper opening to said chamber, and a lid portion sealingly engageable with said bowl-like portion to span and close said opening;
(b) a process vessel for receiving, cleansing, digesting, and centrifuging said fat tissue to separate and concentrate said microvessel cells, said process vessel being receivable into said chamber of said process vessel canister, said process vessel comprising:
(i) a housing defining a process chamber, said process chamber including a lower conical portion;
and
(ii) a screen basket including a conical portion defining a lower part of said screen basket, said screen basket and its conical portion positioned in said process chamber and its lower conical portion to define a gap separating said screen basket from said housing, the size of said gap being substantially consistent across the screen basket and its conical portion;
and
(c) a holder for supporting said process vessel in a vertical position both on a horizontal support surface and in said process vessel canister, said holder engaging said bowl-like portion to limit movement of said process vessel in said chamber during centrifuging of said process vessel assembly to separate and concentrate said microvessel cells from said fat tissue.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Microvessel cell isolation apparatus

Life of this patent

Microvessel cell isolation apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31