Methods for harvesting adipose tissue containing autologous microvascular endothelial cells

A method of collecting fat tissue from a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated tubular cannula having a distal tip end and an opposite proximal end, a lumen extending in said cannula, and an aperture opening outwardly from said lumen on said cannula adjacent to said distal tip end and defining a tissue cutting edge surface;
• inserting said cannula into a patient so that said aperture contacts fat tissue;
• cutting said fat tissue with said tissue cutting edge surface;
• creating a suction force in said lumen to draw said fat tissue from the patient through said aperture into said lumen;
• selectively controlling the amount of suction to said lumen;
• and
• collecting said fat tissue from said lumen into a collection chamber, wherein said collection chamber includes an entrance port through which said fat tissue passes from said lumen in the step of collecting, said method further comprising the step of discharging said fat tissue from said collection chamber through said entrance port and through a homogenizing member having apertures with cutting edge surfaces and sized to lower the viscosity of the fat tissue by disrupting a connective matrix without exposing cellular components within said fat tissue to excessive shearing forces.