Cell suspension preparation technique and device

An apparatus for developing peri-operatively to a patient a cell suspension from a skin tissue sample, and for immediately applying the cell suspension to a graft site of the patient, comprising:

• a first member, a second member, a base portion, an enzyme solution comprising an amount of enzyme sufficient to dissociate cellular stratum in a skin tissue sample, and a nutrient solution suitable for direct application to the graft site, wherein the nutrient solution is free of xenogenic serum and used to suspend cells harvested following release from the skin tissue sample;
• wherein:
• (i) the first member comprises:
• (a) a storage compartment configured to store a set of tools for cell harvesting and a dispersing device configured to apply the cell suspension to the graft site;
• (b) an aperture extending longitudinally through the first member configured to allow a neck of a vial to protrude through the first member and arranged above a heating unit configured to heat the vial containing the enzyme solution to a predetermined temperature and maintain the predetermined temperature, wherein the enzyme solution, after being heated, is used to incubate the skin tissue sample to dissociate the cellular stratum therein, without encouraging in vitro cellular multiplication;
• and
• (c) a filter recess comprising a filter means of a filter size between 50 μm and 200 μm, configured to remove cellular congregates greater than the filter size from cells harvested from the skin tissue sample, to form the cell suspension that is suitable for immediate dispersion to the graft site;
• (ii) the first member is located within the base portion, and the base portion comprises:
• (a) the heating unit;
• and
• (b) a containment field sized to fit the vial to be heated by the heating unit;
• and
• (iii) the second member is seated within the first member and the second member comprises:
• a top surface, an underside, and sidewalls, such that when inverted, the sidewalls extend upward and comprise a reservoir area configured to withhold the skin tissue sample and at least a portion of the nutrient solution in fluid containment, wherein the reservoir area is of sufficient size to permit manipulation of the skin tissue sample, permitting separation of the cellular stratum and harvesting of cells from the cellular stratum suitable for grafting, without encouraging in vitro cellular multiplication.