Development of a System and Method for Automated Isolation of Stromal Vascular Fraction from Adipose Tissue Lipoaspirate

Figure 3

Schematic representation of the automated process for isolation of SVF from lipoaspirate tissue. The schematic represents the various steps involved in SVF isolation. (1) The automated run is initiated by the user via a graphical user interphase; (2) lipoaspirate tissue is transferred into the tissue processing unit with the help of pump; (3) wash sequence comprises of (3a) transfer of buffer into the tissue processing unit with the help of pump, (3b) washing of tissue by agitation, and (3c) phase separation into upper fat and lower aqueous phases, followed by removal of the lower aqueous phase. The wash sequence is repeated thrice for complete removal of blood and tumescent fluids from the fat tissue; (4) the tissue is enzymatically digested. A digestion sequence comprises of (4a) transfer of enzyme into the tissue processing unit with the help of pump, (4b) the tissue is digested under controlled temperature and constant agitation, (4c) phase separation into upper fat and lower aqueous phases, and (5) the aqueous fraction of the digest is concentrated by filtration to deliver the SVF. The time taken for each of the process steps is shown in the accompanying table. Total process time is 133 min.