Method for harvesting fat cells from a fat-fluid mixture

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method for separating a fat component of a fluid-fat mixture extracted from a patient. More particularly, the method of invention places a sponge formed of a fluid-absorbing material, such as polyvinyl acetal, in contact with the mixture so as to absorb the fluid component, thereby separating the fat component of the mixture. The separated fat component can then be injected into a selected body portion of the patient.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A medical sponge, comprising a body formed of a fluid-absorbing material extending from a base to a tip and being effective for absorbing fluid from a mixture of fat and fluid extracted from a patient. 
     
     
         10 . The medical sponge of  claim 9 , wherein said base has an area larger than a corresponding area of said tip. 
     
     
         11 . The medical sponge of  claim 9 , wherein said body has a substantially pyramidal structure and said base and said tip are substantially rectangular surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The medical sponge of  claim 9 , wherein said body has a substantially conical structure and said base and said tip are substantially circular surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The medical sponge of  claim 9 , wherein said body has a substantially cylindrical structure. 
     
     
         14 . A medical sponge, comprising
 a body formed of a fluid-absorbing material and extending from a base to a tip, said base having a larger cross-sectional area than said tip,   wherein said sponge is effective for filtering fat from a mixture of fat and fluid extracted from a patient.   
     
     
         15 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , wherein said sponge is formed of polyvinyl acetal. 
     
     
         16 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , wherein said base and said tip are formed as substantially rectangular surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , wherein said body further comprises four peripheral surfaces each extending from said base to said tip. 
     
     
         18 . The medical sponge of  claim 16 , wherein said base and said tip surfaces are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         19 . The medical sponge of  claim 16 , wherein said body exhibits a substantially rectangular cross-section at any plane parallel to said base and tip surfaces such that an area of said substantially rectangular cross-section increases continuously from said tip to said base. 
     
     
         20 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , wherein any of said base or said tip has an area in a range of about a few mm2 to a few cm2. 
     
     
         21 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , wherein said base is separated from said tip by a distance in a range of about a few millimeters to about a few centimeters. 
     
     
         22 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more channels extending from said base to said tip to facilitate the separation of fluid from a fat-fluid mixture. 
     
     
         23 . The medical sponge of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more channels having an end positioned at any of said base or said tip and extending at least partially through said body. 
     
     
         24 . The medical sponge of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more channels having an end positioned at any of said peripheral surfaces and extending at least partially through said body. 
     
     
         25 . A medical kit for separating fat component of a fat-fluid mixture, comprising
 a sterile container for storing the fat-fluid mixture,   a sterile sponge formed of a fluid-absorbing material and sized and shaped so as to fit in said container in at least partial contact with said stored mixture thereby absorbing the fluid component of the mixture to separate the fat component, and   a sterile device configured for collecting the separated fat component.