A method for filtering blood is disclosed that in one embodiment includes the steps of depositing unfiltered blood along at least one side of a semi-permeable surface having multiple pores, depositing target tissue along at least an opposing side of the semi-permeable surface, and permitting the unfiltered blood to flow at least partially along the semi-permeable surface to filter the unfiltered blood. Embodiments of the invention can remove self-directed autoantibodies from the blood while reducing the complications of conventional treatments such as plasmaphoresis, and return the patient's own blood cells and its plasma components, less the disease-causing self-directed antibodies. A blood filter and a blood bag are also disclosed.

A tissue processing apparatus, a filter and a method for processing tissue therefrom #! The problem to be solved is to provide a portable apparatus for processing harvested fat to form a good quality graft that does not clog syringes, and the problem is solved by providing an apparatus as in the present invention with a filter that is inclined to the base of the apparatus and comprises of plurality of elongated protrusion that are structured at an angle on the surface of the filter and blocks the fibres when the harvested fat moves on the inclined surface of the filter, thereby filtering the harvested fat and avoiding clogging of syringes.

The present invention provides for methods and devices suitable for producing a transplantable cellular suspension of living tissue suitable for grafting to a patient. In applying the method and/or in using the device, donor tissue is harvested, subjected to a cell dissociation treatment, cells suitable for grafting back to a patient are collected and dispersed in a solution that is suitable for immediate dispersion over the recipient graft site.

A device for reducing the size of biological tissue according to an embodiment comprises: a plate; and a thru-hole which penetrates the front and the rear of the plate and is defined by a plurality of edges of the plate, wherein each of the plurality of edges comprises a protruding part protruding toward a center part of the thru-hole, and biological tissue may be reduced in size by being scratched and torn by the protruding parts while passing through the thru-hole.

A method for intranasal stem cell therapy provides a non-invasive procedure to inject mesenchymal stem cells directly through the nostrils for stem cell deposition in nerve endings, for the uptake of large number of stem cells directly into the central nervous system, and bypassing the blood-brain barrier. The method involves steps: preparing the patient psychologically and physically prior to receiving the stem cell specimen; intravenously introducing a solution of sodium chloride or Ringer's lactate containing mannitol, and glutathione. The method also includes: clearing and illuminating the inferior turbinate of the nostrils; urging a pair of absorbent fiber soaked with lidocaine and epinephrine into the nostrils; inserting, through one of the nostrils, a 27G 1 needle at a midpoint of the inferior turbinate at a 30 angle relative to the facial plane, and at an angle between 5 to 10 relative to a lateral reference point; and performing post-procedure maintenance.

Implantable devices comprising a scaffold, cells, and/or therapeutic molecules are provided. Uses include inhibition of pathological immunity, elaboration of therapeutic growth factors, and immune augmentation. The implantable device may contain a porous substrate structure to which therapeutic cells are adherent, which can be implanted and explanted from a patient. In another embodiment, a medical device includes a porous substrate seeded with therapeutic cells, said device comprising of an additional layer allowing free exchange of molecules without cell escape. Said medical device is seeded with thymic medullary epithelial cells or progenitors of said thymic medullary epithelial cells. In conditions where tolerance to alloreactive donor cells is desired, the thymic medullary epithelial cells or progenitors thereof are derived from recipient cells. In conditions where tolerance to alloreactive recipient cells is desired, the thymic medullary epithelial cells or progenitors thereof are derived from donor cells.

In some embodiments, data sensed and/or operational parameters used during a catheterization procedure are used in the motion frame-rate updating and visual rendering of a simulated organ geometry. The organ geometry is rendered as a virtual material using a software environment (preferably a graphical game engine) which applies simulated optical laws to material appearance parameters affecting the virtual material's visual appearance, as part of simulating a scene comprising the simulated organ geometry, and optionally also comprising simulated views of a catheter probe used for sensing and/or treatment. Optionally, measurements of and/or effects on tissue by sensing and/or commanded probe-tissue interactions are converted into material appearance changes, allowing dynamic visual simulation of intra-body states and/or events based on optionally non-visual input data. In some embodiments, physiology, motion physics, and/or other physical processes are simulated based on live inputs as part of associating material appearance properties to the simulated tissue's geometry.

A system and method for harvesting autologous tissue, mincing it into fragments that are visible and measureable when filtered, and delivering a portion of the tissue back into the patient without the need to directly touch the tissue. During the same surgical procedure, the tissue can be mixed with a biocompatible agent before introduction into the repair site.

A system and method for harvesting autologous tissue, mincing it into fragments that are visible and measureable when filtered, and delivering a portion of the tissue back into the patient without the need to directly touch the tissue. During the same surgical procedure, the tissue can be mixed with a biocompatible agent before introduction into the repair site.

Provided herein are devices useful in processing fat for fat grafting and for delivering fat tissue grafts to a patient. Also provided are devices and methods for fat grafting and for treatment of plantar fasciitis.