A Medical Device Daily

Cytori Therapeutics (San Diego) said it has received U.S. Patent No. 7,429,488, which broadly protects its Celution system-based methods of generating adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cell-enhanced fat grafts. According to the company, cell-enhanced fat grafts may be used in a variety of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery applications, including breast reconstruction following partial mastectomy, breast implant salvage, as well as facial and other cosmetic applications. The Celution 800/CRS system is currently sold in Europe and parts of Asia.

Cytori said the patent, which runs until at least January 2024, is important to the company "because it further strengthens the Celution system's competitive position within the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery market." Part of Cytori's strategy to create greater barriers-to-entry is to protect distinct applications of the Celution System, the company said. This allows Cytori to build additional layers of protection around U.S. Patent No. 7,390,484, which was recently issued to Cytori and covers the Celution system's core technology. Additional patents have been filed around other Celution system applications, including cell banking, cardiovascular disease, spine and orthopedic repair, among others, Cytori said.

According to the company, the new patent broadly protects its system, which is designed to automate the method of creating a cell-enhanced fat graft. First, the system processes stem and regenerative cells from a small amount of adipose tissue. Next, it mixes these cells with liposuctioned fat tissue, Cytori said. This forms the cell-enhanced fat graft, which may be used as a natural filler to reconstruct soft tissue defects, the company noted.