Stem cells are derived from adipose (fat) tissue. In comparison to other forms of stem cells, such as those derived from bone marrow, adipose derived stem cells are greater in number which is important for patient success rates.
The Cell Surgical Network procedure for harvesting adipose derived stem cells is IRB approved and yields 10 million to 40 million stem cells. After cells are removed they can be cryopreserved in dedicated stem cell banks and expanded to hundreds of millions autologous cells. When the cells are required for therapy, they are shipped back to the physician in an IRB-approved manner, with quality assurances at every step of the process.
The harvesting procedure involves liposuction. After obtaining the stem cells, they are deployed to the patient intravenously (IV) or through a nebulizer (inhaled) treatment. When you discuss the procedure with the doctor, he or she will go over the risks and benefits. If you decide on having stem cell therapy for lung disease or other problems, you must sign a consent form. You will be scheduled for the retrieval or harvest procedure and the administration on the same day.
After local anesthetic infiltration using gentle suction, fat cells and tissue are removed. The fat solution is then processed. When the stem cells are deployed directly into your vein, they will reach the lung tissue via the body’s normal circulation process. With the nebulization, the stem cells are inhaled right into the lungs via the respiratory tract.