Understanding the Lipogems® Device: A Patented Approach to Fat Tissue Preparation

A New Device Processes Fat for Transplantation

This 2015 United States Patent describes the Lipogems® technology—a specialized device and method for preparing fat tissue harvested through liposuction. The goal is to create a cleaner, safer product that can be transplanted back into your body for regenerative purposes. The patent explains how this device overcomes problems with older fat preparation methods.

Traditional Methods Waste Much of the Harvested Fat

Before this technology, doctors used several approaches to prepare fat for transplantation. These included letting the fat settle by gravity, spinning it in a centrifuge, or washing it through a strainer. The most common technique involved placing syringes of fat in a centrifuge to separate liquids from solid tissue.

However, these older methods had significant drawbacks:

• The spinning process broke many fat cells, releasing oil that contaminated the material

• Doctors had to manually drain fluids and use gauze to absorb excess oil

• Much of the harvested fat became unusable—wasted material meant patients needed more liposuction sessions

• The fat contacted multiple surfaces and was exposed to air, raising infection risks

The Device Uses Gentle Washing Instead of Harsh Spinning

The Lipogems® device takes a different approach. Instead of relying on centrifugation, it uses a specially designed washing chamber with built-in stirring mechanisms. Fat enters through an inlet, gets gently processed inside the chamber, and exits through an outlet.

This washing process creates an emulsion that separates the useful tissue from:

• Blood components

• Anesthetic fluids

• Oil from broken cells

• Cellular debris

Gentle Processing Preserves More Healing Cells

The key innovation is how gently the device handles your fat tissue. Traditional blender-based fragmentation caused "more than half of the liposuctioned material to be unusable." The patent notes that excessive mechanical force breaks cell walls, creating oil that makes the tissue unsuitable for injection.

By contrast, this device preserves more of the valuable components in your fat—including the supportive cells and structures that promote healing. Oil in transplanted fat increases infection and rejection risks, so minimizing oil contamination is essential for safety.

Closed System Reduces Infection Risk

Another important feature is that the device keeps the fat in a closed system throughout processing. Older techniques required opening syringes, draining fluids by hand, and dabbing with gauze. Each step exposed the tissue to potential contamination.

The Lipogems® device minimizes how often the fat contacts outside surfaces or air. This matters because the patent specifically mentions that traditional methods required "use in an operating room" due to contamination concerns. A closed system may allow for safer processing in various clinical settings.

What This Means for Your Treatment

If you are considering fat tissue transplantation for regenerative treatment, this patent describes the foundation of the Lipogems® technology. The device was designed to:

• Preserve more of your harvested fat tissue for actual use

• Reduce the number of liposuction sessions needed

• Lower contamination and infection risks through a closed system

• Eliminate harsh mechanical processing that destroys healing cells

This patented approach represents a shift from aggressive processing methods toward gentler preparation that keeps your body's natural regenerative materials intact.

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Source: Tremolada et al., United States Patent, 2015.