We now offer Stem Cell Therapy. We have affiliated our hospital with MediVet Biologics to provide our patients with the very best in Stem Cell Therapy. Since 2003, Stem Cells have been utilized by small and large animal Veterinarians for the treatment of orthopedic cases. Traditional services provided a mail in program whereas cells could be processed and sent back to the practitioner for reintroduction to the patient. Since then innovation and improvements to various segments have driven a wider commercial appeal for the service. With improved on-site technology MediVet’s in-clinic system allows for a same day harvest and application to the patient. This eliminates the variability in outside shipping of the sample, dramatically reduces the costs of the treatment and allows for the best in viability eliminating the potential of cell death. Stem cells are the body’s repair cells. They have the potential to divide and differentiate into many different types of cells. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into tissues such as skin, fat, muscle, bone, cartilage, and nerve to name a few.
What are the Types of Stem Cells?
There are two basic types of stem cells; embryonic and somatic (adult). Embryonic stem cells are found in the embryo. These cells are called totipotent or pluripotent, which means they have the ability to reproduce into any mature cell type. While embryonic stem cells were thought to offer the greatest potential in differentiating into any mature cell type, there are obviously moral and ethical concerns with harvesting these cells. They also have a propensity to develop into teratomas, a type of tumor, which is a major safety concern. The second type of stem cell is the adult stem cell. These stem cells are multipotent, which means they can still differentiate into multiple different tissues, but unlike embryonic stem cells, they do not develop into teratomas. Due to this, adult stem cells have a major safety advantage over embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in organs and tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat), skin, liver, blood vessels, and neurons. There are no moral or ethical concerns with harvesting adult stem cells from a patient, activating them, and reintroducing them back into the patient.
Why Does MediVet Use Adipose Tissue?
Adult stem cells are highly concentrated in adipose tissue (fat). Fat is also readily available in large quantities and easily accessible. The technique to acquire the stem cell is less invasive and less painful than aspirating a bone marrow sample from the hip or the sternum. There are up to 1,000 times more stem cells in a gram of fat than in a gram of bone marrow. At this concentration and with MediVet’s patented technology, the procedure provides an abundance of stem cells to treat in-clinic, same day without the need and additional expense of an outside culturing facility. In the small animal model the extraction is less invasive than a spay. Stem cells are extracted from the fat among a mixture of cells termed the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF). The SVF is rich in complementary cells and bioactive peptides that contribute to cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, and also impart anti-inflammatory effects.
What makes the MediVet Process Unique?
MediVet pioneered the in-clinic Veterinary Stem Cell market and as the market leader continues to offer innovation and good University data. Stem Cells can be extracted and concentrated utilizing a simple enzymatic digestive process. The MediVet process is unique in that it allows for activation of the sample prior to introduction to the patient, bio-scaffold nanowhiskers for cell matrixes and what has been found in University settings the leader in gene expression markers for indicators such as BMP-6, BMP-7 as well as many healing cytokines and chemokines.
Why utilize Platelet Rich Plasma with Stem Cell therapy?
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP allows for an adjunctive autologous value add to the stem cell fraction. Platelet Rich Plasma is derived from an autologous whole blood sample from the patient and once processed yields many healing growth factors. PRP can help with survival of the cells upon introducing to the patient, reduce inflammation as well as provide cyto-protective properties when transit is necessary.