Stem Cell Connect Method

Our doctors use several injection methods to deliver stem cells. Depending on each patient’s condition, one or more injection methods will be used during a standard treatment session to maximize safety and efficacy. It’s important to remember that our protocols always prioritize safety, and the vaccination procedures offered are minimally invasive, yet they focus heavily on delivering stem cells as close as possible to the site of injury. For more information about the various injection methods, please see below.

 

  • Intravenous injection:

Intravenous infusion can be defined as the infusion of liquid components directly into a vein. These infusions enable healthcare professionals to inject fluids, blood products, and medications directly into a patient’s bloodstream through a small tube. This allows for rapid absorption and precise control of the dose of the component administered, which is essential for many medical procedures. Because stem cells can travel through the circulatory system to all areas of the body, they can easily reach the site of injury or disease.

 

  • Leakage steps:
  1. The IV line is appropriately prepared and two IV bags (saline and stem cells) are suspended on a high stand.
  2. The vaccination site (where the IV will be inserted) is sterilized.
  3. The IV catheter (the IV catheter is held over the needle used to puncture the vein) is removed from its sterile sheath and the needle is inserted into the vein.
  4. The protective cap is removed from the tip of the IV catheter and carefully inserted into the catheter hub. A piece of adhesive tape is placed over the catheter hub to protect the IV tubing.
  5. The nurse monitors the fluid flow within the vein throughout the procedure, which takes 30 to 60 minutes. If the patient experiences any discomfort during or after the procedure, the medical staff should be notified immediately.
  6. After the infusion is complete, the nurse closes the cylinder clamp to stop the flow of fluid. She places a clean gauze pad over the IV site and applies gentle pressure while withdrawing the catheter.
  7. Patients are asked to press a sterile cotton ball onto the vaccination site for at least 5 minutes.

 

  • Retrobulbar injection:

Retrobulbar (RB) injections are commonly used worldwide to provide local anesthesia in the retrobulbar area (back of the eye). During our stem cell treatment, these injections are used to deliver stem cells as close as possible to the optic nerve and/or retina, in an effort to better target the site of injury.

 

  • Leakage steps:

The entire procedure is quick and safe (as described below), and typically allows our patients to derive maximum benefits from the treatment. Please note that retrobulbar vaccinations are only offered to patients over the age of 11. The final decision is made by the attending physician upon admission.

  1. The patient is asked to lie down. Antiseptic is then carefully applied to the skin from the lower eyelid margin to the lower orbital margin, respectively.
  2. The patient is asked to look toward the opposite side of the treated eye and look up slightly. If the injection is being performed on the right eye, the patient should look up on the left side, and vice versa.
  3. A thin needle is then inserted straight down to a depth of approximately 2 mm into the quadrant between the outer 1/3 and inner 2/3 of the inferior orbital rim.
  4. The needle passes through the equator of the eyeball, then is focused toward the top of the nose until it reaches a depth of approximately 3 centimeters. The stem cells are then injected into the space behind the eyeball.
  5. After the inoculation is complete, the needle is gently withdrawn, and the eyeball is repeatedly pressed with sterile bandages for several minutes. Typically, the entire procedure takes about 15 minutes, while the inoculation itself takes only a few seconds.

 

  • Intrathecal injection:

An intrathecal injection involves an injection into the spinal canal to access the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and thus the central nervous system. This type of injection allows stem cells to be delivered to the brain and spinal cord in an easier and more effective manner. Prior to the injection, a lumbar puncture (LP) is performed to extract a small amount of CSF and exchange it with the stem cells.

 

  • Leakage steps:
  1. The patient is asked not to eat after 10 pm on the day before the operation.
  2. Patients will be transferred to the operating room where the doctor, supported by two nurses, will administer the injection.
  3. Patients are placed on their side with their backs near the edge of the table or bed. The nurse then helps them bend their knees toward their abdomen and extend their heads toward their chest in the fetal position. This position helps separate the vertebrae, making it easier to insert the needle.
  4. The doctor will first examine the patient’s lower back and determine the appropriate insertion site (between the lumbar vertebrae L2 to L5).
  5. The area is then cleaned with an antiseptic and a local anesthetic is injected under the skin to numb the area where the needle will be inserted into the spinal canal.
  6. Once the needle is in the precise position, the lancet is then withdrawn from the spinal needle and approximately 2 ml of cerebrospinal fluid is collected.
  7. Stem cells (about 1 ml) and saline (about 1 ml) will then be introduced, respectively, via needle into the cerebrospinal fluid.
  8. The procedure is completed by withdrawing the needle using the reinserted cannula while applying pressure to the puncture site. The placement of the needle, along with the infusion, typically takes 20 minutes to an hour.
  9. All patients are asked to lie down for 4 to 6 hours after the procedure to avoid any temporary side effects, such as headache, nausea, fever, vomiting, and/or leg pain. These symptoms are thought to be caused by a change in the fluid volume within the spinal canal. Even when lying down, this discomfort may persist in some patients and may last for up to 48 hours. Patients should inform their physicians if they experience a severe headache, a bent neck, loss of sensation below the puncture site, or any leakage from the injection site.

 

  • Intramuscular injection:

An intramuscular (IM) injection is an injection of medication into a muscle. Intramuscular stem cell injections help patients with muscular dystrophy improve their health. These injections are given directly into the muscles of the affected areas. Upon admission to the hospital, doctors conduct a thorough examination and determine the number of stem cell units to be injected locally into the affected muscles. This method has also been used to treat lower extremity ischemia and diabetic foot.

 

  • Leakage steps:
  1. The patient is asked to assume the appropriate position to access the affected muscles smoothly.
  2. The injection site is sterilized. Stem cells are administered via a syringe (a syringe consists of three parts: the needle to enter the muscle, the cylinder to hold the medication, and the nozzle to inject and expel the medication).
  3. The nurse gently presses and pulls the skin around the injection site so that it is slightly taut. The needle is inserted into the affected muscle, and the stem cells are gradually injected.
  4. After the injection is complete, the injection site is pressed with dry cotton, and the needle is quickly withdrawn at the same time. A piece of gauze is then placed over the injection site.

 

  • Stem cell transplantation methods:

There are seven basic methods for stem cell transplantation, depending on the patient’s health condition. They are as follows:

  1. Intravenous administration
  2. Intrathecal administration (lumbar puncture)
  3. Intramuscular administration
  4. Intra-arterial administration via catheter
  5. Retrobulbar cell injection
  6. CCSVI catheterization for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
  7. Administration by injection

 

  • Intradermal administration:

Intradermal injections around wounds: This method is specifically used for open wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers or pressure ulcers. This method involves injecting stem cells directly into or around the wound, i.e., into the dermis layer of the skin. This layer is the preferred layer below the epidermis, due to its rich blood vessels, immune cells, and dermal dendritic cells. In this way, the injected stem cells stimulate and rapidly enhance the body’s natural healing signals, facilitating the healing process.

Intradermal injections around hair follicles: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is mixed with stem cell extract from the patient’s own adipose tissue during injection. The scalp is locally anesthetized, and the PRP and stem cells are then injected around the follicles using fine needles. This localized intradermal injection of PRP and stem cells immediately accelerates the healing process around the follicles. This method stimulates innate stem cells, providing the follicles with strength, support, vitality, and elasticity, helping them produce new hair strands naturally.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections into the skin: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is mixed with stem cell extracts from the patient’s own adipose tissue during injection. The face is numbed with a local anesthetic cream, and the PRP and stem cells are then injected into various areas of the face, such as around the eyes, lips, chin, and elsewhere, using fine needles. This localized intradermal injection of PRP and stem cells immediately accelerates the healing process. This method stimulates natural cells to increase collagen production and eliminate photodamaged cells, pigmentation, and wrinkles, resulting in naturally radiant, firm, and wrinkle-free skin.

In general, the maximum amount of injection is given intradermally, via a fine needle using the Mantoux technique, where the needle is inserted at a 5-15 degree angle around the area.

 

  • Catheter release:
  • CCSVI Treatment, Step 1 – Transplant Angioplasty: Transplant angioplasty is a critical procedure. X-ray scanning is used to guide a catheter, equipped with a balloon tip, to the affected area or veins. Once it reaches the target area, the tip inflates, dilating the narrowed area. The entire procedure takes approximately 90 minutes. Afterward, patients remain in the intensive care unit for approximately four hours to ensure there is no bleeding from the catheter insertion band.
  • CCSVI Treatment, Step 2 – Stem Cell Infusion: After the first step of angioplasty, blood flows smoothly through the constricted veins. This is crucial to determine the effectiveness of the infused stem cells in transforming into the specialized cells needed to regenerate or repair damaged brain or spinal cord tissue. This process can also reduce inflammation throughout the body. Many patients have reported extremely rapid recovery after this treatment.

 

  • Intra-arterial:

The cells are usually injected through a thin catheter into an artery. This injection is performed with extreme care to avoid any abnormalities. Using X-ray imaging, the catheter is guided to the target area to ensure maximum cell delivery to the defect site. This route is typically preferred for vascular organs such as the kidneys, heart, and pancreas.

 

  • Intravitreal cell injection

Intravitreal injection (IVI) treatment for retinal diseases has revolutionized ophthalmology. The human eye is filled with a gel-like substance known as the vitreous humor. Stem cells are injected directly into the vitreous humor near the retina at the back of the eye.

There are a number of IVI protocols regarding anesthesia, sterile technique, use of prophylactic antibiotics, and post-injection monitoring.