A tissue dissociation device (10) includes a container (12) having a sterile interior for holding the tissue to be dissociated and a liquid medium. The device (10) also includes a dissociation element (54), inside the container (12), for engaging the tissue to cause dissociation of the tissue. The device (10) also includes a resistive element (81), inside the container (12), for resisting movement of the tissue in response to the engagement by the dissociation element (54). Relative motion between and the resulting resistance provided by the resistive element (81) allows the dissociation element (54) to effectively dissociate the tissue. A powered tissue dissociation device includes a power source operatively connected to the dissociation element (54) for causing the dissociation element (54) to move into engagement with the tissue.