Non-destructive method for evaluating cancellous bone strength of allograft tissue

Abstract

A non-destructive method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone, includes the steps of performing at least two of the following test on each cancerous bone of a population of cancellous bones, namely, a manual compression test, an apparent density test, and an appearance test; determining a compressive strength for each cancellous bone based on the two tests performed; comparing the determined compressive strength of each cancellous bone against a predetermined compressive strength requirement; and eliminating a subset of cancellous bone from the population of cancellous bone, which subset of cancerous bone fails to meet the predetermined compressive strength requirement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A non-destructive method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a population of cancellous bone;    performing at least two of the following: 
 a manual compression test,  
 an apparent density test, and  
 an appearance test on each cancellous bone of said population of cancerous bone;  
   determining a compressive strength for each cancellous bone of said population of cancellous bone based on said at least two tests performed;    comparing said determined compressive strength of each cancellous bone against a predetermined compressive strength requirement; and    eliminating a subset of cancellous bone from said population of cancellous bone, which subset of cancellous bone fails to meet said predetermined compressive strength requirement.    
     
     
         2 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancerous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual compression test and said apparent density test are performed on each cancellous bone of said population of cancerous bone in order to determine said compressive strength.  
     
     
         3 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual compression test and said appearance test are performed on each cancellous bone of said population of cancellous bone in order to determine said compressive strength.  
     
     
         4 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparent density test and said appearance test are performed on each cancerous bone of said population of cancellous bone in order to determine said compressive strength.  
     
     
         5 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual compression test, said apparent density test and said appearance test are performed on each cancellous bone of said population of cancellous bone in order to determine said compressive strength.  
     
     
         6 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said tests are performed on each of said cancellous bones after each of said cancellous bones have been freeze dried.  
     
     
         7 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual compression test includes the steps of a 
 manually compressing each of said cancellous bones to make a subjective determination of said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones; and    removing a cancellous bone from said population of cancellous bones when said manually compressed cancellous bone appreciably deforms.    
     
     
         8 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 2 , wherein said manual compression test includes the steps of: 
 manually compressing each of said cancellous bones to make a subjective determination of said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones; and    removing a cancellous bone from said population of cancellous bones when said manually compressed cancellous bone appreciably deforms.    
     
     
         9 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 3 , wherein said manual compression test includes the steps of: 
 manually compressing each of said cancellous bones to make a subjective determination of said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones; and    removing a cancellous bone from said population of cancellous bones when said manually compressed cancellous bone appreciably deforms.    
     
     
         10 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 5 , wherein said manual compression test includes the steps of: 
 manually compressing each of said cancellous bones to make a subjective determination of said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones; and    removing a cancellous bone from said population of cancellous bones when said manually compressed cancellous bone appreciably deforms.    
     
     
         11 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancerous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said appearance test includes the steps of: 
 assessing a quality of each of said cancerous bones based on their individual appearance; and    assigning each of said cancerous bones with a grade which designates a subjective quality assessment of each of said cancerous bones.    
     
     
         12 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancerous bone according to  claim 3 , wherein said appearance test includes the steps of: 
 assessing a quality of each of said cancerous bones based on their individual appearance; and    assigning each of said cancerous bones with a grade which designates a subjective quality assessment of each of said cancerous bones.    
     
     
         13 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancerous bone according to  claim 4 , wherein said appearance test includes the steps of: 
 assessing a quality of each of said cancerous bones based on their individual appearance; and    assigning each of said cancerous bones with a grade which designates a subjective quality assessment of each of said cancerous bones.    
     
     
         14 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 5 , wherein said appearance test includes the steps of: 
 assessing a quality of each of said cancellous bones based on their individual appearance; and    assigning each of said cancerous bones with a grade which designates a subjective quality assessment of each of said cancellous bones.    
     
     
         15 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparent density test includes the steps of: 
 cleaning each of said cancellous bones;    freeze drying each of said cancellous bones;    measuring the dimensions of each of said cancellous bones;    determining a volume of each of said cancerous bones from said measured dimensions;    weighing each of said cancellous bones;    determining an apparent density for each of said cancellous bones; and    determining said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones based on said apparent density.    
     
     
         16 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 2 , wherein said apparent density test includes the steps of: 
 cleaning each of said cancellous bones;    freeze drying each of said cancellous bones;    measuring the dimensions of each of said cancellous bones;    determining a volume of each of said cancerous bones from said measured dimensions;    weighing each of said cancerous bones;    determining an apparent density for each of said cancellous bones; and    determining said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones based on said apparent density.    
     
     
         17 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancerous bone according to  claim 4 , wherein said apparent density test includes the steps of: 
 cleaning each of said cancellous bones;    freeze drying each of said cancellous bones;    measuring the dimensions of each of said cancerous bones;    determining a volume of each of said cancellous bones from said measured dimensions;    weighing each of said cancerous bones;    determining an apparent density for each of said cancerous bones; and    determining said compressive strength of each of said cancellous bones based on said apparent density.    
     
     
         18 . The method for evaluating the strength of cancellous bone according to  claim 5 , wherein said apparent density test includes the steps of: 
 cleaning each of said cancellous bones;    freeze drying each of said cancellous bones;    measuring the dimensions of each of said cancerous bones;    determining a volume of each of said cancerous bones from said measured dimensions;    weighing each of said cancerous bones;    determining an apparent density for each of said cancerous bones; and    determining said compressive strength of each of said cancerous bones based on said apparent density.