System for reconstituting pastes and methods of using same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an efficient and cost-effective system for reconstituting bone pastes comprising a first syringe containing a reconstitution fluid and second syringe containing paste components, wherein said first and second syringes are communicatingly interconnectable. Also disclosed are novel methods for producing and storing bone pastes. Alternatively, a mixing syringe is disclosed, which is useful for reconstituting a paste, inter alia, comprising a flexible midportion, whereby repeated compression of the flexible midportion results in mixing the contents of the syringe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dried paste composition comprising freeze-dried DBM particles and a carrier, wherein said carrier is gelatin, hyaluronic acid, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen or dextran, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The dried paste composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is also dried.  
     
     
         3 . The dried paste composition of  claim 1 , wherein said freeze-dried DBM particles are about 125 microns to about 850 microns in size.  
     
     
         4 . The dried paste composition of  claim 3 , wherein said freeze-dried DBM particles are about 250 microns to about 500 microns in size.  
     
     
         5 . The dried paste composition of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is gelatin.  
     
     
         6 . The dried paste composition of  claim 5 , wherein said gelatin is in the form of granules having a size of about 125 microns to about 710 microns.  
     
     
         7 . The dried paste composition of  claim 6 , wherein said gelatin is in the form of granules having a size of about 500 microns to about 710 microns.  
     
     
         8 . The paste composition of  claim 1 , further comprising antibiotics; or sucrose, dextrose or other biologically compatible anti-caking agents; or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The paste composition of  claim 1 , further comprising barium, iodine, or other radioopaque substances, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The paste composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an exothermic substance.  
     
     
         11 . The paste composition of  claim 10 , wherein said exothermic salt comprises Magnesium chloride, Sodium sulfate, or Magnesium sulfate or other exothermic salts, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A reconstituted paste composition comprising an admixture of a dried paste composition comprising freeze-dried DBM particles and a carrier, wherein said carrier is gelatin, hyaluronic acid, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen or dextran, or combinations thereof; and 
 reconstitution fluid, wherein said reconstitution fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, water-based salines, blood or fractions thereof, protein solutions, gelatin solutions, growth factor solutions, antibiotic solutions, analgesic solutions, platelet rich plasma, crude platelet extract, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         13 . A reconstituted paste composition comprising an admixture of a dried paste composition comprising freeze-dried DBM particles and gelatin; and 
 reconstitution fluid, wherein said reconstitution fluid comprises water.    
     
     
         14 . An article of manufacture comprising a container having the dried paste composition of  claim 1  disposed therein.  
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 14 , wherein said container is a syringe.  
     
     
         16 . A dried paste composition comprising freeze-dried DBM particles and gelatin, wherein the DBM particles are about 250 microns to about 500 microns in size.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a bone defect or injury comprising reconstituting the dried paste composition of  claim 1  with a reconstitution fluid to form a paste composition, wherein said reconstitution fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, water-based salines, blood or fractions thereof, protein solutions, gelatin solutions, growth factor solutions, antibiotic solutions, analgesic solutions, platelet rich plasma, crude platelet extract, and combinations thereof; and administering the paste composition to a site of need.  
     
     
         18 . The dried paste composition of  claim 1 , wherein said dried bone paste is stored at room temperature for more than about 24 hours, and which is reconstituted to form a reconstituted paste composition prior to administration, whereby upon reconstitution said reconstituted paste composition is osteogenic, chondrogenic, or chondroprotective, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A dried paste composition comprising freeze-dried DBM particles and a carrier, wherein said carrier is gelatin, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen or dextran, or combinations thereof, wherein said dried paste composition is stored at room temperature for more than about 24 hours, and wherein said dried paste composition is osteogenic, chondrogenic, or chondroprotective or a combination thereof upon reconstitution.  
     
     
         20 . A dried paste composition capable of being stored at room temperature and upon reconstititution, possesses osteogenic, chondrogenic, or chondroprotective properties, or a combination thereof.