Apparatus and method for reconstituting bone with biological fluids prior to surgical implantation

Abstract

A novel apparatus and device is described for reconstituting a bone sample with a biological fluid, such as concentrated plasma or saline solutions, for example, prior to surgical implantation into a patient. In particular, the invention comprises, in certain aspects, a container in which a bone sample may be reconstituted with the desired fluid by applying a vacuum within the container, thereby driving the fluid into the bone for complete, or near complete, permeation of the fluid into the interstices of the bone sample prior to surgical implantation.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for suitable for reconstituting a bone sample with a fluid prior to surgical implantation of said bone, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a container, said container having an inner reservoir for holding said fluid, an inner bone chamber for holding said bone sample during reconstitution of said bone with said fluid, and an inner vacuum chamber through which a negative pressure vacuum is initially drawn to pull said fluid from said reservoir into said bone sample for subsequent reconstitution of said bone sample;    b. a fluid transport passageway in communication with said reservoir at one end and said bone chamber at another end;    c. a vacuum passageway in communication with said bone chamber at one end and said vacuum chamber at another end;    d. said reservoir including a closable port through which ambient air may be drawn into said reservoir upon application of said vacuum within said container; and    e. said vacuum compartment further including a port configured for attachment to an external vacuum source, such that when said vacuum is drawn, a negative pressure results within said container such that upon opening of said reservoir port, said fluid is driven into said bone chamber and into said bone sample, thereby reconstituting said bone sample with said fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid comprises blood plasma.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said blood plasma comprises a high concentration of growth factors and platelets.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said passageways are tubes.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including an air permeable membrane secured within said vacuum passageway to prevent said fluid from exiting said bone chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of blood plasma, saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum source comprises: 
 a. a stopcock having at least three closeable openings, said stopcock secured to said vacuum compartment port at one of said openings;    b. a syringe, said syringe further having a hollow barrel, a plunger movably housed within said barrel, and a distal open end configured for attachment to a second opening of said stopcock.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said passageways are tubes.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including an air permeable membrane secured within said vacuum passageway to prevent said fluid from exiting said bone chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of blood plasma, saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus suitable for reconstituting a bone sample with a fluid prior to surgical implantation of said bone, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a container having an inner reservoir for holding said fluid, an inner bone chamber for holding said bone sample during reconstitution of said bone with said fluid, and an inner vacuum chamber through which a negative pressure vacuum is initially drawn to pull said fluid from said reservoir into said bone sample for subsequent reconstitution of said bone sample;    b. a fluid transport tube in communication with said reservoir at one end and said bone chamber at another end;    c. a vacuum tube in communication with said bone chamber at one end and said vacuum chamber at another end;    d. an air permeable membrane secured within said vacuum tube to prevent said fluid from exiting said bone chamber;    e. said reservoir including a closable port through which ambient air may be drawn into said reservoir upon application of said vacuum within said container; and    f. said vacuum compartment further including a port configured for attachment to an external vacuum source, such that when said vacuum is drawn, a negative pressure results within said container such that upon opening of said reservoir port, said fluid is drawn into said bone chamber and into said bone sample, thereby reconstituting said bone sample with said fluid.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said vacuum source comprises: 
 a. a stopcock having at least three closeable openings, said stopcock secured to said vacuum compartment port at one of said openings; and    b. a syringe, said syringe further having a hollow barrel, a plunger movably housed within said barrel, and a distal open end configured for attachment to a second opening of said stopcock.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid comprises blood plasma.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said plasma comprises a high concentration of growth factors.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said reservoir includes a locking device secured within said reservoir port for maintaining a second stopcock within said port.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said reservoir includes a locking device secured within said reservoir port for maintaining a second stopcock within said port.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus suitable for preparing bone samples for subsequent surgical implantation, said apparatus comprising: 
 a. a container having an inner reservoir for holding biological fluid intended for reconstitution with said bone sample, an inner bone chamber for holding said bone sample during said reconstitution, and an inner vacuum chamber through which a negative pressure vacuum is initially drawn to pull said fluid from said reservoir into said bone sample;    b. a fluid transport tube in communication with said reservoir at one end and said bone chamber at another end;    c. a vacuum tube in communication with said bone chamber at one end and said vacuum chamber at another end;    d. an air permeable membrane secured within said vacuum tube to prevent fluid from exiting said bone chamber;    e. a vacuum source configured for attachment to said container;    f. said reservoir including a closable port through which ambient air may be drawn into said reservoir upon application of said vacuum within said container; and    g. said vacuum compartment further including a port configured for attachment to said vacuum source, such that when said vacuum is drawn, a negative pressure results within said container such that upon opening of said reservoir port, said fluid is drawn into said bone chamber and forced into said bone sample, thereby reconstituting said bone sample with said fluid.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of blood plasma, saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said vacuum source comprises: 
 a. a stopcock having at least three closeable openings, said stopcock secured to said vacuum compartment port at one of said openings; and    b. a syringe, said syringe further having a hollow barrel, a plunger movably housed within said barrel, and a distal open end configured for attachment to a second opening of said stopcock.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of blood plasma, saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said reservoir includes a locking device secured within said reservoir port for maintaining a second stopcock within said port.  
     
     
         23 . A method for reconstituting a bone sample with a fluid prior to surgical implantation of said bone sample, said method comprising: 
 a. placing a bone sample within a first compartment of a container, wherein said container is configured to maintain a vacuum;    b. placing a reconstitution fluid within a second compartment of said container;    c. applying a negative pressure vacuum within said container; and    d. opening a port in communication within said second compartment to allow ambient air outside of said container to enter said second compartment, thereby driving said fluid into said first compartment and said bone sample via said negative pressure present within said container, to thereby reconstitute said bone sample with said fluid.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said fluid is comprises blood plasma.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said plasma comprises a high concentration of growth factors and platelets.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of saline solutions, dextrose solutions, Ringers Lactate solutions.  
     
     
         27 . A method for reconstituting a bone sample with a fluid prior to surgical implantation of said bone sample, said method comprising: 
 a. placing a bone sample within a container;    b. placing a reconstitution fluid within said container; and    c. applying a positive pressure vacuum within said container to drive said fluid into said bone sample and thereby reconstitute said bone sample with said fluid.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said fluid is comprises blood plasma.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said plasma comprises a high concentration of growth factors and platelets.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.