Osteogenic packing device and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method of packing osteogenic material into a fusion device with an osteogenic material packing device is disclosed. The osteogenic material packing device has a cavity defined therein to receive the fusion device and an access port intersecting the cavity to receive the osteogenic material.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising: an osteogenic material packing device for packing osteogenic material onto a fusion device, said packing device having a cavity defined therein adapted to receive said fusion device, and an access port intersecting said cavity to receive said osteogenic material.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said packing device includes a coupling portion to couple said packing device to another device.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said packing device includes a first section, a second section separate from said first section, said first and second sections cooperable to define said cavity.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said access port is defined in only one of said sections.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cavity includes a first opening at one end of said packing device and a second opening at the other end of said packing device.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compactor adapted to pack osteogenic material into said access port.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said compactor includes: a handle; a shaft coupled to said handle; and a plunger coupled to said shaft for compacting osteogenic material through said access port, said plunger having a curved contacting surface and being adapted to fit through said access port.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said cavity has a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an inserter to insert said fusion device into said packing device.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said inserter has a cylindrical shaft with a coupling end at which said fusion device is coupled and a handle provided on the other end of said shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said coupling end includes a ridge for engaging a groove in said fusion device.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said inserter includes a coupling mechanism to couple said fusion device to said coupling end, said shaft having a passageway defined therein with an opening at said coupling end, said coupling mechanism having a shaft extending through said passageway with at least a portion of said shaft being threaded at said coupling end and a knob coupled to said shaft.  
     
     
         13 . A method of loading osteogenic material onto a fusion device, comprising: inserting the fusion device into a cavity of a packing device that includes an access port; and providing the osteogenic material through the access port and onto the fusion device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said providing includes packing the osteogenic material onto the fusion device with a compactor.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling the fusion device to an inserter.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising closing the packing device around the fusion device before said providing.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting the fusion device between adjacent vertebrae after said providing.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: removing the fusion device from the packing device after said providing; and inserting the fusion device into a cannula.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said inserting the fusion device into the cavity of the packing device and said removing the fusion device occur through a single opening of the cavity.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting the cannula at an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae.