Bone marrow aspiration system

Abstract

Bone marrow aspiration devices and methods are disclosed for use in preparing a substrate. In general, the device includes an elongate penetrating element, a chamber adapted to retain a substrate, and a fluid extraction mechanism that is effective to pull fluid through the elongate penetrating element, into the chamber, and through the substrate. The device is particularly advantageous in that it will allow for the removal of fluids from a patient's body and the preparation of a substrate in a single process, thereby providing a more efficient method and device for preparing a substrate.

1 . A bone marrow aspiration device, comprising: 
 an elongate handle having proximal and distal surfaces adapted to facilitate grasping thereof, a pathway formed through the handle between the proximal and distal surfaces, and an inlet formed in the proximal surface of the elongate handle and in communication with a proximal end of the pathway, the inlet being configured to allow a surgical syringe to communicate with the pathway;    an elongate hollow tissue-penetrating element in communication with a distal end of the pathway and extending from the distal surface of the handle; and    a chamber formed in the elongate handle between the proximal and distal ends of the pathway, the chamber being adapted to hold a substrate therein such that fluid is adapted to flow through the elongate hollow tissue-penetrating element and through a substrate disposed in the pathway.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal surface of the handle includes at least one finger-receiving recess formed thereon.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a receiving well formed in the proximal surface of the handle, the receiving well being adapted to seat a base of a surgical syringe.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the receiving well includes a mating element formed thereon for removably mating to a surgical syringe.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate removably disposed within the chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a surgical syringe coupled to the inlet and adapted to draw fluid through the pathway.  
     
     
         7 . A bone marrow aspiration device, comprising: 
 a housing defining a fluid chamber;    an implantable substrate disposed within the fluid chamber;    at least one filter disposed adjacent to the implantable substrate;    a tissue-penetrating element extending from the housing and in communication with the fluid chamber; and    a fluid extraction mechanism coupled to the housing and adapted to draw fluid through the tissue-penetrating element, into the fluid chamber, and through the implantable substrate.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a syringe barrel, and the fluid extraction mechanism comprises a plunger slidably disposed within the syringe barrel.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a filter is disposed upstream of the implantable substrate such that fluid travels from the elongate penetrating element, through the filter, then through the implantable substrate.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a filter is disposed downstream of the implantable substrate such that fluid travels from the elongate penetrating element, through the implantable substrate, then through the filter.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a first filter is disposed upstream of the implantable substrate, and a second filter is disposed downstream of the implantable substrate.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the implantable substrate comprises a fusion cage.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a control mechanism coupled to the fluid extraction mechanism and adapted to control a rate of fluid being drawn through the device by the fluid extraction mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a one-way valve disposed between the tissue-penetrating element and the fluid chamber.  
     
     
         15 . A bone marrow aspiration device, comprising: 
 a housing defining a fluid chamber adapted to retain an implantable substrate;    a tissue-penetrating element extending from the housing and in communication with the fluid chamber;    a fluid extraction mechanism coupled to the housing and adapted to draw fluid through the tissue-penetrating element and the fluid chamber to infiltrate an implantable substance disposed within the chamber with cells from the fluid; and    a fluid receptacle coupled to the housing and adapted to collect fluid that has passed through the chamber.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1   5 , wherein the chamber includes a first outlet coupled to the fluid extraction mechanism, and a second outlet coupled to the fluid receptacle.  
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing a substrate, comprising: 
 penetrating a distal end of an elongate penetrating element into a patient;    actuating a fluid extraction mechanism to pull bone marrow from the patient through the elongate penetrating element and through a substrate disposed within a chamber formed in a housing coupled to the elongate penetrating element such that the substrate is concentrated with cells from the bone marrow; and    collecting the bone marrow in a receptacle that is separate from the chamber.    
     
     
         18 . A method for preparing a fusion cage, comprising: 
 penetrating a distal end of an elongate penetrating element into a patient; and    actuating a fluid extraction mechanism to pull bone marrow from the patient through the elongate penetrating element and through a fusion cage disposed within a housing coupled to the elongate penetrating element such that the fusion cage is concentrated with cells from the bone marrow.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fusion cage is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of allograft bone, autograft bone, synthetic materials, purified materials, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a barrel, and actuating the fluid extraction mechanism comprises pulling a plunger disposed within the barrel to draw fluid through the elongate penetrating element and the fusion cage.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid passes through a filter prior to passing through the fusion cage.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid passes through a filter after passing through the fusion cage.