System for harvesting and dispensing a fibrin clot

Abstract

A system for harvesting a fibrin clot and depositing that fibrin clot into a wound site during a surgical procedure, the system comprising: (i) blood drawing apparatus for drawing blood; (ii) extraction apparatus for extracting fibrin from blood so as to form a fibrin clot; (iii) configuring apparatus for molding, cutting and shaping the fibrin clot into a desired configuration; and (iv) dispensing apparatus for reliably and controllably dispensing the fibrin clot at a selected location in the body.

1 . A system for harvesting a fibrin clot and depositing that fibrin clot into a wound site during a surgical procedure, the system comprising:
 (i) blood drawing apparatus for drawing blood;   (ii) extraction apparatus for extracting fibrin from blood so as to form a fibrin clot;   (iii) configuring apparatus for molding, cutting and shaping the fibrin clot into a desired configuration; and   (iv) dispensing apparatus for reliably and controllably dispensing the fibrin clot at a selected location in the body.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the extraction apparatus comprises a metal bowl and a frosted glass rod that is stirred within the metal bowl. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the extraction apparatus comprises a metal bowl and a metal member with a highly disrupted surface. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the highly disrupted surface comprises a scratched surface, a holed surface or a screened surface. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the extraction apparatus comprises a clot preparation block including a chamber for receiving fibrin clot. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5  wherein the clot preparation block comprises a stop face communicating with the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 5  wherein the chamber comprises a funneled hopper. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the clot preparation block comprises a stop face communicating with the funneled hopper. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the funneled hopper comprises a coring well at its bottom end. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the configuring apparatus comprises a coring tube for coring the fibrin clot. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the coring tube has a sharp edged rim suitable for morselizing segments of the fibrin clot. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises a plunger for ejecting the fibrin clot from the coring tube. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein suction is applied to the coring tube so as to draw the fibrin clot into the interior of the coring tube. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the coring tube comprises a sharp distal end, and further wherein the fibrin clot is cored as the fibrin clot is forced into interior of the coring tube with suction. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein pressure is applied to the coring tube so as to dispense the fibrin clot from the coring tube. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a suture passer to pass a suture through the cored fibrin clot. 
     
     
         17 . A system for harvesting a fibrin clot and depositing that fibrin clot into a wound site during a surgical procedure, the system comprising:
 (i) blood drawing apparatus for drawing blood;   (ii) extraction apparatus for extracting fibrin from blood so as to form a fibrin clot;   (iii) a flat surface for holding the fibrin clot;   (iv) configuring apparatus for molding, cutting and shaping the fibrin clot into a desired configuration; and   (v) dispensing apparatus for reliably and controllably dispensing the fibrin clot at a selected location in the body.   
     
     
         18 . A method for harvesting a fibrin clot and depositing that fibrin clot at a wound site during a surgical procedure, the method comprising:
 drawing blood from a patient;   extracting fibrin from blood so as to form a fibrin clot;   reconfiguring the fibrin clot into a desired configuration; and   dispensing the fibrin clot at the wound site.   
     
     
         19 .- 26 . (canceled)