Bone Harvesting

Abstract

Methods and devices for harvesting cancellous bone are disclosed. The bone-harvesting device may include a cannula and a bone receptacle in communication with the cannula, wherein the cannula including a cutting surface positioned at or adjacent the distal end, the cutting surface being oriented at an angle, the angle being greater than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula, and the harvested bone is adapted to move from a position adjacent to the cutting surface through the cannula into the bone receptacle. The cutting surface of the cannula may be positioned at or adjacent the distal end, and positioned at least in part radially outward of the outer face of the cannula. The cannula may include a cutting surface positioned at or adjacent the distal end and an occluding geometry that partially occludes the distal end of the cannula adjacent the cutting surface. In addition, a suction port may be provided in communication with the bone receptacle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A bone-harvesting device, comprising;
 a cannula having a longitudinal axis and an outer face, the cannula including a proximal region, a distal end region and a distal-most end at a distal extremity of the distal end region; and   a bone receptacle in communication with the proximal end region of the cannula;   wherein the cannula further includes (i) a cutting surface positioned at the distal-most end, (ii) a passage that opens at the distal-most end of the cannula, the passage configured and dimensioned to permit harvested bone to pass through the cannula from a position adjacent the cutting surface into the bone receptacle, and (iii) an occluding geometry that partially occludes the distal-most end of the cannula adjacent the cutting surface,   wherein the cutting surface is positioned at least in part radially outward of the outer face of the cannula, and   wherein harvested bone moves from a position adjacent the cutting surface through the passage cannula and into the bone receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional cannula positioned longitudinally with respect to the first cannula. 
     
     
         3 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula defines a cross-sectional area available for movement of the harvested bone into or through the passage, and wherein the occluding geometry is a reduced diameter region at the distal-most end, the reduced diameter region functioning to reduce the cross sectional area available for movement of harvested bone into or through the passage. 
     
     
         4 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cannula is non-aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cannula. 
     
     
         5 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the cannula is curved relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the cutting surface is positioned at a distal-most end of the curved portion of the cannula. 
     
     
         6 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 4 , wherein the curved portion of the cannula curves through an angle greater than 90 degrees and no more than 180 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. 
     
     
         7 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is formed by sharpening of the cannula in a region at or adjacent the distal-most end. 
     
     
         8 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula defines a varied cross-sectional geometry along its length. 
     
     
         9 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 8 , wherein the cannula defines a proximal portion adjacent the bone receptacle, and wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the proximal portion is constant. 
     
     
         10 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction port in communication with the bone receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 10 , wherein the suction port allows suction to be applied to the suction port at different suction port orientations based on at least one of flexible material construction and rotatable mounting of the suction port. 
     
     
         12 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 10 , wherein the suction port is in fluid communication with a reservoir configured to allow passage of gases, but to trap liquids and solids. 
     
     
         13 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 10 , further comprising a filter that (a) fully covers the suction port, and (b) includes at least two sieve portions positioned so as to have different orientations relative to the suction port. 
     
     
         14 . The bone harvesting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ports in communication with the bone receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap configured and dimension to be removably attached with respect to an opening defined in the bone receptacle, thereby sealing the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 15 , wherein the cap is removably attached with an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of (a) mating screw threads, (b) an interference fit, (c) a latch, or (d) a clip. 
     
     
         17 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior of the bone receptacle defines a handle region and wherein the handle region includes a feature or indicia that aligns with the orientation of the cutting surface at the distal-most end. 
     
     
         18 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula includes a plurality of cutting surfaces positioned in different radial, lateral or longitudinal orientations. 
     
     
         19 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 17 , wherein the handle further includes a flattened side and wherein the flattened side is clear and includes graduations for estimation of the quantity of harvested bone. 
     
     
         20 . The bone-harvesting device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is actuable to further open or close the passage at the distal-most end of the cannula.