Apparatus for reconstituting bone with biological fluids prior to surgical implantation
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.
1. An apparatus 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. an air permeable membrane secured within said vacuum passageway 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 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 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of blood plasma, saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.
7. 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.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said passageways are tubes.
9. 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 rube 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.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , 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.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said reservoir includes a locking device secured within said reservoir port for maintaining a second stopcock within said port.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said fluid comprises blood plasma.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said plasma comprises a high concentration of growth factors.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group of saline solutions, dextrose solutions, and Ringers Lactate solutions.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said reservoir includes a locking device secured within said reservoir port for maintaining a second stopcock within said port.
16. 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.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , 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.