Bone graft delivery system and method for using same

1. A bone graft delivery system, comprising:

an elongate tube;

a handle engaged to a proximal end of the tube, the handle comprising:

a trigger configured to be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube; and

a handle body having a lumen extending from a proximal end of the handle body to a distal end of the handle body, the distal end of the handle body being engaged with a proximal end of the elongate tube such that the lumen of the handle body is aligned with the elongate tube, wherein the handle body comprises a curved surface substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lumen, the curved surface and the trigger configured to be gripped by a hand of the user when the hand of the user is wrapped around the handle body, wherein the lumen is positioned between the curved surface and the trigger; and

a plunger configured to be removably received in the handle and tube while the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube.

2. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to advance distally within the handle and tube to advance bone graft material distally through the tube.

3. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger is configured to be actuated to cause movement of the plunger within the handle and tube.

4. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger is configured to be actuated to deliver a controlled release amount of bone graft material through the tube per actuation.

5. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tube has a uniform inner diameter along an entire length of the tube from the proximal end to a distal end of the tube.

6. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein a distal section of the plunger has a uniform cross-section and is configured to contact an inner wall of the elongate tube about an entire outer periphery of the distal section of the plunger.

7. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises an arm configured to move within the handle to cause bone graft material to advance through the tube.

8. The bone graft delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the trigger is configured to be actuated to cause movement of the arm.

9. The bone graft delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve configured to slide over at least a portion of the elongate tube.

10. A method for delivering bone graft material to a surgical location, comprising:

providing a bone graft delivery device comprising:

an elongate tube and a handle engaged to a proximal end of the tube, the handle comprising:

a trigger configured to be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube; and

a handle body having a lumen extending from a proximal end of the handle body to a distal end of the handle body, the distal end of the handle body being engaged with a proximal end of the elongate tube such that the lumen of the handle body is aligned with the elongate tube, wherein the handle body comprises a curved surface substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lumen, the curved surface and the trigger configured to be gripped by a hand of the user when the hand of the user is wrapped around the handle body, wherein the lumen is positioned between the curved surface and the trigger; and

advancing bone graft material through the lumen of the handle body using a plunger, wherein the plunger is advanced through the lumen of the handle body by actuation of the trigger, wherein the plunger is removably received in the bone graft delivery device while the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising loading bone graft material into an opening of the bone graft delivery device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the opening is located at a proximal end of the lumen.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising inserting a rasping instrument through the lumen and decorticating bone with the rasping instrument.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising decorticating bone with a tip at a distal end of the bone graft delivery device, the tip having at least one opening for delivering the bone graft material to the surgical location.

15. A bone graft delivery system, comprising:

an elongate tube defining a first lumen section extending from a proximal end of the elongate tube to one or more openings at a distal end of the elongate tube;

a handle configured to be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube, the handle comprising an outer housing that defines and completely circumferentially surrounds a second lumen section extending along a longitudinal axis of the handle from within the handle to a distal end of the handle, the outer housing comprising a curved gripping surface extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle configured to be held by a hand of a user such that the user's hand wraps around the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end of the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube such that the first lumen section and the second lumen section align to define a continuous, completely circumferentially enclosed lumen extending from within the handle to the one or more openings at the distal end of the tube, wherein the first lumen section and the second lumen section are each permanently circumferentially enclosed such that bone graft material is loadable into the lumen only along a longitudinal axis of a portion of the lumen being loaded;

a plunger comprising a plurality of notches, the plunger configured to be removably received in the handle and tube while the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube; and

a tip at the distal end of the elongate tube, the tip comprising:

a tip distal end; and

the one or more openings at the distal end of the elongate tube, wherein the one or more openings are positioned at least partially proximally and at least partially laterally from the tip distal end, wherein side surfaces of the tip on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the lumen taper medially and distally to the tip distal end.

16. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the plunger is configured to advance distally within the handle and tube to advance bone graft material distally through the tube.

17. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a trigger configured to be actuated to cause movement of the plunger within the handle and tube.

18. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the elongate tube has a uniform inner diameter along an entire length of the tube from the proximal end to a distal end of the tube.

19. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein at least some of the notches are positioned proximate to a distal end of the plunger.

20. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein a distal section of the plunger has a uniform cross-section and is configured to contact an inner wall of the elongate tube about an entire outer periphery of the distal section of the plunger.

21. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the handle further comprises an arm configured to move within the handle to cause bone graft material to advance through the tube.

22. The bone graft delivery system of claim 21 , wherein the arm is configured to engage a first notch of the plurality of notches, wherein actuation of the handle causes the arm to engage a second notch of the plurality of notches.

23. The bone graft delivery system of claim 21 , wherein the handle comprises a trigger configured to be actuated to cause movement of the arm.

24. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , further comprising a sleeve configured to slide over at least a portion of the elongate tube.

25. The bone graft delivery system of claim 15 , wherein the plunger comprises:

a first surface extending along a longitudinal section of the plunger at least partially between a proximal end of the plunger and a distal end of the plunger, the first surface comprising the plurality of notches; and

a second surface extending along the longitudinal section of the plunger at least partially between the proximal end of the plunger and the distal end of the plunger on an opposite side of the plunger relative to the first surface, the second surface being substantially smooth.

26. A method for delivering bone graft material to a surgical location, comprising:

loading a bone graft delivery device with bone graft material, the bone graft delivery device comprising:

an elongate tube defining a first lumen section extending from a proximal end of the elongate tube to one or more openings at a distal end of the elongate tube; and

a handle comprising an outer housing that defines and completely circumferentially surrounds a second lumen section extending along a longitudinal axis of the handle from within the handle to a distal end of the handle, the outer housing comprising a curved gripping surface extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle configured to be held by a hand of a user such that the user's hand wraps around the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end of the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube such that the first lumen section and the second lumen section align to define a continuous, completely circumferentially enclosed lumen extending from within the handle to the one or more openings at the distal end of the tube, wherein the first lumen section and the second lumen section are each permanently circumferentially enclosed such that bone graft material is loadable into the lumen only along a longitudinal axis of a portion of the lumen being loaded; and

a tip at the distal end of the elongate tube, the tip comprising:

a tip distal end; and

the one or more openings at the distal end of the elongate tube, wherein the one or more openings are positioned at least partially proximally and at least partially laterally from the tip distal end, wherein side surfaces of the tip on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the lumen taper medially and distally to the tip distal end; and

advancing bone graft material through the lumen of the bone graft delivery device using a plunger comprising a plurality of notches, wherein the plunger is removably received in the bone graft delivery device while the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising loading bone graft material into an opening of the bone graft delivery device.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the plunger is configured to be removably received in the opening.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the opening is located at a proximal end of the lumen.

30. The method of claim 26 , further comprising inserting a rasping instrument through the lumen and decorticating bone with the rasping instrument.

31. The method of claim 26 , further comprising decorticating bone with the tip of the bone graft delivery device.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the plunger comprises:

a first surface extending along a longitudinal section of the plunger at least partially between a proximal end of the plunger and a distal end of the plunger, the first surface comprising the plurality of notches; and

a second surface extending along the longitudinal section of the plunger at least partially between the proximal end of the plunger and the distal end of the plunger on an opposite side of the plunger relative to the first surface, the second surface being substantially smooth.

33. The method of claim 26 , wherein the surgical location is an orthopedic or spine location.