Graft material injector system and method

1. A graft material injector comprising:

an elongated injector tube including an internal lumen, a distal injection aperture communicating with the internal lumen, and at least one loading aperture communicating with the internal lumen, wherein the at least one loading aperture is configured for loading graft material into the internal lumen; and

an outer cannula, wherein the outer cannula is configured to move relative to the elongated injector tube from a first position that exposes the at least one loading aperture to a second position that extends over the at least one loading aperture.

2. The injector of claim 1 further comprising a guide adapted for cooperative engagement with the elongated injector tube for guiding graft material into the at least one loading aperture.

3. The injector of claim 1 wherein the at least one loading aperture comprises an elongated slot in the elongated injector tube proximal to the injection aperture.

4. The injector of claim 3 further comprising a funnel configured for temporary association with the elongated injector tube in registration with the elongated slot to guide graft material through the elongated slot and into the elongated injector tube.

5. The injector of claim 2 wherein the guide includes a funnel, wherein the guide is configured to position the at least one loading aperture in registration with an outlet of the funnel to receive graft material from the guide into the internal lumen.

6. The injector of claim 1 further comprising a handle secured to a proximal end of the injector tube, the handle including an actuator operable to move the outer cannula between the first position and the second position.

7. The injector of claim 1 wherein the injector includes a proximal end aperture for receiving a pusher into the internal lumen proximal to the at least one loading aperture.

8. The injector of claim 1 wherein the elongated injector tube comprises more than one loading aperture.

9. A graft material injector comprising:

an injector tube, wherein the injector tube includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a lumen extending therethrough, an injection aperture in the distal end portion of the injector tube, and at least one loading aperture in the injector tube proximal to the injection aperture;

a cannula tube, wherein the cannula tube is sized to receive the injector tube therein, the cannula tube being movable between a first position in which the cannula tube substantially covers the at least one loading aperture and a second position in which the cannula tube does not substantially cover the at least one loading aperture, wherein the at least one loading aperture is configured to receive graft material into the lumen in the second position; and

a handle with an actuator engaged with the cannula tube for sliding the cannula tube between the first position and the second position.

10. The injector of claim 9 further comprising a pusher rod sized for insertion into an aperture of the proximal end portion of the injector tube to apply force to graft material in the lumen to force it out of the injection aperture.

11. The injector of claim 10 in which the cannula tube is sized for close fitting sliding engagement over the injector tube and the pusher rod is sized for close fitting sliding engagement within the lumen.

12. The injector of claim 9 further comprising a funnel for engagement with the at least one loading aperture of the injector tube to introduce graft material into the lumen.

13. The injector of claim 9 wherein the injector tube comprises a push rod slidably received within the lumen.

14. The injector of claim 12 wherein the funnel is configured to prevent graft material exceeding a selected size from entering the lumen.

15. The injector of claim 9 wherein the injector tube comprises more than one loading aperture.

16. A method of injecting graft material comprising:

employing a graft material injector of claim 1 ;

inserting the graft material injector device into a graft material loader;

introducing graft material into the graft material loader and into the internal lumen in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the injector tube;

positioning the distal end of the injector tube to introduce graft material into an implant; and

moving a push rod through the internal lumen, thereby applying force to the graft material to force it out of the distal injection aperture and into association with the implant.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising placing the elongated injector tube in registration with a funnel and introducing the graft material into the at least one loading aperture through the funnel.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising substantially covering the at least one loading aperture after introduction of the graft material.

19. The method of claim 17 in which the at least one loading aperture and the funnel each comprise an elongated opening to provide for introduction of the graft material along a length of the elongated opening of the at least one loading aperture.

20. The method of claim 16 in which the graft material comprises bone graft material.