The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Fortus Medical, Inc.

Other

Andrew Freeman

Robert L Assell

George Frederick Muschler

H A Hein

George Muschler

A bone void filler preparation system that includes a processing vessel, a processing piston, a bone void filler preparation container and tubing. The processing vessel has a recess formed therein. The processing vessel is adapted to receive bone marrow aspirate. The processing piston includes an outer wall, a central wall member and a connection port. The outer wall has an upper edge and a lower edge. The central wall member extends inwardly from the outer wall intermediate the upper and lower edges of the processing piston. The central wall member has an aperture formed therein. The central wall member has a downwardly directed portion that defines an air-retaining region. The air-retaining region is closer to the outer wall upper edge than the aperture. The connection port is operably connected to the aperture. The processing piston is movable in the processing vessel recess. The bone void filler preparation container has an inlet portion and an outlet port. The bone void filler preparation container is adapted to receive a bone void filler matrix therein. The tubing fluidly connects the processing piston connection port and the bone void filler preparation container inlet port.

Bone void filler preparation system

A method of recovering progenitor cells from bone marrow aspirate. A bone void filler preparation container is provided. The bone void filler preparation container has an inlet port and an outlet port. A bone graft matrix having a particle size of between about 1,000 &#x3bc;m and about 2,000 &#x3bc;m is placed in the bone void filler preparation container. A bone marrow aspirate is passed through the bone void filler preparation container. Progenitor cells in the bone marrow aspirate are retained in the bone void filler preparation container. Greater than about 83 percent of the progenitor cells in the bone marrow aspirate are retained in the bone void filler preparation container.

A method of recovering progenitor cells from bone marrow aspirate. A bone void filler preparation container is provided. The bone void filler preparation container has an inlet port and an outlet port. A bone graft matrix having a particle size of between about 1,000 &#x3bc;m and about 2,000 &#x3bc;m is placed in the bone void filler preparation container. A bone marrow aspirate is passed through the bone void filler preparation container. Progenitor cells in the bone marrow aspirate are retained in the bone void filler preparation container. A selection ratio of the progenitor cells retained in the bone void filler preparation container to a total number of nucleated cells retained in the bone void filler preparation container is greater than about 3.

A dual lumen catheter member having distal and proximal end portions is configured to be longitudinally passed entirely through a hollow needle member insertable into the epidural space of a patient, and is provided on its distal end with an inflatable balloon element. With the needle member inserted, the distal catheter end is passed therethrough into the epidural space. The needle member is then withdrawn and removed from the catheter member past its proximal end. The proximal end of the catheter member is then removably inserted into an inlet fitting and frictionally locked therein. The installed inlet fitting defines sealingly separated outward extensions of the lumen inlets which are spaced longitudinally apart on the proximal catheter end portion. Pressurized fluid is injected into one of these inlet extensions to inflate the balloon element, and an anesthetic fluid is flowed into the other extension, and through its associated lumen, into the epidural space through the distal catheter end therein. The inflated balloon element prevents dislodgement of the distal catheter end from the epidural space and also inhibits its migration therein into, for example, adjacent blood vessels, the subarachnoid space, or out a nerve root sleeve. In an alternate embodiment of the catheter member, the balloon lumen is filled with a pressurized fluid and opens outwardly through the catheter into a second balloon element proximally spaced from the distal tip balloon. Under normal conditions, this pressurized fluid holds the second balloon in an inflated condition while the distal tip balloon is deflated. After the inserted needle is removed past the second balloon member a clip member is forced over the second balloon to compress it and maintain the distal tip balloon in an inflated condition within the epidural space.

Epidural catheter apparatus with an inflation fitting

A dual lumen catheter member having distal and proximal end portions is configured to be longitudinally passed entirely through a hollow needle member insertable into the epidural space of a patient, and is provided on its distal end with an inflatable balloon element. With the needle member inserted, the distal catheter end is passed therethrough into the epidural space. The needle member is then withdrawn and removed from the catheter member past its proximal end. The proximal end of the catheter member is then removably inserted into an inlet fitting and frictionally locked therein. The installed inlet fitting defines sealingly separated outward extensions of the lumen inlets which are spaced longitudinally apart on the proximal catheter end portion. Pressurized fluid is injected into one of these inlet extensions to inflate the balloon element, and an anesthetic fluid is flowed into the other extension, and through its associated lumen, into the epidural space through the distal catheter end therein. The inflated balloon element prevents dislodgement of the distal catheter end from the epidural space and also inhibits its migration therein into, for example, adjacent blood vessels, the subarachnoid space, or out a nerve root sleeve. In an alternate embodiment of the catheter member, the balloon lumen is filled wit a pressurized fluid and opens outwardly through the catheter into a second balloon element proximally spaced from the distal tip balloon. Under normal conditions, this pressurized fluid holds the second balloon in an inflated condition while the distal tip balloon is deflated. After the inserted needle is removed past the second balloon member a clip is forced over the second balloon to compress it and maintain the distal tip balloon in an inflated condition within the epidural space.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Andrew Freeman