Lifenet Health

Lifenet

Debra Moore-Smith

Robert K O'Leary

Anne Wilson

Lloyd Wolfinbarger, Jr

Louis E Ford

Barton D Gaskins

The invention is directed to an apparatus for producing demineralized osteoinductive bone. The apparatus demineralizes bone by subjecting bone, including, for example, ground bone, bone cubes, chips, strips, or essentially intact bone, to either a rapid high volume pulsatile acidification wave process or to a rapid continuous acid demineralization process. The pulsatile acidification wave process includes subjecting bone to two or more rapid pulse/drain cycles in which one or more demineralizing acids is rapidly pulsed into a vessel containing bone, and after a desired period of time, is rapidly drained from the vessel. The continuous acid demineralization process includes subjecting bone to a continuous exchange of demineralizing acid solution in which the demineralizing acid solution is recirculated from the container holding the bone through an ion exchange media. Calcium and phosphate are thereby removed from the bone to produce a regenerated acid, and the regenerated acid is returned to the container holding the bone. Both processes allow bone to be rapidly demineralized to a precise and specific desired residual calcium level without sacrificing osteoinductivity.

Method of demineralizing bone

Apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone

The invention is directed to a process for producing demineralized osteoinductive bone, and demineralized osteoinductive bone produced thereby. The process achieves demineralization of bone by subjecting bone, including for example ground bone, bone cubes, chips, strips, or essentially intact bone, to a rapid high volume, pulsatile acidification wave process. The process includes subjecting bone to two or more rapid pulse/drain cycles where one or more demineralizing acids are rapidly pulsed into a vessel containing bone, and after a desired period of time, is rapidly drained from the vessel, the vessel containing the bone is then rapidly refilled with the one or more demineralizing acids (pulsed). The process allows bone to be rapidly demineralized to a precise ans specific desired residual calcium level, without sacrificing osteoinductivity.

Pulsatile acidification wave demineralization process for producing osteoinductive bone; and osteoinductive bone produced thereby

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Salisbury, NC, United States of America

Debra Moore-Smith