Osteotech, Inc.

Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Michael Dowd

Nelson L Scarborough

John W Morris

Lawrence A Shimp

David R Kaes

Albert Manrique

Kenneth C Petersen

Mark P Daugherty

James L Russell

Jack McMickle

Denis G Dyke

Demineralized bone particles are obtained by demineralizing whole bone and thereafter subdividing the demineralized bone to provide the demineralized bone particles.

Method of making demineralized bone particles

A process for fabricating shaped material from demineralized bone particles includes the steps of applying a liquid slurry of demineralized bone particles to a support, removing excess liquid form the demineralized bone particles to provide a cohering shaped mass of demineralized bone particles, and warming the shaped mass of demineralized bone particles at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period. The resultant bone mass exhibits enhanced tensile strength and minimal bone particle disassociation upon rehydration thereby improving product handling and application at the operative site.

Process for producing flexible sheets from demineralized, elongate, bone particles

A pressure flow system and method for its use are provided for contacting the interior of a fluid permeable, e.g., porous, workpiece. The system includes a fluid pressure chamber having an inlet port and an opening formed in one of the chamber walls. An adjustable seal capable of providing a fluid-tight seal about the exterior of a workpiece having a non-uniform surface is positioned within the opening. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the pressure chamber to force fluid to flow through the internal matrix of the workpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the workpiece is a bone or a section thereof, and the fluid is forced to flow from the endosteal portion of bone to the periosteal portion of bone through the vasculature and porous structure of the bone to remove blood, bone marrow and/or other non-bone constituent(s) from the bone. Alternatively, the fluid can be chosen to decontaminate and/or demineralize the bone, to stain the bone to improve visualization of the bone microvasculature or to impregnate with pharmacological agents (antibiotics, bone growth factors, etc.) so that bone can act as a delivery system.

Pressure flow system and method for treating a fluid permeable workpiece

A milling apparatus is disclosed which includes a milling machine having a milling cutter which is sealingly isolated from the milling machine within an enclosed work area, a support fixture disposed within the enclosed work area for supporting a work piece, and a mechanism for moving the milling cutter along a predetermined path relative to the work piece. Preferably, the milling apparatus is employed to cut bone into small fragments for subsequent utilization, and the sealed isolation of the milling cutter inhibits cross-contamination between differing work pieces.

Bone milling apparatus

Surgically implantable shaped materials, e.g., sheets, are fabricated from elongate bone particles, advantageously those that have been demineralized. The materials when applied to a bone repair site enhance or accelerate new bone ingrowth by any one of a variety of biological and/or mechanical mechanisms.

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Eastampton, NJ, United States of America

Michael Dowd