Autogenous bone and cell filter trap

Abstract

A bone filter trap for harvesting autogenous bone and cell marrow and blood elements collected by an aspirator during medical and dental bone surgical procedures. The bone trap is disposed between the aspirator suction system and the aspirator tip. The bone filter or trap includes housing through which an air flow induced by the suction system is allowed to pass via inlet and outlet openings in the housing. A cylindrically-shaped mesh is longitudinally disposed therein. The cylindrically shaped mesh is open at its top end (facing the inlet opening) and is fitted with a removable solid base at the distal outlet end, such that the induced air flow carrying liquids, solids and gases from the patient surgical site is forced to pass through the mesh. The mesh is sized such that only autogenous bone and cell marrow and blood elements are trapped in the mesh. Upon completion of the medical procedure, the cylindrically-shaped mesh is removed from the inlet and outlet housings. A circularly-shaped plunger device is pushed up and down inside the mesh open end to effectively and efficiently dislodge the elements, (e.g., autogenous bone) trapped inside the cylindrically-shaped mesh and to compress it against the base. The base is removed from the mesh and the compressed autogenous bone mixture is pushed from within the mesh by the action of plunger. The resultant mixture can be utilized alone, or mixed with synthetic or other graft materials (e.g., alloplasts, allografts or xenografts).