Cell harvesting method

• US 6,543,455 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bonutti Skeletal Innovations LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Bonutti 2003 Trust A
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/044,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 606/179, 606/180, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/025 for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1635 for grafts, harvesting or transplants
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065

Abstract

A percutaneous tissue removal apparatus having a flexible drill shaft, a cutting tip mounted on the shaft a power source for transmitting motion to the shaft to move the cutting tip against tissue and a suction source for removing tissue fragments along the shaft to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting. The apparatus may include a container for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments preferably into the body of the patient from whom they were removed. Where the tissue to be cut is bone, a cutting tip is preferably made of a polymeric material which is softer than the cortical portion of the bone, although the cutting tip may be made of a ceramic or a composite material. A second flexible shaft may be provided either within or about the flexible drill shaft.

Claims

1. A method for harvesting cells for therapeutic use comprising the steps of:

cutting tissue fragments from a tissue of a donor;

suctioning the tissue fragments through a shaft to a location outside of the donor;

separating cells from the tissue fragments; and

implanting the cells into a recipient, wherein the cells are viable.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein rotating motion is used to cut the tissue fragments.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein reciprocating motion is used to cut the tissue fragments.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the shaft is flexible.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of irrigating the tissue.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the irrigation and suction alternate.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the irrigation and suction occur substantially simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the shaft is inserted percutaneously through skin of the donor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the donor and recipient are the same individual.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the donor and recipient are different individuals.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using a filter.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using centrifugation.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using a press.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of bone, cartilage, muscle, and fetal tissue.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to implantation the cells are combined with a material selected from the group consisting of tissue grafts, collagen, antibiotics, and bone growth promoting substances.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the bone growth promoting substances are hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein an adhesive element is added to the cells.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the adhesive element is blood or fibrin.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding the cells to a biodegradable material.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding the cells to a polymer.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sealing the cells in the recipient.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed under x-ray guidance.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed through a cannula.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed under endoscopic, arthroscopic, or fiber optic guidance.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells include at least two cell types.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the cells are formed into an implant prior to implantation into the recipient.

27. A method for harvesting cells for therapeutic use comprising the steps of:

cutting tissue fragments from a tissue of a donor;

collecting the tissue fragments at a location outside of the donor;

separating cells from the tissue fragments;

combining the cells with a material selected from the group consisting of tissue grafts, collagen, antibiotics, and bone growth promoting substances; and

implanting the cells into a recipient, wherein the cells are viable.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein rotating motion is used to cut the tissue fragments.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein reciprocating motion is used to cut the tissue fragments.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the tissue fragments are collected using suction through a flexible shaft.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of irrigating the tissue.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the irrigation and suction alternate.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the irrigation and suction occur substantially simultaneously.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the shaft is inserted percutaneously through skin of the donor.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the donor and recipient are the same individual.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein the donor and recipient are different individuals.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using a filter.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using centrifugation.

39. The method of claim 27 wherein the cells are at least partially separated using a press.

40. The method of claim 27 wherein the tissue is selected from the group consisting of bone, cartilage, muscle, and fetal tissue.

41. The method of claim 27 wherein the bone growth promoting substances are hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate.

42. The method of claim 27 wherein an adhesive element is added to the cells.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the adhesive element is blood or fibrin.

44. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of adding the cells to a biodegradable material.

45. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of adding the cells to a polymer.

46. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of sealing the cells in the recipient.

47. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed under x-ray guidance.

48. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed through a cannula.

49. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of the steps of cutting, suctioning, and implanting is performed under endoscopic, arthroscopic, or fiber optic guidance.

50. The method of claim 27 wherein the cells include at least two cell types.

51. The method of claim 27 wherein the cells are formed into an implant prior to implantation into the recipient.

52. A method for harvesting cells for therapeutic use comprising the steps of:

cutting tissue fragments from a tissue of a donor;

removing the tissue fragments from the donor to a location outside of the donor;

separating cells from the tissue fragments; and

implanting the cells into a recipient,

wherein the cells are viable and at least one of the steps of cutting, removing, separating, and implanting is performed under endoscopic, arthroscopic, or fiber optic guidance.