Devices for controlling fluid flow through a medium

• US 20040034276A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voellmicke, John C., Bobroff, Randa, Parsons, Mathew, Catalano, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/005 with a lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/006 perpendicular to the lid plane, e.g. by a downward movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0064 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0079 Magnetic closures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0083 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4644 Preparation of bone graft, bone plugs or bone dowels, e.g. grinding or milling bone material bone material A61F2/28; disintegrating or milling devices B02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4693 hydraulic

Abstract

A fluid flow system for preparing an implantable substrate is provided having a fluid permeable container that is capable of retaining a biocompatible, implantable substrate, and a driver mechanism for subjecting fluid to a constant force to induce a selected, controlled flow rate of the fluid through a substrate disposed in the container. The system can include a fluid reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, and being effective to selectively retain a fluid. The reservoir is preferably disposed upstream of the container. The system can also optionally include a fluid recycling conduit that is effective to recirculate fluid from the container to the reservoir.

Claims

1. A system for preparing a bone graft for implantation, comprising:

a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, the reservoir being capable of selectively retaining a fluid;

a container coupled to the reservoir and having an inlet and an outlet, the container being fluid permeable, but capable of retaining a porous, biocompatible, implantable substrate; and

a driver mechanism coupled to the container and the reservoir, the driver mechanism being effective to subject any fluid within the reservoir to a constant force so as to induce a selected, controlled flow rate of the fluid through the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the reservoir is coupled to the inlet of the container such that the container is disposed downstream of the reservoir.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a fluid recycling conduit extending between the outlet of the container and the inlet of the reservoir to recirculate the fluid to the reservoir.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fluid recycling conduit includes a one-way check valve to prevent any fluid from entering the container through the outlet thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver mechanism comprises a syringe effective to create a constant suction force to transport fluid through the container.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the syringe is coupled to the outlet of the container and the inlet of the reservoir.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the syringe is coupled to the inlet of the container and the outlet of the reservoir.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the syringe includes a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel, the plunger being coupled to a constant force spring that is effective to retract the plunger from an initial position, in which the plunger is substantially disposed within the barrel, and a final position, in which the plunger is substantially retracted from the barrel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plunger is sealed within a chamber in the barrel, and wherein the barrel includes at lest one airflow valve extending into the chamber to control the rate of movement of the plunger within the chamber and thereby control the flow rate of fluid through the system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the plunger is biased to a position in which the plunger is substantially retracted from the barrel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver mechanism comprises a plurality of syringes effective to create a constant suction force to transport the fluid through the container.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the syringes each include a plunger disposed within a barrel, and wherein the plunger of each syringe is mechanically coupled to effect substantially simultaneous movement thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver mechanism comprises a first syringe having a plunger disposed within a barrel, the first syringe being effective to create a constant suction force to transport the fluid through the container, and wherein the system further includes a second syringe having a plunger disposed within a barrel, the plunger of the second syringe being mechanically coupled to the plunger of the first syringe to effect substantially simultaneous movement of plungers within the barrels.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second syringe is coupled to an air flow conduit effective to limit the movement of the plunger within the barrel, and thereby to control the rate of fluid flow in the system.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a collection tank effective to collect fluid from the outlet of the container, and a fluid recycling conduit extending between the collection tank and the inlet of the reservoir.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a withdrawal conduit extending between the fluid recycling conduit and the driver mechanism.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is sealable and includes one or more airflow valves formed therein and effective to control the flow rate of fluid through the container.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing that encompasses at least one of the reservoir, the container, and the driver mechanism.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver mechanism includes a bellows movable between expanded and compressed positions.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the reservoir is disposed downstream of the container such that fluid flows from the outlet in the container to the inlet in the reservoir, and wherein the bellows is effective to collect fluid from the outlet in the reservoir and to deliver fluid to the inlet in the container.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a first conduit extending between the inlet in the container and the bellows, and a second conduit extending between the outlet in the reservoir and the bellows.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first conduit includes a one-way valve that is effective to permit fluid flow only in a direction from the bellows to the container.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the second conduit includes a one-way valve that is effective to permit fluid flow only in a direction from the reservoir to the bellows.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the driver further comprises a plunger device that is adapted to apply a force to the bellows to transport fluid from the reservoir to the bellows and then from the bellows to the container as a result of expansion and contraction of the bellows.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the plunger is coupled to a constant force spring which is effective to bias the plunger to one of a first position, in which the bellows is expanded, and a second position, in which the bellows is contracted.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the plunger is biased to the second position, such that movement of the plunger in opposition to the biasing force is effective to create a constant suction force to draw fluid from the reservoir into the bellows, and the biasing force thereafter causes the bellows to return the second position to push fluid through the container.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the plunger is biased to the first position, such that movement of the plunger in opposition to the biasing force is effective to create a positive pressure to push fluid through the reservoir, and the biasing force thereafter causes the bellows to return to the first position to draw fluid from the container into the bellows.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein movement of the plunger device in opposition to the biasing force of the constant force spring is effective to create a suction force to draw fluid from the reservoir into the bellows, and wherein the biasing force thereafter causes the bellows to contract to push fluid through the container.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is a tray-like device having a porous bottom surface, a porous top surface, and at least one non-porous sidewall.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the porous bottom surface and the porous top surface are removably disposed within the container.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the porous bottom surface and the porous top surface are each formed from an implantable, biocompatible material.

32. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid disposed within the system, the fluid being selected from the group consisting of bone marrow, blood, platelet rich plasma, placenta, synovial fluid, and amniotic fluid, suspensions containing stem cells, suspensions containing growth factors, suspensions containing proteins, and combinations thereof.

33. The system of claim 3, further comprising a lid member adapted to seal the reservoir.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a hinge connecting the lid member to the reservoir and including an inner lumen extending therethrough for receiving a portion of the fluid recycling conduit, wherein the lid member is movable between a closed position, in which fluid can flow through the fluid recycling conduit, and an open position in which the hinge pinches the fluid recycling conduit to prevent fluid from flowing therethrough.

35. A system for preparing a bone graft for implantation, comprising:

first and second vertically oriented bellows each having an open end and a closed end;

a fluid permeable container disposed between the first and second bellows such that the container is in fluid communication with the open end of each of the first and second bellows; and

a driver mechanism operatively coupled to the closed end of at least one of the first and second bellows, the driver mechanism being selectively engageable to apply a compressive force to one of the first or second bellows to enable any fluid within one of the first or second bellows to flow from the open end thereof through the container at a selected, controlled rate of flow.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first and second bellows are each movable between an expanded position and a compressed position.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the driver mechanism comprises a mass.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein a flow control device is disposed between at least one of the first and second bellows and the container, the flow control device being effective to selectively control the flow rate of fluid flowing from one of the first and second bellows to the container, and to allow fluid to flow freely from the container to one of the first and second bellows.

39. The system of claim 35, further comprising a housing that encompasses the first bellows, the second bellows, the container, and the driver mechanism, the housing substantially hollow to allow expansion and compression of the first and second bellows.

40. A system for preparing an implantable, biological substrate, comprising:

a chamber having a first end having an inlet, a second end having an outlet, and at least one sidewall extending between the first and second ends;

a basket disposed within the chamber between the first and second ends, the basket being capable of retaining an implantable substrate and allowing fluid to flow therethrough; and

a driver mechanism coupled to at least one of the inlet port and outlet port of the chamber, the driver mechanism being effective to drive fluid, at a substantially constant flow rate, through an implantable substrate disposed within the basket.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the basket includes first and second porous, substantially planar members disposed at a distance apart form one another and effective to retain an implantable substrate therebetween.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first and second porous members are removably disposed within the basket.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the first and second porous members are formed from an implantable, biocompatible material such that the first and second porous members are adapted to form part of an implantable substrate disposed within the basket.

44. The system of claim 40, further comprising a recycling conduit extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, such that fluid can be recycled through the chamber.

45. A container for holding an implantable substrate, comprising:

a fluid retaining member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one fluid impermeable sidewall defining a substantially hollow interior portion;

a base member mated to and extending in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fluid retaining member, the base member having at least one porous portion adapted to allow fluid to flow therethrough;

a first lid member removably disposed within the hollow interior portion of the fluid retaining member, the first lid member extending in a direction substantially parallel to the base member and including a handle and at least one porous portion adapted to allow fluid to flow therethrough; and

a second lid member removably mated to the proximal end of the fluid retaining member.

46. The container of claim 45, wherein the first lid member is removably mated to the fluid retaining member by a positive mechanical engagement.

47. The container of claim 45, wherein the first lid member includes an attachment mechanism for selectively mating with a corresponding attachment mechanism formed on the fluid retaining member.

48. The container of claim 45, wherein the first lid member is position at about a midpoint in the hollow interior portion of the fluid retaining member.

49. The container of claim 45, wherein a portion of the fluid retaining member extending between the proximal end of the fluid retaining member and the first lid member defines a fluid receiving recess.

50. The container of claim 45, further comprising a support member having a recess for removably receiving the fluid retaining member.

51. The container of claim 50, wherein an outer wall of the fluid retaining member adjacent the distal end includes at least one thread formed thereon for mating to at least one corresponding thread formed on an inner surface of the support member.

52. The container of claim 45, wherein the fluid retaining member has a substantially conical shape.

53. The container of claim 52, wherein the proximal end of the fluid retaining member has a diameter greater than a diameter of the distal end of the fluid retaining member, such that the fluid retaining member includes a proximal, outwardly extending annular lip.

54. The container of claim 45, wherein the porous portion on each of the base member and the first lid member is formed from at least one woven screen disposed across a portion thereof.

55. The container of claim 54, wherein the at least one woven screen is insert-molded into each of the base member and the lid member.

56. The container of claim 54, wherein the at least one woven screen includes pores having a size between about 175 and 600 microns.

57. The container of claim 45, further comprising an implantable bone graft removably disposed between the base member and the first lid member.

58. The container of claim 45, wherein the second lid member is hingedly connected to the fluid retaining member.

59. The container of claim 45, wherein the fluid retaining member includes an inlet positioned upstream of the first lid member and an outlet positioned downstream of the base member, and wherein a fluid recycling conduit extends from the outlet to the inlet.

60. The container of claim 59, further comprising a hinge connecting the second lid member to the fluid retaining member and including an inner lumen extending therethrough for receiving a portion of the fluid recycling conduit, wherein the lid is movable between a closed position, in which fluid can flow through the fluid recycling conduit, and an open position in which the hinge pinches the fluid recycling conduit to prevent fluid from flowing therethrough.