Bone graft delivery system and method for using same

[0001] This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/492,316, entitled “BONE GRAFT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME,” filed Jun. 1, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] The present application relates to orthopedic surgery in general, and more particularly, to bone graft delivery systems and methods.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In a bone grafting procedure, a surgeon places bone or a bone substitute into an area in a patient's body to provide a type of scaffold for bone growth and repair. Bone grafts can be used to help treat various orthopedic problems, for example, to fuse a joint or repair a fracture. Bone graft material can be, for example, autogenous (harvested from the patient's own body), allogeneic (harvested from another person, usually a cadaver), or synthetic. Many bone grafting procedures are performed via open surgery implantation. However, these procedures can be performed minimally invasively, for example, by using a needle to inject the bone graft material into the target location without requiring a surgical incision.

[0006] In some cases decortication of the bony area receiving the graft is performed prior to delivery of the bone graft material. Decortication removes superficial cortical bone and exposes the underlying cancellous bone, which can help accelerate the integration of the bone graft with the native bone.

[0007] The devices, systems, and methods described herein allow for minimally invasive delivery of bone graft material to a desired location in a patient's body. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods described herein also provide for bone decortication.

[0008] In some embodiments, a bone graft delivery system includes an elongate tube, a handle at a proximal end of the tube configured to be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube, and a tip at a distal end of the tube. The handle may include a trigger. The tip includes one or more openings configured to deliver the bone graft material to a desired location and a surface suitable to serve as a rasp for scraping bone.

[0009] In some embodiments, a method for delivering bone graft material to a surgical location includes providing a bone graft delivery device comprising an elongate tube and a distal tip having at least one opening for delivering the bone graft material to the surgical location and positioning the device adjacent the surgical location. The method further includes decorticating bone with the distal tip and delivering bone graft material through the tube and out the at least one opening of the tip.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bone graft delivery device 100 generally includes a handle 102 having a trigger 110 or other actuation mechanism, a tube 120 having a lumen therethrough, and a distal tip 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the bone graft delivery device 100 is similar to a caulking gun. The handle 102 can house a supply of the desired bone graft material. The bone graft material can be pre-loaded in the handle 102 or can be supplied to the handle via a cartridge that can be removably coupled to the handle 102. In some embodiments, the device 100 can further include a plunger 112 that is retracted proximally to allow the handle to receive a cartridge or pre-loaded volume of bone graft material.

[0014] In use, the trigger 110 is actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube 120 and distal tip 130 to a desired surgical location. In some embodiments, the plunger 112 is simultaneously pushed distally to help deliver bone graft material through the tube 120. In some embodiments, the trigger 110 or other actuation mechanism is configured to deliver a controlled release amount of bone graft material during actuation of the device, for example, ½ cc of bone graft material per complete squeeze of the trigger 110. The trigger 110 or other actuation mechanism may be operated manually or by mechanical, battery powered, electric, pneumatic, or any other means of force.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube 120 can include a permanent bend or curve that may be useful in positioning the device 100 at a desired location, for example, a space between two spinal discs. Alternatively, the tube 120 may be straight to deliver bone graft material directly into a desired location such as a disc space. In some embodiments, the tube 120 is somewhat flexible or repositionable and can be manipulated to bend or curve the tube 120 as needed to reach the desired location. In some embodiments, the tube 120 is made of a rigid material, for example, a plastic, composite, or metal, and is generally hollow to allow for the passage of bone graft material through the tube 120.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, a distal end of the tube 120 includes a tip 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the tip 130 is somewhat bullet-shaped with a generally triangular cross-section; however, other shapes and configurations are also possible. In some embodiments, the tip 130 is pointed and/or sharp to dissect or split muscle and tissue as it is advanced through the patient's skin and body to the surgical location. Alternatively, the tip 130 can be blunt to allow for displacement of muscle without risk of cutting of nerves or other tissue. The tip has a single or multiple openings 132 in fluid communication with the tube 120 lumen and configured to deliver the bone graft material from the tube 120 to the desired location.

[0017] In some embodiments, at least one side or area of the tip 130 includes a series of jagged edges or other suitable surface 134 configured to serve as a rasp for scraping bone. The rasp may be operated manually or by mechanical, battery powered, electric, pneumatic, or any other means of force to allow for decortication of the area to receive the bone graft material.

[0018] The tip 130 may be made of a metallic, radiopaque material to facilitate visualization on, for example, fluoroscopy or x-ray. Alternatively, the tip 130 may be made of another material, for example a durable medical plastic or a composite material, and may include markers to facilitate visualization.

[0019] In one embodiment, the device 100 described herein may be used in minimally invasive spinal surgery. For example, in a conventional posterolateral spine procedure, screws and or fusion cages may be delivered to adjacent vertebrae using small incisions made in a patient's back. It may additionally be desirable to deliver bone graft material to the surgical location, e.g., to the transverse processes, disc spaces, or facet joints, through one of these small incisions. The device described herein is sized to be delivered through a minimally invasive opening made in the patient's skin (e.g., through a skin incision of 4 cm or less), and configured so that the tip can be positioned adjacent a pedicle screw or other desired location. The curvature of the tube 120 can facilitate positioning of the tip 130 at desired spinal locations and allows, for example, insertion of the device 100 through an incision over one vertebra, and positioning of the tip 130 at an adjacent vertebra. Alternatively, the device can be delivered through any desired opening made in the patient's skin (e.g., minimally invasive or open). The jagged edges or other surface 134 on the device can be used to decorticate desired bone locations, causing bleeding of the bone and creating a surface that promotes bone fusion. The trigger 110 or other actuation mechanism can then be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube 120 lumen and openings 132 in the tip 130 to promote fusion of the bone.

[0020] Although use of the device 100 has been described with respect to an example spinal procedure, the device 100 can also be used in other spinal procedures and other orthopedic applications to deliver bone graft material to other locations in the body (for example, the femur or tibia).

[0021] Various modifications to the implementations described in this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Certain embodiments of the invention are encompassed in the claim set listed below.