Tools and method for processing and injecting bone graft material

Abstract

A tool for processing an supplying bone graft material in individual tubes for later extrusion into the surgical site includes a pneumatic press and plunger to morselize and fill a plurality of fill tubes. The fill tubes are then used at the surgical site by pressing the bone material out with a push rod.

1 . A tool for filling tubes with bone graft material comprising: 
 (a) a pneumatic cylinder and plunger constructed and arranged to travel within a housing that includes an access port into which bone graft material may be tamped into a channel that the plunger reciprocates within; and    (b) a fill tube attached to said housing and in fluid communication with said channel such that movement of said plunger causes material within said channel to fill said fill tube.    
     
     
         2 . An elongated hollow cylindrical tube of less than about 12 inches (30.5 cm) in length and having an internal bore diameter of between about 0.01″ (0.25 mm) to about 0.03″ (0.76 cm), said tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end including a coupling member for attaching the tube in line within a filling device, said tube being filled with a bone graft material.  
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 2  wherein the internal bore diameter increases gradually from the proximal to the distal end.