Apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus for producing demineralized osteoinductive bone. The apparatus demineralizes bone by subjecting bone, including, for example, ground bone, bone cubes, chips, strips, or essentially intact bone, to either a rapid high volume pulsatile acidification wave process or to a rapid continuous acid demineralization process. The pulsatile acidification wave process includes subjecting bone to two or more rapid pulse/drain cycles in which one or more demineralizing acids is rapidly pulsed into a vessel containing bone, and after a desired period of time, is rapidly drained from the vessel. The continuous acid demineralization process includes subjecting bone to a continuous exchange of demineralizing acid solution in which the demineralizing acid solution is recirculated from the container holding the bone through an ion exchange media. Calcium and phosphate are thereby removed from the bone to produce a regenerated acid, and the regenerated acid is returned to the container holding the bone. Both processes allow bone to be rapidly demineralized to a precise and specific desired residual calcium level without sacrificing osteoinductivity.

1 . An apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone, comprising: 
 a container for holding demineralization solution and the osteoinductive bone;    a vessel cap covering said container, said vessel cap containing a first port, and a second port for introducing the osteoinductive bone into said container;    a filter tube assembly disposed within said first port for transporting said demineralization solution into and out of said container, said filter tube assembly being configured to exclude particles larger than a prescribed size;    a pump for removing said demineralization solution from said container; and    a first tube connecting said first port to said pump.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filter tube assembly contains a plurality of openings along a predetermined portion thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a port filter assembly disposed within said second port for maintaining a sterile environment in said apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said port filter assembly provides a gas permeable seal.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said port filter assembly comprises a fritted filter disposed within an O-ring, said O-ring surrounded by a retaining ring.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filter tube assembly is configured to exclude particles larger than 300μ.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filter tube assembly is configured to exclude particles larger than 225μ.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said filter tube assembly is configured to exclude particles larger than 125μ.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said container, said vessel cap, said filter tube assembly, and said first tube are constructed from a material having prescribed properties for preventing a chemical reaction with said demineralization solution.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of Teflon, glass, and ceramic.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tube connecting said second port to a vessel coupled to said pump.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an ion exchange media is disposed within said vessel for regenerating said demineralization solution removed from said container.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said pump is operated at a rate of about 0.25 to 4.0 liters per min.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said pump is operated at a rate of about 0.5 to 2.0 liters per min.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said pump is operated at a rate of about 1.0 liter per min.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said ion exchange media comprises a strong cation exchange resin.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said ion exchange media comprises a strong anion exchange resin.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said ion exchange media comprises a strong cation exchange resin and a strong anion exchange resin.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone, comprising: 
 a container for holding demineralization solution and the osteoinductive bone;    a vessel cap covering said container, said vessel cap containing a first port, and a second port for introducing the osteoinductive bone into said container;    a filter tube assembly disposed within said first port for transporting said demineralization solution into and out of said container,    said filter tube assembly being configured to exclude particles larger than a prescribed size, and    said filter containing a plurality of openings along a predetermined portion thereof;    a pump for removing said demineralization solution from said container; and    a first tube connecting said first port to said pump.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone, comprising: 
 a container for holding demineralization solution and the osteoinductive bone;    a vessel cap covering said container, said vessel cap containing a first port, and a second port for introducing the osteoinductive bone into said container;    a filter tube assembly disposed within said first port for transporting said demineralization solution into and out of said container,    said filter tube assembly being configured to exclude particles larger than 125μ, and    said filter containing a plurality of openings along a predetermined portion thereof;    a pump for removing said demineralization solution from said container; and    a first tube connecting said first port to said pump.    
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone, comprising: 
 a container for holding demineralization solution and the osteoinductive bone;    a vessel cap covering said container, said vessel cap containing a first port, and a second port for introducing the osteoinductive bone into said container;    a filter tube assembly disposed within said first port for transporting said demineralization solution into and out of said container, said filter tube assembly being configured to exclude particles larger than a prescribed size;    a pump for removing said demineralization solution from said container;    a first tube connecting said first port to said pump; and    a second tube connecting said second port to a vessel coupled to said pump, wherein an ion exchange media is disposed within said vessel for regenerating said demineralization solution removed from said container.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for demineralizing osteoinductive bone, comprising: 
 a container for holding demineralization solution and the osteoinductive bone;    a vessel cap covering said container, said vessel cap containing a first port, and a second port for introducing the osteoinductive bone into said container;    a filter tube assembly disposed within said first port for transporting said demineralization solution into and out of said container,    said filter tube assembly being configured to exclude particles larger than 125μ, and    said filter containing a plurality of openings along a predetermined portion thereof;    a pump for removing said demineralization solution from said container;    a first tube connecting said first port to said pump; and    a second tube connecting said second port to a vessel coupled to said pump, wherein an ion exchange media is disposed within said vessel for regenerating said demineralization solution removed from said container.