Surgical tray containing a bone graft substitute resistant to autoclaving and method of using the same

Abstract

A surgical tray includes a set of surgical instruments and a containerized bone graft substitute (BGS) capable of being repeatedly autoclaved. Preferred BGS include calcium phosphate salts. The BGS is preferably provided pre-sterilized from the manufacturer, and may be contained, e.g., in an ampoule, a cartridge for a delivery device, or pre-loaded in a syringe. The BGS container may be wrapped in a protecting pouch.

1 . An surgical tray, comprising: 
 a) a tray;    b) a plurality of surgical instruments in said tray; and    c) a containerized, pre-sterilized bone graft substitute (BGS) in said tray.    
     
     
         2 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said BGS is capable of being autoclaved without serious adverse effect to the BGS.    
     
     
         3 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said BGS is a calcium salt or a mixture of two or more calcium salts    
     
     
         4 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said BGS is beta-tricalcium phosphate.    
     
     
         5 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said BGS is hydroxyapatite.    
     
     
         6 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said BGS is a mixture of beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite.    
     
     
         7 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said containerized BGS includes a BGS in an ampoule.    
     
     
         8 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said containerized BGS includes a BGS in a cartridge for a delivery device.    
     
     
         9 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said containerized BGS includes a BGS preloaded in a syringe.    
     
     
         10 . A surgical tray according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said syringe has a curved tip.    
     
     
         11 . A surgical tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of orthopedic implantable devices in said tray.    
     
     
         12 . An orthopedic surgical tray according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said orthopedic implantable devices include at least one fracture fixation plate and a plurality of at least one of screws and pegs.    
     
     
         13 . An orthopedic surgical tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a heat cycle counter in association with at least one of said containerized BGS.    
     
     
         14 . An orthopedic surgical tray according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pouch in which said containerized pre-sterilized BGS is provided.    
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a surgical tray, comprising: 
 a) providing a tray;    b) providing surgical instruments in the tray; and    c) providing a containerized pre-sterilized bone graft substitute (BGS) in the tray.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 providing a plurality of orthopedic implantable devices in the tray.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 using the tray in a surgical procedure during which at least one of the surgical instrument is used, and the BGS is not used; and subsequently    sterilizing the tray and the surgical instruments with the containerized BGS inside the tray.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said BGS includes a calcium salt.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said BGS is selected from the group of calcium sulfate, beta-tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, and a mixture thereof.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said providing a containerized BGS includes providing the BGS in a cartridge which can be inserted into a delivery device.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said providing a containerized BGS includes providing the BGS pre-loaded in a syringe.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 said providing a containerized BGS includes providing the BGS pre-loaded in a syringe having a curved tip.