Apparatus and method to access the bone marrow for oncology and stem cell applications

Abstract

An apparatus for removing portions of bone marrow from a bone is provided. The apparatus includes a housing and a hollow drive shaft operable to engage a gear assembly. The hollow drive shaft includes a first end operable to penetrate the bone and a second end operable to allow retrieval of portions of bone and bone marrow. The apparatus also includes a removable trocar. The removable trocar includes an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone and bone marrow. The gear assembly is able to engage and rotate the hollow drive shaft. A motor operable to drive the hollow drive shaft into the bone marrow by rotation of the hollow drive shaft and a power supply and associated circuitry operable to power the motor are also included.

1 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to remove a bone specimen and bone marrow from a bone for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes comprising: 
 an outer hollow drive shaft operable to penetrate the bone and bone marrow;    the outer hollow drive shaft coupled to a gear assembly;    the outer hollow drive shaft having an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone and bone marrow; and    the hollow drive shaft having a tip with serrated teeth and internal threads operable to engage a specimen of bone and core out of the specimen of bone as the hollow drive shaft penetrates the bone.    
     
     
         2 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the hollow drive shaft comprises a body with at least one side port operable to obtain portions of bone marrow.  
     
     
         3 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a removable inner trocar having a tip with a cutting edge and at least one side port operable to obtain bone marrow tissue from bone marrow.  
     
     
         4 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to penetrate a bone and associated bone marrow comprising: 
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first gear attached thereto;    the first gear operable to be engaged with a second gear attached to a motor to rotate the outer hollow drive shaft;    an inner channel formed in the outer hollow drive shaft;    the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to convey specimens of bone and associated bone marrow therethrough;    the outer hollow drive shaft having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and a second end operable to retrieve specimens of bone and the associated bone marrow;    a plurality of sampling ports formed in the outer hollow drive shaft spaced from the first end; and    the sampling ports operable to provide access to bone and bone marrow specimens.    
     
     
         5 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 4  further comprising; 
 a threaded portion formed adjacent to the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    the threaded portion operable to retrieve a bone biopsy specimen.    
     
     
         6 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a removable inner trocar disposed in the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft;    a sampling port formed in the removable inner trocar spaced from a first end of the inner trocar; and    the sampling port of the removable inner trocar operable to be aligned with respective sampling ports of the outer hollow drive shaft.    
     
     
         7 . The hollow drive shaft of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a ratcheted gear attached to the trocar; and    the ratcheted gear operable to change the depth of sampling from the bone marrow.    
     
     
         8 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a first thrust bearing and a second thrust bearing disposed on exterior portions of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the first and second thrust bearings spaced from each other; and    the first and second thrust bearings operable to absorb pressure from the outer hollow drive shaft drilling into the bone.    
     
     
         9 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a trocar disposed in the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    an operating mechanism operable to manipulate the trocar and change the depth of taking specimens in associated bone marrow.    
     
     
         10 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 9  wherein the operating mechanism further comprises: 
 a first gear disposed on the exterior of the trocar;    a handle attached to a second gear;    the second gear operable to engage the first gear; and    the handle and the second gear cooperating with the first gear to change the depth of taking specimens in the associated bone marrow.    
     
     
         11 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to penetrate a bone and associated bone marrow comprising: 
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first end engaged with a detachable penetrator;    the outer hollow drive shaft having a second end operable to allow retrieval of samples of bone marrow;    an inner channel formed in the outer hollow drive shaft extending between the first end and the second end;    the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to convey bone marrow samples therethrough;    the detachable penetrator having a first end and a second end;    the detachable penetrator having an inner channel extending between the first end and the second end;    the second end of the detachable penetrator releasably engaged with the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft and the inner channel of the detachable penetrator communicating with the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the first end of the detachable penetrator operable to drill into the bone and associated bone marrow; and    a plurality of sampling ports formed in the detachable penetrator spaced from the first end of the detachable penetrator.    
     
     
         12 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 11  further comprising; 
 a serrated tip formed at the first end of the detachable penetrator; and    the serrated tip operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow.    
     
     
         13 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a removable inner trocar disposed in the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft and the inner channel of the detachable penetrator;    the removable inner trocar having a first end operable to penetrate bone marrow;    a sampling port formed in the removable inner trocar spaced from the first end of the removable inner trocar; and    the sampling port of the removable inner trocar operable to be aligned with respective sampling ports of the detachable penetrator.    
     
     
         14 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a gear engaged with exterior portions of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    the gear operable to rotate the outer hollow drive shaft and the detachable penetrator.    
     
     
         15 . The hollow drive shaft of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a first thrust bearing and a second thrust bearing disposed on exterior portions of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the first and second thrust bearings spaced from each other; and    the first and second thrust bearings operable to absorb pressure from the detachable penetrator drilling into the bone.    
     
     
         16 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to penetrate a bone and associated bone marrow for diagnostic purposes comprising: 
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first end and a second end;    an inner channel formed in the outer hollow drive shaft extending between the first end and the second end;    the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to convey samples of bone and bone marrow therethrough;    the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to allow retrieval of samples of bone and bone marrow;    a removable trocar disposed in the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the removable trocar having a first end operable to penetrate bone marrow and a second end extending from the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft:    a penetrator having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;    the penetrator having a second end operable to be releasably engaged with the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the penetrator having an inner channel operable to communicate with the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    the removable trocar disposed in and extending through the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft and the inner channel of the penetrator.    
     
     
         17 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 16  further comprising the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow.  
     
     
         18 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to penetrate a bone and associated bone marrow for diagnostic purposes comprising: 
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first end and a second end;    an inner channel formed in the outer hollow drive shaft extending between the first end and the second end;    the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to convey samples of bone and bone marrow therethrough;    the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft operable to allow retrieval of samples of bone and bone marrow;    a removable trocar disposed in the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft;    the removable trocar having a split needle configuration;    the removable trocar having an open position when the first end of the removable trocar extends from the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    the removable trocar having a closed portion when the first end of the trocar is withdrawn into the inner channel of the hollow drive shaft to allow exterior portions of the removable trocar to cooperate with interior portions of the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft to close the removable trocar.    
     
     
         19 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a spur gear disposed on an exterior portion of the outer hollow drive shaft; and    the spur gear operable to be engaged with a gear attached to a motor.