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 bone marrow specimens from a bone for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes comprising:
 an outer hollow drive shaft operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;   the outer hollow drive shaft having an inner channel operable to convey bone marrow specimens therethrough for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes;   the outer hollow drive shaft having one end operable to penetrate the bone in response to rotation of the hollow drive shaft; and   a removable trocar disposed within the outer hollow drive shaft with a first end of the removable trocar operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow.   
   
   
       2 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the removable trocar further comprises a tip with a cutting edge disposed thereon. 
   
   
       3 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer hollow drive shaft further comprises a body having at least one side port operable to obtain specimens of the associated bone marrow. 
   
   
       4 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the removable trocar further comprises:
 an inner channel operable to convey bone marrow specimens therethrough for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes; and   at least one side port operable to obtain specimens of the associated bone marrow.   
   
   
       5 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one end of the hollow drive shaft further comprises serrated teeth operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow. 
   
   
       6 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer hollow drive shaft further comprises:
 internal threads disposed proximate the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft; and   the internal threads operable to maintain contact with a specimen of bone or bone marrow during retrieval.   
   
   
       7 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to penetrate a bone and remove bone marrow from the bone for transplantation purposes comprising:
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;   the outer hollow drive shaft having a second end operable to allow retrieval of bone marrow for transplantation purposes;   a gear attached to the outer hollow drive shaft;   the outer hollow drive shaft and attached gear operable to be disposed within a housing and rotated by a motor disposed within the housing;   the outer hollow drive shaft having an inner channel extending from the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft through the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft;   the inner channel operable to convey bone marrow from the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft through the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft for transplantation purposes after inserting the hollow drive shaft into the bone and associated bone marrow by the motor coupled with the outer hollow drive shaft;   a leur lock connector disposed on the second end of the outer hollow drive shaft; and   the leur lock connector operable to connect a suction apparatus to assist in obtaining bone marrow through the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft; and   the outer hollow drive shaft having sampling ports operable to obtain portions of the associated bone marrow.   
   
   
       8 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a removable trocar having a tip with a cutting edge.
 a removable trocar with at least one sampling port operable to obtain specimens of the bone marrow.   
   
   
       9 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a movable trocar;   an inner channel disposed within the removable trocar; and   the sampling port of the removable trocar operable to be aligned with the sampling ports of the outer hollow drive shaft to retrieve a sample of bone marrow.   
   
   
       10 . A hollow drive shaft and a trocar operable to penetrate a bone and bone marrow comprising:
 a first gear attached to the hollow drive shaft;   the first gear operable to be engaged with a second gear attached to a motor to rotate the hollow drive shaft;   the hollow drive shaft having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;   the hollow drive shaft having a second end operable to retrieve specimens of bone and the bone marrow;   an inner channel formed in the hollow drive shaft;   the inner channel of the hollow drive shaft operable to convey specimens of bone and associated bone marrow therethrough;   a plurality of sampling ports formed in the hollow drive shaft spaced from the first end;   the sampling ports operable to provide access to the associated bone marrow;   the trocar operable to be removably inserted the inner channel of the outer hollow drive shaft;   a sampling port formed in the trocar spaced from a first end of the trocar; and   the sampling port of the trocar operable to be aligned with respective sampling ports of the outer hollow drive shaft to convey portions of the bone marrow to an inner channel disposed within the trocar.   
   
   
       11 . A hollow drive shaft operable to penetrate a bone and to remove a semisolid substance such as a bone marrow specimen from the bone comprising:
 an outer hollow drive shaft having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;   the outer hollow drive shaft operable to be rotated by a motor;   the outer hollow drive shaft having a first end operable to penetrate the bone and associated bone marrow;   a threaded portion formed adjacent to the first end of the outer hollow drive shaft; and   the threaded portion operable to retrieve a bone marrow specimen.   
   
   
       12 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first end further comprises serrated teeth. 
   
   
       13 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to remove bone or bone marrow from a bone for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes comprising:
 an outer hollow drive shaft and a removable inner trocar operable to penetrate the bone marrow;   the outer hollow drive shaft removably coupled to a gear assembly; and   the outer hollow drive shaft further comprising an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone and bone marrow characterized by the removable trocar having an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone and bone marrow therethrough.   
   
   
       14 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 13  further comprising internal threads operable to engage a portion of bone or bone marrow. 
   
   
       15 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 13  wherein the hollow drive shaft comprises a body with at least one side port operable to obtain portions of bone marrow. 
   
   
       16 . The hollow drive shaft of  claim 13  wherein the inner trocar comprises a tip with a cutting edge and further comprises a body with at least one side port operable to obtain bone marrow tissue from the bone marrow. 
   
   
       17 . A hollow drive shaft assembly operable to remove bone or bone marrow from a bone for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes comprising:
 an outer hollow drive shaft and a removable inner trocar operable to penetrate the bone marrow;   the outer hollow drive shaft having an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone or bone marrow therethrough;   the outer hollow drive shaft removably coupled to a gear assembly;   the outer hollow drive shaft further comprising an inner channel operable to convey portions of bone or bone marrow; and   a connector operable to releasably attach a penetrator to the hollow drive shaft.   
   
   
       18 . The hollow drive shaft assembly of  claim 18  wherein the inner trocar comprises a tip with a cutting edge and further comprises at least one side port operable to obtain bone marrow tissue from the bone marrow.