Device and method for hydrating and rehydrating orthopedic graft materials

A container for storing orthopedic graft materials, comprising:

• a dividing device for dividing the container into first and second compartments and for isolating the compartments from one another, the first compartment containing a liquid component and the second compartment containing an orthopedic graft material under vacuum;
• an elongated pocket portion extending from and in communication with the second compartment;
• a gas permeable membrane disposed between the second compartment and the pocket portion;
• and
• a vacuum reservoir device disposed within the pocket portion and being in communication with the second compartment, the vacuum reservoir device being capable of taking up substantially all residual interstitial gases and thereby ensuring thorough infusion of the liquid component into the orthopedic graft material component upon release of the dividing device so as to form a rehydrated orthopedic graft material.

A method for hydrating an orthopedic graft material, comprising:

• providing a container, including:
• a dividing device for dividing the container into first and second compartments and for isolating the compartments from one another, the first compartment capable of receiving a liquid component and the second compartment containing an orthopedic graft material under vacuum;
• and
• a vacuum reservoir device in communication with the second compartment, the vacuum reservoir device being capable of taking up substantially all residual interstitial gases and thereby ensuring thorough infusion of the liquid component into the orthopedic graft material component upon release of the dividing device so as to form a hydrated orthopedic graft material;
• and
• releasing the dividing device, whereupon the liquid component rapidly migrates into the second compartment and thoroughly infuses into the orthopedic graft material component so as to form a hydrated orthopedic graft material.

A method for hydrating an orthopedic graft material, comprising:

• providing a container, including:
• a dividing device for dividing the container into first and second compartments and for isolating the compartments from one another, the first compartment containing a liquid component and the second compartment containing the orthopedic graft material under vacuum;
• and
• a vacuum reservoir device in communication with the second compartment, the vacuum reservoir device being capable of taking up substantially all residual interstitial gases;
• and
• releasing the dividing device, whereupon the liquid component rapidly migrates into the second compartment and thoroughly infuses into the orthopedic graft material component so as to form a hydrated orthopedic graft material.

A method for hydrating an orthopedic graft material, comprising:

• providing a container, including:
• a dividing device for dividing the container into first and second compartments and for isolating the compartments from one another, the first compartment containing a liquid component and the second compartment containing the orthopedic graft material under vacuum;
• an elongated pocket portion extending from and in communication with the second compartment;
• a gas permeable membrane disposed between the second compartment and the pocket portion;
• and
• a vacuum reservoir device disposed within the pocket portion and being in communication with the second compartment, the vacuum reservoir device being capable of taking up substantially all residual interstitial gases;
• and
• releasing the dividing device, whereupon the liquid component rapidly migrates into the second compartment and thoroughly infuses into the orthopedic graft material component so as to form a hydrated orthopedic graft material.

A container for hydrating orthopedic graft material, comprising:

• a chamber containing the orthopedic graft material under at least a partial vacuum;
• a port device capable of allowing the introduction of a liquid into said chamber;
• and
• a vacuum reservoir capable of drawing the liquid received through said port device into said chamber and infusing said orthopedic graft material with the liquid.