Apparatus for harvesting improved bone graft material utilizing an implantable biodegradable filter

A multi-staged filter device for use in producing an implantable combined bone graft product, the multi-staged filter apparatus comprising:

• a biocompatible material-based substrate,
• a first stage filter container of a plurality of filter containers, and
• at least one second stage filter container of the plurality of filter containers,
• wherein a reaming device is used to collect materials from a medullary bone graft source and provide a flow of materials suspended in irrigation fluid,
• wherein an input of the first stage filter container of the plurality of filter containers containing the first stage filter of the plurality of filters is connected, by a first connecting tube, to an output of the reaming device,
• wherein the flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid passes through the first connecting tube,
• wherein the flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid is filtered by the first stage filter,
• wherein the first stage filter possesses a first particulate size selectivity to separate a first stage retained material from the flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid to provide a first stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid,
• wherein the first particulate size selectivity allows for the collection of bone fragments, and allows for the passing of a significant portion of one or more of irrigation fluid, plasma, stem cells, growth factors, and cellular matter as the first stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid,
• wherein the first stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid is passed through an output of the first stage filter container,
• wherein an input of the second stage filter container of the plurality of filter containers containing the second stage filter of the plurality of filters is connected, by a second connecting tube, to the output of the first stage filter container,
• wherein the first stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid is filtered by the second stage filter,
• wherein the second stage filter possess a second particulate size selectivity to separate a second stage retained material from the first stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid to provide a second stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid, and wherein the second stage particulate size selectivity includes particulate sizes less than those included with the first particulate size selectivity,
• wherein the second particulate size selectivity allows for the collection of a significant portion of one or more of plasma, stem cells, growth factors, and cellular matter, and allows for the passing of a significant portion of the irrigation fluid, as the second stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid,
• wherein the second stage filter container includes an evacuation port to permit the flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid to be evacuated from the second stage filter container in a continuous process,
• wherein the continuous process includes the first stage filter container receiving an additional flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid from the first connecting tube simultaneously with the second stage filter providing the second stage output flow of materials suspended in the irrigation fluid to the evacuation port of the second stage filter container,
• wherein the second stage filter comprises the biocompatible material-based substrate,
• wherein the biocompatible material-based substrate is comprised of:
• a disposable biocompatible material-based portion having dimensions compatible with the second stage filter container, and
• a selectable and implantable biocompatible material-based portion capable of being adjusted to selectable dimensions compatible with the requirements of a specific patient, and to the exclusion of the disposable biocompatible material portion,
• wherein the second stage filter, including said biocompatible material-based substrate, is removable, and
• wherein the selectable and implantable biocompatible material-based portion of said second stage filter is further configured to receive at least a portion of the first stage retained material in combination with at least a portion of the second stage retained material to create a combined graft product.