BACKGROUND

Various devices and methods have been used to administer bone material, such as bone graft, to a surgical site. Bone graft is important in orthopedic procedures for the repair of bone defects caused by injury, disease, wounds, or surgery. Toward this end, a number of materials have been used or proposed for use in the repair of bone defects. The biological, physical, and mechanical properties of the materials are among the major factors influencing their suitability and performance in various orthopedic applications.

Conventionally, bone tissue regeneration is achieved by filling a bone defect with a bone material, for example, a bone graft. Over time, the bone graft is incorporated by the host and new bone remodels the bone graft. Bone material can include bone from the patient's own body, synthetic bone material, natural substitute bone material or combinations thereof.

To deliver the bone material to the bone defect, often times the bone material is mixed with liquid or a therapeutic agent, powder, fiber or granular material. Further, transfer of bone material to the dispensing device is often done by crude and messy packing of the bone dispensing device which can cause unwanted waste and spillage of bone material. During transfer and delivery of the bone material, these devices can also increase the risk of contamination of the bone material. Additionally, some dispensing devices can cause damage to surrounding tissue of a surgical site during administration of the bone material. Moreover, bone material can clog certain dispensing devices due to its consistency and/or due to the design of the dispensing device and the amount of bone material cannot be controlled effectively when this occurs.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a bone material dispensing device that allows easier loading of the bone material, which reduces the risk of contamination and spillage of bone material from the dispensing device. It would also be beneficial to provide a dispensing device that reduces clogging during dispensing of the bone material and is also able to deliver the bone material incrementally in controlled amounts to a bone defect.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, there is a bone material dispensing device that reduces the risk of contamination and spillage of bone material from the dispensing device, administers the bone material to a bone defect and the devices and methods provided reduce clogging during incremental dispensing of the bone material.

In some embodiments, a bone material dispensing device is provided, which comprises a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The proximal end has a first opening and the distal end has a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a plunger. A tubular member is provided that is pivotably connected to the housing and is configured for lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The tubular member comprises a proximal opening, a distal opening and a channel disposed therebetween. The proximal opening, the distal opening and the channel of the tubular member are configured to receive at least the portion of the plunger. The tubular member is movable in a first position to align the proximal opening of the tubular member with the second opening of the housing to allow the tubular member to receive at least the portion of the plunger to dispense the bone material.

In some embodiments, a bone material dispensing gun is provided. The bone material dispensing gun comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The proximal end has a first opening and the distal end has a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a plunger. The housing comprises a trigger assembly configured to allow incremental slidable movement of the plunger to dispense the bone material. A tubular member is provided that is pivotably connected to the housing and is configured for lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The tubular member comprises a proximal opening, a distal opening and a channel disposed therebetween. The proximal opening, the distal opening and the channel of the tubular member are configured to receive at least the portion of the plunger. The tubular member is movable in a first position to align the proximal opening of the tubular member with the second opening of the housing to allow the tubular member to receive at least the portion of the plunger to dispense the bone material. The tubular member is movable in a second position to misalign the proximal opening of the tubular member with the second opening of the housing to prevent the tubular member from receiving at least the portion of the plunger.

In some embodiments, a method of implanting a bone material is provided. The method comprises loading a bone material dispensing device with the bone material, the bone material dispensing device comprising a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the proximal end having a first opening and the distal end having a second opening, the first opening and the second opening configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a plunger; and a tubular member pivotably connected to the housing and configured for lateral movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the tubular member comprising a proximal opening, a distal opening and a channel disposed therebetween, the proximal opening, the distal opening and the channel of the tubular member configured to receive at least the portion of the plunger, the tubular member being movable in a first position to align the proximal opening of the tubular member with the second opening of the housing to allow the tubular member to receive at least the portion of the plunger to dispense the bone material.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. As will be apparent, the disclosure is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

