Patent ID: 8002733
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for aspirating bone marrow, comprising: introducing a distal tip attached at a distal end of an aspiration cannula having a flexible length into the bone marrow through an entry port defined along a bone marrow cavity of an ileac crest, where a proximal end of the flexible length is coupled to a handle and the cannula is deflectable in all directions; advancing the aspiration cannula along a first path within the bone marrow while following a curvature of the cavity defined by the ileac crest and while rotating the distal tip relative to the handle, wherein the tip comprises a rotating drill tip having a proximal fluted portion that is tapered in a distal direction from a proximal end of the drill tip and a distal portion having a rounded blunt tip such that the drill tip terminates at the blunt tip, and where the rotating drill tip moves sideways along a surface of cortical bone upon encountering the surface by deflecting via the distally curved blunt tip while rotating and without causing trauma thereto; withdrawing the aspiration cannula proximally along the first path; while withdrawing, aspirating a first portion of the bone marrow into the aspiration cannula via one or more openings near the distal tip; and angling the aspiration cannula relative to the entry port such that the cannula advances into the bone marrow along a second path within the ileac crest, wherein the second path is different from the first path.