Patent ID: 8354376

Claim:
A method for inducing spinal fusion, comprising the step of: providing to a spinal defect site a device comprising (a) an osteogenic protein selected from the group consisting of OP1, OP2, OP3, BMP2, BMP3, BMP4, BMP5, BMP6, BMP9, BMP10, BMP11, BMP12, BMP15, BMP16, DPP, Vgl, Vgr, 60A protein, GDF1, GDF3, GDF5, GDF6, GDF7, GDF8, GDF9, GDF10, and GDF11; (b) a matrix selected from the group consisting of collagen, demineralized bone, apatites, and hydroxyapatites; and (c) a low viscosity grade of an alkylcellulose; wherein when the alkylcellulose is carboxymethylcellulose, said carboxymethylcellulose has a viscosity of 10-200 cP at a concentration of 4% (w/v); and wherein the ratio of the alkylcellulose to the matrix in said device is 1 part by weight alkylcellulose to 2-10 parts by weight matrix.