SurGenTec LLC has been granted a patent for its bone graft delivery technology by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Patent Awarded for SurGenTec’s Graft Delivery System
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The proprietary Graftgun Delivery System enables surgeons to deliver the bone graft of their choice (synthetic, allograft, or autograft) in a minimally invasive fashion.
In a May 25, 2017 announcement, the company stated that traditionally, surgeons used a metal funnel and tamp to place bone graft. The company notes that surgeons have been looking for a solution to overcome the difficulties of this technique. The Graftgun provides a “simple, safe and ergonomic solution to deliver bone graft in hard to reach places.”
The kit includes a loading device and multiple tube sizes to support a variety of surgical procedures and patient sizes. The tubes have embedded radiopaque markers which enable the surgeon to visualize where their bone graft is being placed on fluoroscopy. The ratcheting technology provides the force necessary to extrude the majority of bone grafts on the market.
The patent is number 9,655,748. Claim #20 of the patent states:
A bone graft delivery system, comprising: an elongate tube; a handle engaged to a proximal end of the tube configured to be actuated to deliver bone graft material through the tube, the handle comprising: a handle body; and a ratcheting mechanism configured to advance bone graft material through the tube; and a plunger configured to be removably received in the handle body and tube while the handle is engaged to the proximal end of the tube.
SurGenTec is privately held and based out of Boca Raton, Florida. The company plans to release the device this summer.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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