METHOD OF PREPARING A COMPOSITE BONE GRAFT

摘要

The present invention provides a new and improved method for preparing a composite bone graft. The method comprises providing a bone marrow aspirate suspension and passing the bone marrow aspirate suspension through a porous, biocompatible, implantable substrate (12) to provide a composite bone graft having an enriched population of connective tissue progenitor cells. Because the method is preferably performed intraoperatively, it reduces the number of occasions the graftee must undergo invasive procedures. The invention also relates to an improved composite bone graft prepared according to the presen t method. The improved composite graft comprises an enriched population of connective tissue progenitor cells and a greater number of connective tissue progenitor cells per unit volume than that found in the original bone marrow aspirate. The present invention also relates to a kit comprising the apparat us (10) used for preparing the composite bone graft.