A device and method for aspirating bone barrow. The device includes a double syringe assembly having a distal syringe and a proximal syringe coupled to the distal syringe. A plunger includes a distal end disposed within a barrel of the distal syringe and a proximal end disposed within a barrel of the proximal syringe. A needle assembly is coupled to the double syringe assembly and includes a needle having an outer tube and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube. Upon actuation of the plunger, the distal syringe aspirates bone marrow through the outer tube of the needle and into a chamber of the distal syringe. At the same time, the proximal syringe injects fluid through the inner tube of the needle at the same rate in which the bone marrow is aspirated.

Tools, devices and systems that include a generally cylindrical, hollow shaft, and a suction canister are provided with advantageous interconnectivity features and functions that enable ease of manufacturing, lowered manufacturing costs, and allow for a platform of different shaft embodiments and canister embodiments that may be manufactured in different combinations to form an array of unique instruments. The interconnectivity may be irreversible or reversible, and the connection features maintain an air tight seal between the components. Tools, devices and systems are also provided that include collection functionality that can be employed to manipulate the volume of tissue collected while using a tissue collection feature/function. This may be undertaken to restrict total volume of the collection chamber in a way that allows for continuous suction flow rate to take place while collecting the desired amount of tissue. Containing the tissue to a pre-set volume can enable a user to effectively ascertain the volume of tissue collected.

Methods of harvesting cancellous bone and bone marrow include extracting loosened cancellous bone and bone marrowincluding a liquid component thereofto a collection container that has a first cup and a suction port to which a suction source is connected. After extraction, the suction source is disconnected and a lid of the collection container is removed and replaced with a lid having a plunger with a press head that is configured to filter the extracted liquid by depressing the plunger toward a bottom of the first cup. The filtered liquid is poured through a suction port into a second cup while depressing the plunger, thereby separating the liquid from a semi-solid mass of cancellous bone that remains. The bone is extracted through a cortical opening in the femur, tibia, or calcaneus, or from an intermedullary canal that is preferably formed by reaming of the tibia using an orthopedic reamer.

Methods of harvesting cancellous bone and bone marrow include extracting loosened cancellous bone and bone marrowincluding a liquid component thereofto a collection container that has a first cup and a suction port to which a suction source is connected. After extraction, the suction source is disconnected and a lid of the collection container is removed and replaced with a lid having a plunger with a press head that is configured to filter the extracted liquid by depressing the plunger toward a bottom of the first cup. The filtered liquid is poured through a suction port into a second cup while depressing the plunger, thereby separating the liquid from a semi-solid mass of cancellous bone that remains. The bone is extracted through a cortical opening in the femur, tibia, or calcaneus, or from an intermedullary canal that is preferably formed by reaming of the tibia using an orthopedic reamer.

A decompression device and method for removing marrow and other fluid from an intramedullary canal. The decompression device includes a cannula having a channel that allows fatty marrow to pass therethrough. A first port extends from the device and is in operable connection to a vacuum source that creates suction for removing fluid from the intramedullary canal. In some embodiments, one or more fenestrations are disposed along the second end of the cannula to expedite the removal of the fluid. In operation, the cannula is inserted into the intramedullary canal of a femur. Once fatty marrow is removed from the intramedullary canal, the cannula is removed and a reaming device is inserted into the femur. In this way, the fatty marrow is removed prior to the reaming procedure in order to prevent these fluids from traveling to the lungs causing blockage that leads to severe cardiorespiratory and vascular dysfunction.

A flexible cannula device includes a solid cannula shaft, a solid cannula tip including an opening, and a coil positioned between and welded to the cannula shaft and cannula tip, the cannula shaft, coil, and cannula tip forming a lumen in fluid communication with the opening. A flexible cannulated drill includes a solid cannula shaft, a solid cannula tip shaped to drill through tissue, a coil positioned between and welded to the cannula shaft and cannula tip, and a handle connected to the cannula shaft. The coil can be a double helix coil comprising an inner coil within an outer coil. A tube inside the coil prevents fluid from leaking between rings of the coil. A cannula system includes an introducer needle and the flexible cannula device. A screw mechanism can adjust a length that the flexible cannula device extends beyond a distal end of the introducer needle.

A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is provided. The method comprises inserting a delivery tool containing the therapeutic agent through an anterior portion, a lateral portion, or an anterolateral portion of an annulus fibrosus and into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; and delivering the therapeutic agent to the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Devices and kits are also provided.

The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally the use of certain compositions, e.g., compositions comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, in the therapy of viral diseases and/or reducing the incidence of viral diseases. Related embodiments of the present invention relate to treatment and/or reducing the incidence of respiratory ailments caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or hemorrhagic fever (EHF) caused by Ebola viruses (EBV) or Marburg virus. Yet in other embodiments, the invention relates to reducing metal toxicity in a biological system, which involves contacting the biological system with a composition comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, optionally together with a chelating agent, an antioxidant, a metallothionein protein or a fragment of metallothionein.

The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.