Abstract
We present a novel device to efficiently harvest bone marrow in bone marrow transplantation using newly proposed passive flexible drilling unit and suction mechanism. The device is aimed at less invasive bone marrow harvesting by collecting stem cells from the iliac bone with minimal punctures, less operation time. The device consists of Stem Cell Harvesting Device with Passive Flexible Drilling Unit. The device is inserted into the medullary space from the iliac crest and aspirates the bone marrow while an end-mill on the tip of the Passive Flexible Drilling Unit drills through the cancellous bone to create a curved path. We found, from in vitro and in vivo pig study, that the device can be inserted into the medullary space of the pig iliac bone 131m by 32.1mm/min and harvests bone marrow about 6 times as many per puncture as the conventional Aspiration Method. The device, when applied in clinical study, will enable less invasiveness to donors by harvesting graft from wider area of the iliac bone than conventional aspiration method.
