Abstract: A kit for preparing an implantable graft, particularly an implantable, composite bone graft is provided. The kit includes a porous, biocompatible, sterile substrate and a container configured to retain the substrate and to permit flow of a cell suspension, particularly a bone marrow aspirate suspension therethrough. A method which employs such kit for preparing a composite implantable bone graft is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a bone marrow aspirate suspension and passing the bone marrow aspirate suspension through a porous, biocompatible, implantable substrate to provide a composite bone graft having an enriched population of connective tissue progenitor cells. The composite bone graft prepared by the present method contains 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method for preparing a composite bone graft. The method includes providing a bone marrow aspirate suspension and passing the bone marrow aspirate suspension through a porous, biocompatible, implantable substrate 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 present method. The improved composite graft includes 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 including the apparatus used for preparing the composite bone graft.