Frustoconical Bone Cement Valve for Airtight Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical implant systems for mixing bone cement face challenges in achieving a reliable seal during storage, mixing, and delivery, which can lead to air leakage and inconsistent mixing results.
Innovation Solution
A valve with a frustoconically shaped surface made of elastomeric materials like silicone, polyacrylate, or FKM is used to create a secure seal, ensuring effective mixing and delivery of bone cement components by collapsing to seal the passage and maintaining the seal throughout the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve is used to seal the passage during storage and mixing, then air leakage is prevented, but the valve may fail to maintain a reliable seal under varying pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes pressure differential to control the sealing state. During storage, the valve maintains a sealed position to prevent air leakage. During mixing and delivery, the pressure differential changes cause the valve to open, allowing bone cement to flow through the passage. This dynamic parameter change enables the valve to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining seal reliability when needed.
2Reliability
If the valve collapses to seal the passage, then air leakage is prevented, but the valve structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs a flexible, collapsible structure made of elastomeric material that can deform under pressure differential. This flexible shell design allows the valve to collapse and seal the passage effectively without requiring complex mechanical components such as springs, actuators, or multiple moving parts. The simplicity of the flexible membrane structure reduces device complexity while maintaining high seal effectiveness.
3Reliability
If elastomeric materials like silicone, polyacrylate, or FKM are used for the valve, then seal consistency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is constructed from elastomeric materials such as silicone, polyacrylate, or FKM, which provide excellent sealing properties and consistency across varying conditions. These materials can be manufactured using injection molding or other elastomer processing techniques that achieve the required precision through material properties rather than complex mechanical tolerances. The elastomeric nature allows for slight dimensional variations while maintaining effective sealing contact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The valve effectively prevents air leakage and ensures consistent mixing and delivery of bone cement, maintaining the seal during storage, mixing, and application, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the surgical implant system.
Implementation Method 1
the valve can be configured to achieve the seal for the duration of a shelf life storage of the apparatus prior to use
Implementation Method 2
A valve with a frustoconically shaped surface made of elastomeric materials like silicone, polyacrylate, or FKM is used to create a secure seal, ensuring effective mixing and delivery of bone cement components by collapsing to seal the passage
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2~3
AI summary
According to one example, a valve 10A for an apparatus configured to mix bone cement is disclosed. The valve 10A can include a base 12A defining a first portion of a passage 16A. The passage 16A can be configured to allow a component of the bone cement through the valve. The valve can include a projection 14A extending from the base to a base opposing end and forming a second portion of the passage 16A that communicates with the first portion. The projection 14A can have a frustoconically shaped surface that comprises one of an outer surface or an inner surface that forms a part of the second portion of the passage.